A meeting on Friday saw the State Government offer the iconic heritage-listed building to Leeton Shire Council for a meager $1.

Finance Minister Victor Dominello met mayor Paul Maytom and general manager Jackie Kruger in person at Parliament House to tell them the news.

Mayor Paul Maytom said this was an exciting opportunity, one they’d been fighting to get for “a while,” and moving forward will be working towards devising plans for it’s future use.

“We are extremely excited and are delighted we have this offer,” Cr Maytom said.

“In saying that, there is a lot of work that still need to be done so the cost of the building doesn’t fall back on rate-payers.

“We hope to make it cost neutral, but it certainly puts us in a lot better place to go forward.

“$1 practically a give away, so we would like to make the most of this opportunity.”

He said council will now negotiate the necessary terms and conditions, and will put it before the community for their input as well.

Leeton Family and Local History Society research officer Wendy Senti said it was “fantastic” news.

“We are all very pleased one of our iconic buildings can come back into community hands,” Mrs Senti said.

“But we understand there is still a lot of discussion that needs to happen before council decides all the hows and the whys and the wheres.”

The building, located in Chelmsford Place was put up for auction in 2015 and again in 2017 however both were unsuccessful.

It currently remains unoccupied.

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Over the years it has been home to many different government bodies and organisations that have helped to shape the Leeton shire region and wider MIA as it is known today. 

The building was officially opened in September, 1938 and remains a significant piece of historical architecture in Leeton. 

The building is currently listed on the NSW Heritage Register, following on from a study by Dr Peter Kabaila of heritage buildings in the shire and surrounds.