Annika Grant and Tineke Enright had the 1941 building — part of Queenstown’s original high school — moved in June from its Stanley St site where it had operated as an arts centre for 20-plus years.
Being renamed School House Studios, it’s being restored ahead of an opening in about February.
It’ll house 10 tenancies ranging from 20 to 80sqm.
So far about 25 people have shown interest in taking a space, though others are still welcome to register via www.countrylane.nz
Everyone will then be invited to a walk-through around the middle of this month.
Grant, who’s operations manager, says "because we want the building to be open and as interactive as possible for people visiting Country Lane, we’re saying you have to be open five days a week, including a weekend day, from a minimum 11am to 3pm".
For would-be tenants who’d struggle to open all those hours, she’s suggesting they consider sharing their space with another creative.
Enright says though the 375sqm building’s exterior remains as is, including a replacement lean-to, the interior layout’s being revamped.
However, builders Tahuna Building Ltd are also repurposing a lot of the original materials.
One discovery’s an original blackboard, about four metres long, that’ll be reinstated.
All bar one of the tenancies will have their own exterior access.
Meanwhile, Grant says future plans for Country Lane include renovating the original farm homestead, a wellness hub — "we’ve probably got 15 request for wellness, beauty and health [tenancies]" — and an office building.
