Cottage ideas sought

Christina Martin.
Christina Martin.
People are being asked to "BYO  ideas" to an "open home with a difference" at Vallance Cottage on Sunday.

An open day is being held at the historic Alexandra cottage and ideas for how to utilise the  area are being sought.

The Vincent Community Board wants to lease out part of the recreational reserve land surrounding the cottage to a small, mobile commercial operation and recently sought expressions of interest.

It was hoped an operation such as a mobile food/coffee vendor or retail shop/artist in a portable cabin would be suited to the area, Central Otago District Council property facilities officer Christina Martin said.

Having an attraction there would bring more visitors to the cottage and more income to maintain it, through donations from visitors viewing the cottage and the lease for the commercial operation, Ms Martin said.

But there was no formal interest,  and the VCB was now seeking other ideas. To step up community interest in the building, an open day would be held on Sunday from noon until 2pm, Ms Martin said.

"People are invited to come on down to the cottage, speak with the working group members and take a step back in time looking around the 1897 cottage."

A new interpretation panel for the cottage will also be  unveiled. The mud-brick cottage, in Samson St, was home  to several  generations of the Vallance family and given to the community by the family in the mid-1990s.

pam.jones@odt.co.nz

Add a Comment