More than 20 tonnes of rock is bringing new purpose to an old Cromwell building that has been buried in history.
The old Athenaeum Hall was built in 1874 but more than a century later was three-quarters buried by earthworks associated with the Clyde dam project and filling Lake Dunstan.
A small part of the building, on the outskirts of the Cromwell Heritage Precinct, was still visible above the ground, but it had deteriorated over the years and, even worse, people had removed schist stone from the old walls, Old Cromwell Inc Society board member Helen Scoles said.
''People have been climbing on the walls and knocking stones out, and sometimes people have been seen taking trailer-loads of stone away.''
The remaining walls were now being stabilised and restored in a project led by Old Cromwell Inc Society intended to retain what was left of the hall and remind people of its history and importance, Mrs Scoles said.
''It's important, so people appreciate what the old town was like. The hall is a good landmark.''
A stonemasonry project led by heritage stonemason Keith Hinds, of St Bathans, is now under way and 20 tonnes of schist has been brought in.
One wall facing Lake Dunstan has already been restored to about 1m in height, and another wall across from it will be restored to about 2m in height. The end, even higher, wall, will also be restored.
Mr Hinds said the structure should then survive ''almost indefinitely''.
Mrs Scoles said it was hoped visitors and locals would then use the slightly sheltered, semi-enclosed space as a picnic area.
Some other initiatives have also been done or are under way in the heritage precinct.
A display of photos of old Cromwell before the main street was flooded has been installed in the Cromwell Argus building in the precinct, and a large picture frame for tourists to be photographed in installed at the entrance to the precinct.
Work was also being done to rebuild parts of Armando's Cafe that were damaged in a fire about two weeks ago.
The building and one adjoining it had been made secure by contractors for now, and it was hoped the cafe would be able to reopen by the end of summer, Mrs Scoles said.
