Early intervention, group and training programs will be run at the former school site, which will also become the disability provider’s headquarters.

Pinarc chief executive Marianne Hubbard said the site, combined with the recent purchase of the Bonshaw centre, provided stability for the organisation, its programs and clients.

The site was put up for sale through expressions of interest earlier this year, with a caveat that it must be used for community or education purposes. A few nervous weeks elapsed between submitting the offer for the site, not knowing who else they were competing against, and hearing they would become the new owners.

Pinarc’s retained earnings from previous years will pay for the site, but a loan will be needed to do some final renovations, including reinstalling a commercial kitchen that will allow Pinarc to offer hospitality training.

“We were able to purchase the building for much less than it would actually be worth without the caveat on it. It’s very exciting and I think for us it really is about saying we are here for the future, we are committed in the local community to be here for long haul and we are confident in our capacity to make it work.”

The former Kennett state government closed the school in 1993 and it remained vacant until BEST Community Development bought it in 2007 and opened it to community groups, but BEST entered voluntary liquidation in January 2015.

A community shed and U3A have continued operating on the English Street site, and will remain there when Pinarc moves in early next year.

“What is really exciting about both of those groups is we have agreed we will explore opportunities for us to work collaboratively. Some of our participants will be able to join in some of the activities in the community shed, and the U3A have a lot of retired people with many skills and experiences who could offer a lot in terms of volunteering their knowledge and skills to the people we support,” Ms Hubbard said.