A major redevelopment of the Wisharts Blacksmith and Motor Garage building within the Old Cromwell Town historic precinct was celebrated at a formal ceremony on site yesterday.
About 60 people, including members of Old Cromwell Inc's board, the wider Cromwell community, and contractors involved in the project, attended the official opening and afternoon tea.
The ceremony also served as an acknowledgement of the work done by Old Cromwell Inc manager Elisabeth Williamson, who died last Sunday.
Old Cromwell Inc president Adrian Somerville said the building's opening was brought forward two weeks in the hope she would be able to attend.
Breen Construction Ltd staff worked for almost a year on the two-storey building, which was a blacksmith's shop.
"We hope to have it all up and running within a month," Mr Somerville said.
Built in the 1870s, Wisharts had also been used as a motor garage, before being damaged by fire during the 1980s.
Redevelopment of the category two historic building was part of a $1 million restoration and upgrade of the historic precinct and its original structures, after almost $1.2 million was granted to Old Cromwell Inc by various charitable organisations in 2008.
Plans for the precinct's two-year facelift also included the construction of a new village green, Globe Hotel, and the old post office - which would include the original telephone exchange boards and cables.
Breen workers have started building the Globe Hotel next to Wisharts, and will construct the old post office on the other side of the former smithy.
Mr Somerville said once this work was complete, Old Cromwell Inc would attempt further precinct development.
