Independent is on the move

THE Kiama Independent is on the move. After operating in the same location in Shoalhaven Street for many years, the Kiama Independent will, from January 2, be housed in the headquarters of Southern Independent Publishers (SIP) at 16-20 Manning Street, Kiama.

The new office is the historic Commercial Banking Company building erected in 1880, making it almost as old as the Independent, which was first published by the Weston family in 1863.

The move marks a considerable investment for the Hannan family and highlights the confidence they have in the future of their three newspapers – the Kiama Independent, Lake Times, and Wollongong and Northern Leader – and the Illawarra.

The company has also just recently completed an extensive upgrade to its computer equipment and software, all aimed at producing better quality newspapers.

Until earlier this year the Hannan family owned and operated, among other interests, Courier Newspapers in Sydney.

The move to Manning Street will open a new chapter in the history of the Kiama Independent; the building was recently restored in order to accommodate staff from the Independent and some editorial, production and sales staff from the Lake Times office in Shellharbour.

Although some of the Lake Times staff will now be based at Kiama, the Lake Times will retain a strong presence and prime office space in the heart of Shellharbour.

We will also have a new phone number. For all advertising and editorial inquiries please phone 4232 0000 from January 2.

The former CBC Building was an exciting project in Kiama in its day.

The Kiama Independent reported at the time that the new bank building, was “likely to be one of the principal ornaments of Kiama”.

“The site of the new bank … will furnish a more agreeable outlook from the upper windows than any, even the most elegant, building could do,” the report stated.

“The establishment as a whole will be of the most complete description both for the purposes of business and of domestic accommodation.”

The report noted that the contract “is in the hands of Messrs White and Coghill of Sydney, at the amount, we understand, of £2900”.