After a four-year search, the Salvation Army is moving to new premises in north Warrnambool.
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The social welfare organisation will convert the Warrnambool Indoor Tennis Centre into a one-stop community services headquarters which will include a church.
The Mortlake Road sale was finalised on Thursday and it is expected to be at least 18 months before any building works begin. When the group moves, it will be just the third in 130 years.
Warrnambool Salvation Army Major Peter Wood said it had outgrown its Lava Street premises, including a house and church, where it offers housing and community welfare services. The buildings will be sold to fund the move. But the Lava Street thrift shop will remain in the CBD.
Major Wood said it was important the community was aware tennis would continue at the site.
He said the existing building would be extended, rather than demolished.
“We will retain what is here and we will develop a facade on the front which will have some office space in it,” Major Wood said.
He said their intention was to keep the tennis facility which would operate at a “slightly reduced capacity”.
“We will take maybe two of the tennis courts inside and retain five of them.”
Major Wood said the operators would lease part of the building from the Salvation Army.
“One of our concerns was taking the tennis centre away from the local community,” he said.
“When we first saw it (for sale) we didn’t think we would buy it, from the perspective that this is the only indoor tennis centre in the district and we didn’t want to take that away from the community.
“Then we looked at the amount of space that was here and thought we could leave at least five of the tennis courts here to retain that asset in the local community but also co-locate there. We think we can work on the same site together.
“It’s about being in the community and serving the community well and at the most affordable way.”
Warrnambool Indoor Tennis Centre operator Rob Urquhart said it would be business as usual.
“The Salvation Army’s not doing anything for 18 months to two years,” Mr Urquhart said. “Tennis will certainly still be part of the building.”
