CELEBRATING 130 YEARS OF DPI

The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) celebrated its 130-year history on Tuesday, marking the occasion by officially moving into its new headquarters.

About 200 people attended the ceremony outside the new office entrance in Prince Street; the street being closed between Anson and Sale Streets for the occasion.

Minster for Agriculture Adam Marshall said since its creation in 1890, the DPI had proudly served the people of NSW, establishing itself as a global leader in agriculture, fisheries, forestry management and biosecurity.

“NSW DPI has been at the forefront of major agricultural innovation and change over the past century, playing an integral role in creating our thriving primary industries that is today regarded as among the best in the world," Mr Marshall said.

“The new $75 million headquarters in Orange represents a fresh chapter in the Department’s history, and it will be home to critical programs that will create stronger primary industries across NSW.”

It is now 27 years since the Department moved west from the Sydney CBD to Orange. It was former NSW Minister for Agriculture, Ian Armstrong, who oversaw the decentralisation of NSW DPI to Orange, and his family attended Tuesday’s celebration to officially open the new Headquarters, which has been named in his honour.

“The official opening of these new headquarters reaffirms DPI’s commitment to regional and rural NSW,” said Mr Marshall, adding that the headquarters is home to around 400 of the 2000 DPI staff statewide.

 “And as the State Agriculture Minister and a proud country MP, I will ensure this connection continues into the future.

“I would like to thank everyone who has been part of the DPI journey so far and I hope you share the same sense of pride as I do in the fact we all are playing our role in building a stronger, better New South Wales.”

Orange Mayor Reg Kidd, Minster for Agriculture Adam Marshall, Member for Orange Phil Donato, and DPI Director General Scott Hansen.