Bright future for Pyrmont centre

The Pyrmont Community Centre will kickstart a series of revamps with a community mural on its lower level.
The Pyrmont community hopes that after years of attempts this is the first step in a series of upgrades for the underused community centre.
Member of Friends of the Pyrmont Community Centre Mary Mortimer said the changes will shift the focus of the space from fitness to wider community interests.
“We’re rapt, we’re very excited. It will broaden the attraction to the wider community,” she said.
The City of Sydney grant will fund a community painted mural within the downstairs ‘link’, a passageway between the centre’s halls.
“Until we set up the link there was no wear to sit and have a chat,” Ms Mortimer said.
“There will be 10 free workshops open to all members of our community. They will encourage young, older, male and female members of the community to come together and develop creative ideas for the mural, a colourful hanging mobile and a special mosaic window.
“This is an opportunity for members of the community to get involved.”
The Pyrmont community has praised the grant from Council after years of waiting following a meeting on this matter in 2009.
Ms Mortimer said there are many more projects in the works to make the centre more appealing to the local community.
She said many school students visit the centre for education about Pyrmont’s heritage but there is no adequate information within the centre to cater for them.
“The Community Centre is a beautiful old heritage building but nothing inside reflects that,” she said.
“One project will be to set up a permanent exhibition to show what the area was like before.”
Friends of Pyrmont Community Centre visited other City of Sydney community centres for ideas. Other project plans include putting more images up on the walls, having a games night and a new paint job.
The workshops for the mural will run on Thursdays at 6:30pm and Saturdays at 1:30pm for five weeks from November 3 at the Community Centre.