THE LAKE TIMES IS ON THE MOVE

THE LAKE TIMES IS ON THE MOVE

After operating in the same location in College Avenue for many years, the Lake Times will, from January 2, be housed in the headquarters of Southern Independent Publishers (SIP) at 16-20 Manning Street, Kiama.

The new office is the historic Commercial Banking Company building erected in 1880.

The move marks a considerable investment for the Hannan family and highlights the confidence they have in the future of their three newspapers – the Lake Times, Kiama Independent, and Wollongong and Northern Leader – and the Illawarra.

The company has also just recently completed an extensive upgrade to its computer equipment and software, all aimed at producing better quality newspapers.

Until earlier this year the Hannan family owned and operated, among other interests, Courier Newspapers in Sydney.

The move to Manning Street will open a new chapter in Lake Times history; the building has been recently restored in order to accommodate some editorial, production and sales staff from the Lake Times office in Shellharbour, as well as staff from the Kiama Independent.

The Lake Times will also retain a strong presence and prime office space in the heart of Shellharbour.

A new telephone number will come with the move. For all advertising and editorial inquiries from January 2 phone 4232 0000. Classifieds and bookings should still be directed to 4296 6900.

The former CBC building, which will house the SIP team, was an exciting project in its day. The Kiama Independent reported at the time that the new building was “likely to be one of the principal ornaments of Kiama”.

“The site of the new bank … will furnish a more agreeable outlook from the upper windows than any, even the most elegant, building could do,” it stated.

“The Manning Street frontage of the allotment – sixty-six feet – will exhibit an ornamental iron palisade supported by wrought stone piers, and by the porch, the lofty arched entrance...is intended to receive the external doors.”

The report noted that the contract “is in the hands of Messrs White and Coghill of Sydney, at the amount, we understand, of £2900” and that “a dozen hands, masons, bricklayers and quarrymen are employed on the work.”