Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to open Coffs Harbour’s Yarrila Place

Just like Sydney’s Opera House, Coffs Harbour’s dream to build a cutting edge building to celebrate culture has been dogged by debate. But the nerves and vision have held - and tomorrow Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will cut the tape.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will officially open Coffs Harbour’s new cultural and civic building, Yarrila Place, on September 16.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will be in Coffs Harbour tomorrow to officially open Yarrila Place, which underscores the importance of this event and heralds the recognition of the new cultural and civic space as being nationally significant.

Yarrila Place has captured hearts, emotions and headlines throughout its journey, and Saturday will be no different when the $80 million-plus building is delivered to the public for a community walk-through.

“We have never ever had a Prime Minister officially open anything in Coffs,” City general manager Natalia Cowley said.

“We are so grateful the PM is extending his goodwill and time to the people of the Coffs Coast and recognising Yarrila on a national scale,” Ms Cowley said.

The grand building on Gordon St will house an ultra-modern library split across three levels, an art gallery and a museum.

It will also see a centralisation of the city’s public services, plus an edgy 2D cafe - another talking point for regional NSW.

“We are on the cusp of a cultural dawn, which marks a transformative leap forward for our community,” Ms Cowley said.

“The library, gallery and museum are a gem that you might expect to find in the cosmopolitan cities around the world.”

Tomorrow’s festivities will run from 10am to 2pm, and will include food stalls, entertainment and an official welcome at 10am.

Yarrila Place has been an ambition grand from the get-go, with its detractors arguing it has been an overreach for a regional city.

But its backers have held tight and firm in their belief that Coffs Harbour warrants a world-class facility.

Having the Prime Minister in town to cut the inevitable ribbon adds validity to that vision.