It is with great sadness after 25 plus years in business the Lithgow Craft Co-op on the Great Western Highway must now inform all their loyal customers of their imminent closure.

While the Co-op has struggled over the last few year they have managed to keep the doors open.

This closure has been bought about by many things, mostly by the downturn in the demand for quality handcrafted goods and also the state of the economy.

The Co-op has been much admired over the years for the quality and skill of their work as well as the “Nothing is a problem to us” attitude the staff provided to their customers over the years, ensuring many of these customers were people that would return many times because they were happy with the craft and the service they received.

The phrase “you have some very clever people here” is one that was echoed on many occasions making us all very proud because we just knew we did have some very, very clever members, which is such a shame as this talent will now go to waste.

So from all the members past and present, thank you for the support you have given us over the years, we we wouldn’t couldn’t have survived this long without your help.

The Co-op has been part of many local activities over the years, helping to promote the district as well as raising money for charity, and they have also been the proud recipients of several Arts Council awards for which we are all very grateful.

Many budding local artists have had the opportunity to show off their talent to the district by exhibiting to the public at the Co-op by way of exhibitions in the gallery helping them to gain confidence in themselves and their work.

The members will find a big hole in their lives when the doors close for the final time as many of the members have been there since the formation of the Co-op in Mort Street in 1990.

It will be a very sad day for all of us at the Co-op and Lithgow will be losing an institution that has been a very big part of the district for a quarter of a century.

Sad day!

Yours sincerely,

Heather Baxter

Secretary, Lithgow Craft Co-op Great Western Highway.

NOTE: As a result of this closure, the Co-op are having a 20 per cent sale this Saturday and Sunday at their premises on the Great Western Highway.