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The iconic landmark of the Manning River Times building is going under the hammer on Thursday, October 27.
LJ Hooker are holding the auction at 6pm at the LJ Hooker Auction Centre.
Real estate agent Amanda Tate says they have received both local and interstate inquiries, with the heritage of the building pulling in the interest.
The Times building is heritage listed, and Amanda says she thinks it would make a lovely arcade, similar to ones in old buildings in Sydney.
The sale of the building marks the end of an era for the Manning River Times, as it has housed the paper since the building’s construction in 1899. That is 117 years of occupation.
The Manning River Times’ first printed issue came out January 8, 1869, from its first home, “a cottage somewhere near the present Coles supermarket in Manning Street,” according to the Manning River Times Centenary Supplement printed in 1969.
The Times’ second move was to a cottage facing Manning Street, with a printing office later added to the cottage on the corner of Manning and Albert Streets.
The Times was printed on that corner until 1895 when the paper made its only move away from Manning Street.
At that time, a paper known as the Manning River Independent closed down.
The owner of the Manning River Times, Mr Boyce, then purchased the Commerce Street property the Independent was housed in, and the Manning River Times moved.
The Times spent four years in the Commerce Street location and when the present building in Manning Street was erected, the business moved for the ‘last’ time.
As eras end, though, new eras must begin.
The Manning River Times is expecting to move to our new, more modern, offices in Victoria Street, next door to Wiseberry Real Estate and opposite Fotheringham Park, at the end of November 2016.
We will miss our grand old lady, this building that, could she talk, would tell tales to curl your toes.
But we do look forward to our new home with its views of the park and the river and its vibrant, modern interior.