Oamaru's North Otago Highland Pipe Band Hall may become a medical centre after being bought by Waitaki District Health Services.
A handing over ceremony took place at the hall on Wednesday night after Waitaki District Health Services (WDHS) signed an agreement with the Waitaki District Council, which owns the land.
WDHS is a council-owned company that owns and runs Oamaru Hospital.
Last year, WDHS chairman George Berry said a plan to establish a medical centre in the hall, which was built in 1960, was in its early stages.
The idea was to work with GPs and health professionals, rather than compete with them.
"Integrated family health centres'' were becoming more common around the country, Mr Berry said.
Oamaru Hospital general manager Robert Gonzales said the hall was "additional space where the hospital can look at future options''.
The pipe band has permission to use a room in the Scottish Hall on Tyne St.
North Otago Highland Pipe Band pipe major and secretary Janice Hayes was sad to be losing the building but said she was happy it would be used for a good purpose.
"We can't afford to keep the place ... but it's still there to help the people of North Otago. Whatever the hospital does with it will be for the benefit of North Otago.''
Rex Murray, a life member of the band, which he has been part of for 62 years, said the sale of the hall was a sign of the times.
"It's pretty sad, but we can't do anything about it really. That's the way life is these days.''
- Daniel Birchfield, of Oamaru Mail
