But now the semi-retired Sydney builder has returned to his old stomping ground to take ownership of 258 High Street, Maitland . . . former home of the iconic Maitland Mercury newspaper.

Mr Prochowski – along with business partner Colin Swadling – has bought the historic building for $760,000 with plans to transform the site into a boutique restaurant or offices.

The former press building will become apartments to be named The Mercury Apartments.

“We’re looking to build apartments at the back and keep the historical look. We really want to keep the façade of the building and renovate the inside so it’s suitable for offices, a medical centre or boutique restaurant,” Mr Prochowski, 64, said.

“It’s just a beautiful, lovely building and it’s surrounded by other lovely buildings.”

The business partners have also bought two other buildings in the Maitland area, including one on High Street.

“We’d like to try and lift this end of High Street and bring people into the town of Maitland and revive it a bit,” Mr Prochowski said. “Both of us are very proud of this building, it’s a true landmark.”

Mr Prochowski, now living in Medowie, was born in Greta in 1950 to Polish parents. As a young boy he also lived in Carrington Street.

“When John F Kennedy was shot I remember looking over the fence and seeing the flag at half mast at the Maitland Town Hall,” he said.

“I also used to come and try and catch the pigeons here on the weekends, but I never thought that one day I’d buy the building.

“Coming back this way has been like a big turnaround for me but something dragged me here.”