$105.000 was allocated in 1985 and it was resolved that a further $100.000 be added each year until 1988 to make it a bicentary project.

In April Ald Doug Shedden told a Council meeting, that it was imperative that a new arts and crafts centre be centrally located in Bankstown.

The Express of August 21 1985 reported the first mention by a council officer, of the “old swimming pool” site as a possible location for the new arts and crafts centre. The pool and buildings were in very poor condition and would have been too expensive to repair.

In December 1985 Council decided to go ahead with the conversion of the swimming pool. The Mayor announced that the Council had decided that the new centre would become the Councils major bicentennial project, and in January 1986 commissioned a firm of architects to prepare plans for the new building.

In July 1986 Council was informed by the NSW Minister for the Arts that their application for grant towards the construction of the new crafts building had been unsuccessful.

However the money available at the time was from some Grants, totalling $315.000; Council contribution $205.000; and excepted income from the sale of existing site of the arts and crafts centre of   $200.000 a total of over $700.000.

May 1988 saw the demolition of the pool buildings and the start of construction of the new centre. The new building was to be completed in December with total funding now being:

Saturday 25 th of February 1989 saw the opening if the new Arts and Craft Centre by the then premier Mr Nick Greiner.