Restoration of the boat shed and ticket office building on the Frankton waterfront is on track for completion at the start of May.
Friday marked an important - and delicate - part of the restoration process, when the 1870s New Zealand Railways ticket office was hoisted off its piles by crane to allow the foundations to be replaced.
After 10 years of effort by founders of the Wakatipu Community Maritime Preservation Society (WCMPS), work began in earnest on January 16, with volunteered services and materials.
The WCMPS proposes to restore the boat shed and slipway for public use, and operate the ticket office as a cafe and "interpretation centre, celebrating the [lake's] rich maritime heritage".
WCMPS chairman Tony Butson said the shift allowed tradesmen to work on the ticket office lean-to, in which Stringer Architects planned to house toilets for the cafe, and to work on the foundations.
"Then it will be shifted back into the original position and ... once that's in place, the lake end of the shipping office will have a conservatory added, so that people will be able to enjoy the lake views."
Mr Butson said work on the 1930s boat shed was also proceeding well. Gravel had been cleared from around the shed and the main slipway, which will be restored for community use.
WCMPS committee member Olivia Porter said several artefacts had been found during repair and preservation work so far.
Chief among these was the original New Zealand Railways Shipping Office sign, which would be on display inside the cafe's heritage centre. A replica would grace the outside of the office.
Also found, upstairs in the ticket office, were the office's original windows, which will be restored.
"We have collected some beautiful old bottles, pins, Crown Lynn [ceramics], shipping material and all sorts of other things".
Several people had already come forward with stories about the buildings, and Ms Porter asked anyone with memories or memorabilia to get in touch.
