IT’S starting to get real at the Corumbene Health Hub development site on The Avenue at New Norfolk. While extensive works have been carried out inside the two former Royal Derwent Hospital wards known as Derwent and Esperance houses, the action has now moved outdoors.
This week, a large steel structure has been built around the concrete staircase that once served as a fire escape between the two buildings. This structure will create an atrium space that has been leased to Magra couple Jess and Dayne Neil to operate as a cafe.
Lifelong local residents, the couple hopes to be able to open the cafe in late January. “I have always dreamed of having my own cafe,” experienced hospitality worker Jess said. “I’m so grateful to Corumbene for making this dream a reality,” she said.
The steelworks are expected to be completed this week and the glass will be installed in the coming weeks, linking the two buildings for the first time. The cafe will seat about 30 people inside and out. Many of the customers will be the staff and clients of the Corumbene Health Hub, which is due to open early next year with a range of health and wellbeing services. The site is next door to Woolworths.
See more Derwent Valley and Central Highlands news online and read our print edition every second Friday.
