A panel of expert contractors were hoisted, one by one, 20m into the air at the city's Northern Cemetery yesterday, helped by a turntable ladder fire appliance operated by members of the Dunedin Central Fire Brigade.
The inspection was organised by the New Zealand Historic Cemeteries Conservation Trust, which last week confirmed plans for a restoration of the deteriorating tomb at an estimated cost of "$300,000-plus".
Yesterday, trust chairman Stewart Harvey said the inspection was a chance to gain a better understanding of the work ahead of them, and the likely cost.
The trust planned to launch a fundraising drive early next year, targeting Dunedin-based charitable trusts and, hopefully, the Dunedin City Council.
Those viewing the tomb included Duffill Watts consultant Jeremy Shearer, on the council's behalf, who was concerned about the structural integrity of several steel ornaments halfway up the tomb's 17m spire.
Some of the spire's stonework had already broken off over time, and the steel ornaments were "definitely vulnerable to failure" too, he said.
He was also surprised at the extent of weathering to the tomb's exterior, which had been subjected to "slow degradation" over many years.
Dunedin-based monumental sculptor Marcus Wainwright, stained glass artist Peter Mackenzie, heritage consultant Guy Williams and Dunedin Monumental Masons manager Craig Morton also made a close examination of the weatherbeaten and vandalised tomb yesterday.
Mr Wainwright estimated about 10% of stones used in the tomb's construction could need replacing, including some poor quality cuts of Oamaru stone that had been installed incorrectly and had crumbled.
Off-site carving of new ornaments and other stone detail could take "six to eight months" alone, before installation work began, he said.
Mr Harvey said an exact budget for the restoration project would be prepared from the information gained yesterday, followed by a promotional fundraising campaign expected to be launched early next year.
• Anyone with early photographs of Larnach's tomb, pre-dating acts of vandalism, is asked to email Mr Mackenzie on hoiho@xtra.co.nz.
