In a plea to garner support from the Yass Valley community, members of the Yass Show Society are asking the residents whether they think the grandstand is worth saving.

A concept plan on the adaptive reuse of the historical grandstand shows the potential reinvigoration of the building, one that can be of great benefit to the Yass Show Society on its annual show day, as well as throughout the year.

The plan facilitates functional spaces for the community, commercial and private use, which may provide income for the ongoing maintenance costs of this magnificent heritage building, while celebrating the grandstand’s unique architectural elements.

Architect Katrina Smith, who designed the plan, said they will need approximately $1.5m to complete the project. 

“It's a staged plan, firstly we would need to get in an engineer to see whether the plan is structurally sound and whether it is actually worth saving,” she explained.

“It is not owned by Local Government as many NSW showgrounds are, but by the Yass Show Society; an incorporated association that represents the community. It would be wonderful to restore one of the great heritage spots of Yass and we need to know whether there is enough community interest to see if it is worth keeping.”

Although one of the options available to the Show Society is knocking down the grandstand and replacing the entire structure, it is not one it wants to consider.

Stage two of the plan would include constructing the renovations to the building so that it is accessible all year round.

The Yass Show Society received funding of $18,000 towards installing accessible toilets in the historic roundhouse pavilion, as well as further grant funding from Yass Valley Council to provide accessible toilets near the gate entrance to the main arena.

“The volunteer committee are on the ground making these amenities fit for everyone,” Ms Smith continued. 

“We are trying to raise the money to be able to make the appropriate restorations to the grandstand so that it not only complies with the rules and regulations of the health and safety laws, but becomes a more useful community asset.”

The Show Society’s grand vision for the grandstand is to create a function room on the lower level, with adequate storage and a functioning kitchen.

“The addition of a lift is important to make the building more user friendly,” she said.

On the second level a design for a second function room is in the pipeline, with open windows across the front and rear to capture the beautiful scenery surrounding the area.

“Our plan is to make it more accessible to the wider community, and to open it to families that may wish to have their parties and functions there.”