A group of Cromwell locals is hoping to give a new community purpose to the soon-to-be-vacated Otago Polytechnic campus in the centre of town. 

The Cromwell and Districts Community Trust has set its sights on the Molyneux Avenue property, pitching the idea of retaining the site for community use at its annual general meeting last week. 

Trustee Kylie Murdoch said the trust was exploring options to “save it for the community”. 

She said the area was something of a “black spot” for social services, with many organisations struggling to find affordable spaces to operate from. 

The site contains a range of facilities including classroom blocks, offices, a training and hospitality kitchen and bar, and a 40-bed accommodation block, plus a community garden and open land. 

The site includes an accommodation block formerly used by students of the polytechnic. Image: The Central App

For now, the Cromwell Toy Library, the Mums4Mums support group, and Central Otago REAP are among those making use of the available spaces. 

Moving forward, Kylie said the trust saw potential for the buildings to become a hub for local initiatives and services, though significant investment would be needed to maintain and upgrade the facilities. 

The trust’s early concept includes a mix of uses aimed at nurturing learning, wellbeing, and connection, with ideas floated including subdividing a strip for housing that prioritises affordability for families, key workers and older residents; allowing space for Molyneux Educare to expand; growing a community garden to promote healthy eating and food security; and creating spaces for early childhood and lifelong learning.

Kylie said models like Wānaka’s Community Link showed what could be achieved, and the trust was keen to hear from others in the community to take the next steps.

Otago Polytechnic, meanwhile, confirmed it intends to sell the Cromwell town campus and its on-site accommodation after teaching concludes there at the end of the 2025 academic year. 

Deputy executive director of operations Max Sims said the polytechnic had advised staff and stakeholders of the planned sale late last year, as it consolidated all operations at its Bannockburn site. 

“Over the last six years, teaching operations have been gradually moving from the town campus to our Bannockburn site,” Max said. 

The Cromwell town campus is currently being used to teach cookery and Otago Secondary Tertiary College programmes.  

However, the courses will finish at the end of the year as the polytechnic has been unable to secure an alternative commercial kitchen. 

The Cromwell Toy Library, the Mums4Mums support group, and Central Otago REAP are among those making use of the available spaces, which include classrooms. Image: The Central App

Max said the sale process was ongoing, with assistance from Te Pūkenga’s property team. 

“Otago Polytechnic also needs to ensure we are complying with the Public Works Act in any sale decision, which is a complex process,” he said. 

While the polytechnic has not disclosed what it expects the site to fetch, it confirmed that a summary of its property portfolio was included in the Regional ITP Viability reports released by Te Pūkenga in September.  

However, the estimated sale proceeds for the Cromwell town campus were withheld under the Official Information Act, on the grounds that releasing the information could prejudice the organisation’s commercial position. 

The 2,974-square-metre site, which borders Molyneux Avenue, and Ray, Blyth and Erris Streets, was once home to the former Cromwell Area School.

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