TAMWORTH Regional Council will take over the city's iconic Big Golden Guitar visitor information centre and museum in a matter of months.
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After a short period of negotiations, the council will get the keys to the visitor information centre on July 1.
In a written statement issued on Thursday morning, the council said it wanted to focus on "rekindling the love" for the national icon.
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"In December 2018, council started negotiations to take over operations of the entire Big Golden Guitar Tourist Centre," its statement said.
"There will be some structural changes to the facility, but they will be minor."
However, the current gift shop in the centre will close next month and it appears there could also be a change of hands at the helm of the cafe.
"Council is expecting to take over the site from July 1 and after this time it is anticipated that along with the visitor information services there will be a range of souvenirs available," the statement said.
In December 2018, council started negotiations to take over operations of the entire Big Golden Guitar Tourist Centre.
- A Tamworth Regional Council statement
"Having a café at the site of the Big Golden Guitar is important and council is currently exploring how that may best be operated, providing an opportunity for prospective business operators."
There are also plans for an overhaul and expansion of the museum component of the centre.
"Long term planning of the site will eventually see a National Guitar Museum established at the site and it is expected that access to both the Wax Museum and Guitar Museum will be one fee only, and will be developed in a staged process," the council said.
In 2018, more than 117,000 people visited the information centre on the New England Highway and countless others got a snap of the Big Golden Guitar which the council emphasised was staying put.
"The Big Golden Guitar will remain on the current site," council's statement said.
"Council is currently supporting our generous volunteers who currently donate their time to support the Visitor Information Centre to continue to operate over this transition period along with council staff."
