Picture: SANDRA MORELLO
AN Adelaide-based developer has released a vision to transform the historic Oatmill Complex in Mount Gambier into a major tourism destination.
Prominent Adelaide developer Mark Balnaves and a syndicate of investors are the new owners of the expansive heritage site.
Mr Balnaves is a director and owner of Evans and Ayers, which has managed the landmark Adelaide Arcade for more than 100 years and other heritage commercial sites.
The developer – who purchased the site late last year – revealed plans to attract a micro brewery or distillery as one of its major anchors.
In an exclusive interview with The Border Watch, Mr Balnaves said he was keen to attract new tenants to complement the two existing businesses.
Explaining his company had a solid track record in managing commercial developments in historic precincts, he described the Oatmill as a unique and attractive site.
“The Oatmill is an iconic site with great potential,” Mr Balnaves said.
“We want to see the site fully occupied and developed to fully complement the existing two tenants. We will do what we can to make it happen.”
Mr Balnaves – who has already held initial talks with potential tenants – said he was particularly interested in luring a distillery or microbrewery to the site.
He said the distillery in Remark, known as the Twenty Third Street Distillery, was an example of a successful development in a historic site in a regional centre.
“This type of development would have great potential in Mount Gambier,” Mr Balnaves said.
He said the company would like to hear from operators of a microbrewery and distillery from the region as well as other parts of Australia.
Explaining the current two tenants – Oatmill Cinema and Caffe Belgiorno – were long standing and successful operations, he said the company also wanted to help them enhance and grow their businesses.
He said the company aimed to lease the vacant rear building as well as the building that housed former restaurants.
Mr Balnaves said the proposed development at the Fidler and Webb site was “quite an exciting development” that would revitalise the broader precinct.
“There is quite a bit of change happening in that area of the city and it is a good opportunity for Mount Gambier.”
Mr Balnaves – who has connections in Penola – thanked Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell for encouraging investment into the Blue Lake city.
While the sold price has not been released, the sprawling inner city property was listed for sale for $2.1m by realtors.
Coles Supermarket announced plans last week to build a new Coles Supermarket shopping complex behind the proposed ALDI warehouse at the Fidler and Webb site.
The current Target store will be demolished to accommodate the new shopping complex, which will house a modern Coles Supermarket and 10 speciality shops.
Evans and Ayers manages more than $300m of commercial, industrial and rural property for clients.
The history of the site dates back to 1867 when Commercial Flour Mills was established at the site.
Operations ceased in 1975 and parts of it have been used for cinema, retail and restaurant purposes since 1984.
