Council's offices will be closed from COB Tuesday 23 December 2025 and will reopen Monday 5 January 2026
Council recently engaged a landscape architect to assist in the preparation of concept plans for upgrades to the old courthouse site, namely the northern courtyard and western walkway which has been closed to the public since 2009 At the OCM help on Wednesday, 26 February 2025, Council endorsed the publicly exhibited Concept Design Plans for Upgrades to the Old Court House Walkway & Courtyard, comprising Option 1 – with arbour and Option 2 - with building converted into café/kiosk. It was also resolved in the same meeting to allocate a total of $600,000 in funding from the 7.12 developer contributions fund to deliver the project. It was also noted that grant funding of $300,000 has been applied for under the NSW Government’s Caring for State Heritage funding scheme to co-fund the upgrades shown on the concept plans and that the scope of the project will be reviewed by Council if the application is unsuccessful.
Overall the plans aim to provide:
1. A flexible/shared walkway space along the western side of the Old Courthouse building, 2. Improvements to the northern courtyard behind the Old Sheriff's Quarters building,3. Conversion of the Old Sheriffs Quarters Kitchen building into a commercial use.
The Concept Plans seek to provide greater access to both the Old Courthouse and the Central Mall to stimulate activation and improved public amenity through a comprehensive suite of urban design initiatives, including:
162 Beardy Street, Armidale 2350 View Map
162 Beardy Street , Armidale 2350