Salisbury mayor Gillian Aldridge officially opens $43.8 million Salisbury Community Hub

It has cost ratepayers $43.8 million. Here is the first look inside the new Salisbury Community Hub, which officially opens on Saturday.

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Salisbury mayor Gillian Aldridge is bursting with pride over the completion of her council’s new $43.8 million community hub.

The four-storey building in the centre of Salisbury will be officially opened by Ms Aldridge on Saturday after the Salisbury Christmas Parade.

The Salisbury Community Hub has an outdoor terrace overlooking the refurbished plaza on the corner of John St and James St. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Ms Aldridge, who weathered strident criticism from some residents over the cost of the community hub, said it was a “fantastic” new addition to the city she has served for the past three decades.

The library inside the new Salisbury Community Hub is on mobile book stands and spreads throughout the building, rather than be restricted to one space. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“I think it is just wonderful,” she said.

“Twelve years ago we (council) stood on a street corner and asked people what they wanted. We have given them everything they asked for - and more.”

The new Salisbury Community Hub has a spacious, open feel, with a central staircare and atrium leading to its upper stories. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

The hub has been built on the corner of James St and John St, next to the historic Methodist Church cemetery and plaza, which has been refurbished with new landscaping and play equipment.

Mobile book stands have been spaced throughout the Salisbury Community Hub. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

A giant digital screen has been installed on its exterior while the ground floor features a new library, cafe, meeting rooms, historical display and working spaces.

Salisbury mayor Gillian Aldridge outside the new Salisbury Community Hub. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

The second floor has the council’s new chambers, which can be packed away, a large outdoor terrace, more working spaces, meeting rooms and book shelves.

Displays of Aboriginal art, paintings and historical artefacts are scattered throughout the Salisbury Community Hub. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

“It’s all been designed for the community, so they can come in and make their own spaces by moving things around to where they want them to be,” said Ms Aldridge.

“We want it to be a place which they call home.”

A central space within the Salisbury Community Hubs has doors which retract into spaces, meaning it can be converted for various purposes, from a vaccination centre to a kitchen. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Ms Aldridge said representatives of community groups who had toured the building had been very impressed.

“We have made it accessible for everyone — the aged, the disabled, the young,” she said. “We want everybody to come here and enjoy it.”

Work spaces have been provided throught the Salisbury Community Hub, with the latest information technology available for the public to use. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Ms Aldridge said the opening of the hub was “a new chapter in the City of Salisbury”.

“The hub will act as a catalyst for change, drawing members of our rich and diverse community to a new focal point in the Salisbury city centre,” she said.

“It is difficult to sum up the great number of functions the hub will serve as its hugely flexible nature will allow spaces to be constantly transformed to best serve the community.”

A mural presents a contemporary take on the history of Salisbury and its rich multicultural history. Picture: Tricia Watkinson