The 'Ambo' will connect the Riverina's arts and business for a creative future

The immediate future of the Johnston Street ambulance station has been settled with the confirmation that it will be transformed into a creative industries hub.

Council backed a bid from Eastern Riverina Arts (ERA) which announced that the ‘Ambo’ would become a connection point between the arts and the community.

“I think this whole decision represents some really big picture thinking from council and also from business in our area,” said Tim Kurylowicz from ERA.

“We’ve been speaking with both State Government and council about how we really believe the ambulance station could serve the community by being something that is there to grow business and to help creative work happen and we’re just over the moon that that vision has been supported.”

Wagga City Council’s strategic asset planner Ben Creighton said work was underway to prepare the previously disused building for its new tenants.

“There is a little bit of work that we have to undertake in the next few months just to make it fit for purpose for the change of use but overall, the building is in good shape,” he said.

Tim Kurylowicz hoped the Ambo Creative Industries Hub would provide a space to experiment, collaborate and showcase original work.

“I think the lagoon precinct has always been the beating heart of Wagga in terms of its creative and civic activities,” he explained.

“When you throw in a creative industries habitat, with the conservatorium coming very soon as well, that just supercharges that precinct as a place where creative activity happens.”

ERA will offer affordable artist studios, exhibition and market spaces and digitally-connected suites to facilitate webcasting, online meetings and broadcast opportunities.

“This is going to be a place where new creative companies are going to be establishing themselves and we want them to be growing and graduating into the mainstream economy,” Tim said.

Riverina Murray Business will be a key partner in the venture and the Wagga Business Chamber will set up shop in the new hub as part of the move to help creatives to connect with commerce.

Wagga Business Chamber’s Serena Hardwick is looking forward to establishing a base in the CBD and sees it as a unique opportunity to help foster a viable creative industries sector for the Riverina.

“The creative industries are a major contributor to the NSW economy and a growing export,” she said.

“I think there’s this perceived separation between the business and creative arts community but we see there’s lots of potential for the arts to contribute to our local economy, and it’s great to see Eastern Riverina Arts fostering that.”

The agreement is for 12 months with an option to renew for a further period of three years, but there is also some unfinished business between council and the NSW Government.

In June Wagga City Council wrote to the State Government calling for an explanation of why they were charged $610,000 to purchase the historic ambulance station when other councils have been handed similar buildings for the token fee of $1.

Councillor Dan Hayes said the inequity “doesn’t stack up” and it made subsidising rent on the property more difficult.

“With the amount that we have to pay, we do have to get rent back through that and it makes using it as community space more challenging,” he explained.

“We’ve been able to get a good result with it, but I think there’s a flow-on effect that now tenants are paying more than they would for community benefit buildings.”

In the meantime, work will continue over the next few months preparing the building and ERA will be seeking additional funds to fit out the site.

Tim Kurylowiczs said he can’t wait to see it all unfold.

“I think that just says it speaks volumes about what a positive, progressive and ambitious place Wagga is,” he enthused.

“We just really pay tribute to council and to our business partners for latching on to that vision.

“It’s big, it’s new and it’s exciting!”