The Cromwell Museum fitout inside the new $45.8 million memorial hall and event centre is closer to becoming a reality, with only $160,000 of the $1.6 million in funding needing to be secured.

Central Otago District Council project manager - property Phil Quinn told councillors yesterday that they had been successful with a further $350,000 from Lotteries.

Central Lakes Trust has committed $1.1 million and there was also another grant pending from Otago Community Trust in June/July.

When council approved the design of the new memorial hall facility in 2023, there was also $1.6 million budgeted for the fitout of the museum internally.

The design incorporated a designated wing for the museum with specific environmental control systems, aimed at enhancing the overall functionality and preservation capabilities of the museum facility. 

Phil told the council that the $1.6 million would provide an impressive interactive museum experience including with animations.

General manager community experience David Scoones said it was world-class building to be matched with a world-class museum.

The old fit out and display of the Cromwell Museum would be disposed of either through auction or donations. 

With the Cromwell Memorial Hall and Events Centre base build well underway and on track for completion in 2026, the project team, incorporating Story Inc as design consultants, has been working with the museum on its new space.

Meanwhile, council also agreed yesterday that since it wasn’t in the hospitality or entertainment business, it would go to market and look for commercial operators to lease both the cafe, catering space and movie theatre.

It was understood that community groups would also have access to the catering kitchen, even if there was a commercial business operating a cafe inside the building,

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