With capacity for 180 people, The Haybarn (below) will be used for functions including weddings, funerals and conferences.
Set in an established woodland, it’ll face two just-completed ponds designed as an attractive setting for wedding ceremonies.
Chris Meehan, CEO of development company Winton, says work on landscaping the ponds will be finished in the next two to three months.
In terms of timing, he says the priority’s completing Ayrburn’s flagship restaurant Billy’s, in the old homestead, about June.
He expects construction of The Haybarn to start October/November and to take at least a year and a-half.
Designed again by Cromwell’s SA Studio, the building will contain a function hall, ceremony/lounge area, kitchen, barn, office and storage areas, bathroom facilities and dressing and day rooms on a mezzanine floor.
"It’s a really nice setting," Meehan says. "It’s surrounded by tall trees so you can’t see it from any of the Ayrburn roads or the Lake Hayes road."
The venue’s named after a rickety haybarn that’ll be demolished.
Along with the building, Ayrburn also has resource consent for drop-off bays for three coaches and an overflow carpark with 53 parks.
Operatic star Jonathan Lemalu. PHOTO: SUSSIE AHLBURG
DJ, opera star, rock band
Ayrburn's mixing up musical genres with three big gigs at The Dell in the next two months.
Carl Cox, rated the most influential DJ over the past 30 years, performs on February 16, along with international superstar Cristoph, from 2 till 8pm, with more acts to be announced.
About 1700 out of 3000 tickets have sold already.
Confirmed only this week, Dunedin-raised, internationally-renowned bass-baritone Jonathan Lemalu, who performed in Arrowtown last winter, takes the stage for Ayrburn’s inaugural Opera in the Park on February 22, from 4.30 till 8pm — ticket details via ayrburn.com
Then, on March 29, the legendary Jordan Luck Band performs 6.30 till 8pm after local warm-up acts Harriet and the Radiophonics (4.30pm) and Ginger & Tonic (5.30pm) — those tickets are also available through Ayrburn’s website.
