On Saturday December 1, the Bingara community will celebrate the 20th birthday of Touriandi. First resident, Mrs Ollie Edwards moved in to Touriandi in the first week of December 1992.
Shire President John Wearne officially opened the building on January 26 1993. Also present were Deputy Premier and Member for Barwon Wal Murray MP and Member for Gwydir John Anderson.
Over the next four weeks, the Advocate will bring reports from 1992 in the lead up to the opening.
In the Bingara Advocate dated Wednesday, January 15 1992, it was reported that the Committee of the Bingara Frail Aged Hostel received and opened ten sets of tenders submitted by prospective builders. The tenders ranged in price from $429,937.00 to $587,903.00.
Reported in the Advocate April 15, 1992, the Bingara Hostel Committee had received a grant of $453,200 from the Federal Department of Aged, Family and Health Services for the construction of a twelve-bed hostel.
The building at that time was estimated to cost approximately $550,000.00, and construction was to be carried out by Wheeler Rice and Associates of Armidale.
Member for Gwydir at that time, Mr John Anderson described the announcement as a “great thing for the community of Bingara and district”.
