The business closed in March 2007 and the Bickleys bought it in February 2008 for an undisclosed sum after it was passed in at auction for $1.625 million.
The couple shifted from their sheep farm in Tuatapere, Southland, to Clyde in May last year with son Luke (6) and daughter Janie (21 months).
While they enjoy living in Central Otago, they admit that upgrading Olivers is an ambitious project and one possibly better suited to people with a hospitality background or a couple without a young family.
"Taking on this project chews up a fair bit of time and, with a young family, that's difficult," Mr Bickley said.
For those reasons, they plan to "test the water" by placing the complex back on the market.
"We're under no pressure to sell - it's not for financial reasons," he said.
"I guess there's other opportunities that we could look at investing in, and there's still a bit of a pull to go back to farming.
"We're in no hurry to sell and, in the meantime, we'll keep tracking on with our plans of doing it up."
The complex was an impulse buy, Mr Bickley said, but everyone agreed there was "something special" about the property.
"I've always loved stone buildings and would like to see this all back in business as a lodge, with a cafe and restaurant, and catering for weddings."
The couple have tidied up the extensive grounds, had some stone walls repaired, and started preliminary work needed before an upgrade of the accommodation part of the complex.
Renovating the rooms and facilities is their first priority.
The buildings are classified as Category 1 by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, so there are restrictions on what can be done and how work is carried out.
Mr Bickley said they had fielded inquiries from people wanting to know if the facility was available as a wedding venue and the grounds had been used for a couple of weddings during summer.
"You'd get a lot more weddings, of course, if it was opened up and had catering attached."
Clyde was continuing to grow, with a new shop and businesses on the north side of Olivers.
The building was too cold to live in during winter so the family had moved into their nearby holiday home.
