The $45.5 million Maitland Administration Centre (MAC) – which includes $9.7 million in refurbishment works to the neighbouring Maitland Town Hall – was officially opened by Maitland Mayor, Philip Penfold and dignitaries at a ceremony onsite earlier this week.
Mayor Penfold and General Manager, David Evans PSM were joined by former Maitland Mayors, Loretta Baker, Graham Dunkley, Robert Gee, Henry Meskauskas and Ray Fairweather, as well as Federal Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson MP, Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison MP, Member for Upper Hunter Dave Layzell MP and Newcastle Deputy Lord Mayor Declan Clausen.
David and Council staff member Maya Young cut the ribbon and unveiled an official plaque, inset to the building’s exterior façade.
The event caps off nearly a decade of work, with planning for the MAC project starting in 2015 before construction got underway in April 2021.
In addition to the fit-for-purpose office space, which brings more than 300 Council staff under the same roof for the first time in years, nearly $10 million was spent on refitting and refurbishing the historic Maitland Town Hall with changerooms, kitchen facilities and a new stage loading dock.
“With the first stone laid in January 1888, Maitland Town Hall has evolved quite a lot over the decades,” David said.
“As one of the oldest buildings in our city, it’s seen and undergone a lot of change, and these latest updates bring the building into the 21st century.
“We have also preserved many of its original features as a link to the past, including the original spring floor in the auditorium, ornate ceilings and cornices, and the wooden staircase.”
The Town Hall seamlessly integrates into the broader Maitland Administration Centre, with improved accessibility to renovated Council Chambers and office spaces for staff.
David says the wider project has provided a major economic boost to the city, generating close to 200 additional jobs and injecting an estimated $100 million into the local economy.
“Maitland is one of the fastest growing cities in NSW and as one of the biggest employers in our city, Council needs to make sure we keep up with this growth,” David said.
“The new Administration Building and Town Hall upgrades will help us do this by bringing more of our staff under the same roof, improving our productivity and ensuring we continue to deliver for the people of Maitland.”
