SO, what does the future now hold for what is arguably Lithgow’s most controversial building — the circa 1927 former Technical College in Mort Street.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In a surprise development on Friday administrators acting on behalf of a financial institution moved in to take possession of the sprawling building located on one of Lithgow’s busiest thoroughfares.
The building was inspected by fire brigade officers to finally unearth what was being stored inside then a locksmith was called to change the locks.
Then it seemed it was ‘game over’ for Proton Industries as far as the company’s Lithgow operation was concerned.
When the end came it came swiftly for an operation that had been shrouded in secrecy during the entire time in Lithgow.
In a brief — and only — late afternoon interview when the company purchased the ‘old Tech’ the Mercury was told that the intention was to manufacture quality bathroom items for the hotel-motel industry.
From that point even Lithgow Council had difficulty in determining what was going on behind the walls.
A truck occasionally turned up at the rear gate to unload plastic drums and to load a fresh cargo of what was reported to be bulk laundry detergent.
The company took no part in community activity and had the lowest profile of any business operating in Lithgow.
But it was not the mystery of its operations that attracted most comment; it was the ever deteriorating condition of the building which was widely criticised as Lithgow’s most disturbing eyesore.
There had been no evident external maintenance since the company moved in apart from a one off graffiti removal and windows that remained broken for months at a time proved an irresistible attraction for pigeons seeking shelter on the upper levels.
Repeated requests by council to tidy up the eyesore met with little or no response and elected councillors were told there were few options available for more forceful action.
One councillor even suggested that council should have purchased the building when it sold for a relative pittance ($230,000) and levelled it for a car park extension.
The building is now to be the subject of a mortgagee sale on behalf of the financial institution.
The next chapter in the saga will be watched with interest by the entire community.
