The Casino community has won its fight to save the town’s old drill hall.
The Richmond Valley Council has voted to purchase the hall and the surrounding land for $340,000.
The council had been negotiating with the Commonwealth Government since March after it was announced last year that the Department of Defence wanted to auction the land.
That announcement prompted an angry response from RSL representatives and community groups, and resulted in a number of public meetings and deputations to politicians.
Richmond Valley Mayor Ernie Bennett, chief executive officer John Walker, and Page MP Kevin Hogan are expected to meet at the site this morning to discuss potential uses for the building.
It has been suggested the building would be used primarily as a military history museum while remaining available for other community uses.
The hall was originally built by the Light Horse Brigade in 1908 on land near the post office in Barker St before being relocated in the mid 1930s to its current location on sloping land to the south of the Richmond River on the Summerland Way.
Light Horse regiments from Casino, Tenterfield and Kyogle were based at Casino and used the hall for training.
RVC chief executive John Walker has said funding for the purchase would come from the council’s Real Estate and Property Reserve Fund.
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