News Friday, May 19, 2017
www.guardianonline.co.nz
Ashburton Guardian
5
■ ASHBURTON ACCOUNTANCY
New outlook for Gabites Ltd BY LINDA CLARKE LINDA.C@THEGUARDIAN
Ashburton accountancy firm Gabites Ltd has a new outlook on town, from the first floor of a refurbished building that is leading the resurrection of the central business district. Their 1960s building on the corner of Cass and Tancred Street has been gutted to its bare bones and rebuilt stronger, to 100 per cent earthquake code, in a multimillion dollar refit. Gabites moved into the top floor late March, Heartland Bank is occupying upstairs and downstairs space while its own East Street premises is earthquake strengthened and refurbished, and insurance brokers Crombie Lockwood has opened on the downstairs corner. The rest of the ground floor is being advertised as retail or office space. Next door, on the old Smallbones site, earthworks are beginning for the construction of another office and retail building. Gabites director Eric Parr said the new buildings would complement the Eastfields Complex planned across the road on Cass Street. Gabites, with a staff of 40, are enjoying the modern facilities after more than 50 years in a 110-year-old building on Burnett Street, opposite ATS. The old building, added on to over the years as the business grew, had suffered in the quakes and a decision was made to relocate to a modern, full-strength building, he said. The new space is warm, airy and staff work in open plan office space. Directors and associates have offices and there is also a board room, several private rooms to meet with clients and a modern tearoom for staff. Parr said while it was business as usual and while the old building had plenty of history, the firm was looking to the future. Gabites was founded by Ron Gabites 52 years ago and he was joined later by the late Neil Sinclair; the pair grew the practice
The refurbished Gabites building on the corner of Cass and Tancred streets.
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PHOTO LINDA CLARKE 030517-LC-034
The building grew as the company grew and we were at full capacity when the quakes came. Now we have a modern building, attractive to staff going into the future
at Burnett Street and eventually took over the whole building, which was constructed in 1907 as a doctor’s residence. “The building grew as the company grew and we were at full capacity when the quakes came. Now we have a modern building,
attractive to staff going into the future,” said Parr, who joined the firm in 1986. He said the company had clients all over New Zealand, and was dedicated to providing accountancy services to the Mid Canterbury farming community.
Gabites’ longest serving staff member Christine Ayers (35 years) with receptionist Trudy Ralston in the new office space. PHOTO LINDA CLARKE 030517-032
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