Saraton project the last for Bill

Finishing touches: Builder Bill Norton will retire after his work restoring the Saraton Theatre.

THE Saraton Cinema Complex is going to be the crowning achievement for Grafton builder Bill Norton, who plans to retire once the two years and four months old project is put to bed.

After 47 years in the game, the respected tradesman has decided that his biggest and best challenge will be his last – at least working on someone else’s project.

Mr Norton and his offsider, Lloyd See, have spent most of their days since early 2008 in the Saraton Theatre.

“Right from the back door to front door, to the ceilings, under the floors. Wherever you wanted to go,” Mr Norton said.

He said that his crew re-nailed the entire floor of the old cinema, an estimated 8000 nails that had to be hammered in and punched. All by hand.

“And we punched off the old nails in the cinema as well. In all we probably punched off 24,000 nails in the old cinema,” he said.

Mr Norton said he has always welcomed a challenge and the Saraton Cinema Complex was one he and Mr See relished.

The pair were tasked with refurbishing the ageing Saraton, built in 1926, while building two new adjoining cinemas to fit the building’s heritage guidelines.

“The overall thing was just a big challenge but I just love challenges,” he said.

Mr Norton said he had one more pressing job.

“Me and Lloydy have to climb up into the ceiling and put our names on a steel girder, alongside the names of the original builders from 1926,” he said.