A group of Dunedin heritage advocates are feeling "cautiously optimistic" in their fight to save a 1920s building from being demolished by KiwiRail in its redevelopment of the old Hillside workshops.
The building was a two-storey wooden structure that was used as an administration block, housing the manager’s office.
Southern Heritage Trust chairwoman Jo Galer said the group had constructive talks with KiwiRail.
"KiwiRail has been listening and talking with our growing group of very passionate Hillside heritage supporters.
"We are incredibly grateful for the time KiwiRail has taken to let experts such as Dunedin architect Gary Todd and developer Justin Stott inspect the building."
Mr Todd and Mr Stott found the building to be in reasonable condition and KiwiRail agreed to keep the building on site for an extended time while the group came up with an acceptable proposal for the building, Ms Galer said.
"Of course more work needs to be done shoring up a proposal involving a potential new use for the building before we can truly celebrate — but we are cautiously optimistic."
"Adaptive reuse of this significant existing building stock is key to telling the full story with the community as part of the current development phase.
"This would appropriately continue to celebrate the memory and connection of many thousands of people in the past, present and future for this iconic Dunedin property."
KiwiRail construction executive general manager Robert Gibbes said the company was committed to keeping the building in situ while the trust explored viable options for future use of the building.
Mr Gibbes said KiwiRail was also keeping the oldest building, the machine shop, on site.
The machine shop was a large timber structure that was built in the 1870s.
"We intend to earthquake-strengthen this building and use it as a store house for wagon components and other inventory."
