The old Cromwell Memorial Hall is set to live on through various repurposed materials.

Central Otago District Council (CODC) property and facilities manager Garreth Robinson said during the design process, several elements of the hall were identified as items that could be incorporated into the new build or passed on to the community.

The aim was to minimise waste and maximise the reuse of materials for the community, he said.

“As the old hall makes way for new developments, the spirit of Cromwell Memorial Hall will live on through these sustainable practices.”

Those elements would start from the ground up.

Anyone who had been to an event at the old hall in the past would remember the sprung floor – the type that provides some degree of bounce and flexes under impact, loved by sports people, dancers and performers.

“The community have repeatedly talked of the importance of the flooring and asked that it be reused in the new building,” Garreth said. 

“A portion of the sprung flooring has been removed in panels and the intention is to soak the timber so it is softened to be reused, providing an excellent floor surface whilst preserving a piece of history.”

A piano from the old hall will still be played after finding a new owner. PHOTO: CODC

Theatre chairs have found new homes. PHOTO: CODC

Many of the old theatre-style seats have already found new homes throughout Cromwell giving recipients a piece of the town’s history of their own.

The singalongs will continue with the old piano after it was donated to the Fine Thyme Theatre Group.

Another piano from the hall has also been collected by a local resident.

The old roof will also continue to give shelter after about 10 tonnes of roofing sheets were salvaged and donated to the Old Cromwell Heritage Society. 

Efforts are underway to repurpose as much of the hall’s schist cladding as possible.

The fire doors have been diverted to the Frankton Fire Station for training exercises.

Trees removed from the site will produce around seven tonnes of firewood, which will be shared between the Cromwell Town & Country Club and the local community.

The total weight of materials salvaged and diverted from landfill is about 18720 kg – that’s more than 20 tonnes, with the addition of 200kg for another piano, which has also found a new home.

CODC wants to further preserve the hall’s rich history with a photo library.

To honour the facility, community members are encouraged to contribute their photos and stories associated with the hall on the council’s Let’s Talk page on its website.