The historic Nicol's Blacksmith Shop in Duntroon will be fired up and opened to the public on Saturday.
A community fundraising project for the restoration of the "smithy", which has category one status from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust, is being launched.
It is the only village blacksmith registered with the trust and is in its original condition - timber-framed and clad, and unlined.
The interior of the working areas contain original equipment, including the forge, bellows, wheel pit and jig.
The business was founded in the 1890s.
Pupils from Duntroon School will visit the smithy tomorrow and they will initiate a coin trail (of 10c pieces), which, if it reaches the desired length of 1km, will raise about $5000.
Entry to Saturday's open day will be by donation.
Nicol's Blacksmith Historic Trust chairman John Hore said the trust was applying for funding for the restoration.
The cost of the project was difficult to determine as it was "virtually impossible" to get a firm quote for the work required "because old buildings are always full of surprises", Mr Hore said.
A structural engineer's report on the building was next on the trust's checklist, and the tools and objects left behind when the smithy closed had to be catalogued.
