ARCH undertook a hypothetical exercise that imagined repurposing the showground as a dynamic destination with multiple functions in one vibrant block. Proximity to transport infrastructure, social infrastructure specifically in the form of a primary school, and a gateway address to the inner city offers the potential to trial an innovative mix of offerings that can bolster Newcastle’s brand as Innovation Capital of Australia, and lead to other centres of focused development.

Building owners are waking up to the need to explore new models of asset ownership. They are already looking at greater diversity of income streams, from dedicated leases, to club-like shared facilities and even income by use based on a time increment of as little as an hour, why not apply that on a larger scale?