Parramatta. Pub closes after several months

The Corporate Lounge pub, in the CBD, is in the possession of the owner, Wynnypeg Pty Ltd, after trading for only several months. The establishment traded in the former Parramatta Post Office (1880-1966) a two-storey, heritage-listed building, in Church Street. After refurbishment in 1979, it functioned for a while as a Telecom Business Office. Council had approved a 96-seat outdoor dining area in front of the building,

Parramatta. More CBD fitness facilities

Gold’s Gym, which commenced 40 years ago in California and operates in 30 countries, has opened its first facility in Australia, in Parramatta, at 107 George Street. Manager, Robert Alha, said the biggest response so far had come from women. Females will also have the opportunity to get fit as Parramatta City Council has granted approval to Sutheley Pty Limited, to operate a women’s fitness and weight-loss centre, next door, in 103-109 George Street.

Blacktown. Proposal to buy golf course

The 40-hectare Ashlar Golf Club, in Blacktown, is negotiating with Urban Pacific, the developer of Sydney’s first Greg Norman-designed golf course, Stonecutters ridge, at Colebbe. Urban Pacific NSW general manager, Paul Hedge, said it had offered to buy and relocate Ashlar to the $25 million Stonecutters Ridge, to open in 2010. “We are looking to develop (Ashlar),”he said in The Sunday Telegraph. Club members have not yet voted on the proposal.

Parramatta. King's School 'will be affected'

Dr Tim Hawkes, headmaster, of King’s School, in North Parramatta, expects a fall in students as a result of the economic crisis and the drought. Twenty per cent of the senior students come from country areas and some had already been withdrawn. A tuition and board fee for senior students is $39,757 annually. “We are certainly going to be affected, there is no question of that, but we are reasonably well practiced in helping families in difficulty,” he said in The Financial Review.