ALBURY’S old ambulance station building will go under the hammer more than four years after its replacement was opened by former NSW Premier Mike Baird.
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The historic building at the bottom end of Dean Street served the city from 1934 to 2014 when a new station was built on Wagga Road.
Agents Stean Nicholls have been appointed to sell the building on behalf of Property NSW on December 14 _ a week later than initially advertised.
The auction date will now be a day before the 84th anniversary of its unveiling by Ellen Waugh, the wife of mayor Alf.
At the time of its closure in 2014, the ambulance station was the base for 26 paramedics and nine ambulance vehicles.
It was designed by Louis Harrison, who also designed the Monument Hill war memorial and the cinema centre, also in Dean Street.
The auction also includes the former garage and workshop.
Albury and District Historical Society president Greg Ryan hoped developers recognised the building’s history in future plans.
“The art deco frontage and its appearance on Dean Street are quite pleasant,” he said.
“You would hope developers have something in mind that at least retains the frontage.
“The old garage out the back has no architectural merit at all, but certainly the front of it does.
“It is not Albury’s biggest landmark, but people recognise it.”
It is zoned B4 mixed use under Albury Council planning rules with permitted uses including childcare centre, entertainment facility, function centre, accommodation, medical centre and indoor recreation facility.
Mr Aplin conceded the property had taken longer than he thought to come to market.
“While it wasn’t used by ambulance any longer it didn’t mean some other government body wouldn’t say it suits our purposes,” he said.
“It’s an obligation to go through that process in the first instance.
“The building is beyond its useby date and needs extensive work on the interior.
“The facade maybe be something that is attractive, but the rest of the building I could see totally gutted and rebuilt.”
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