The Old Sod Cottage at Lovells Flat, just outside Milton, is a familiar sight to drivers heading south on State Highway 1.
Overseer the South Otago Historical Society has hired artisan plasterer Mike Jackson to carry out an $88,000 restoration of the cottage’s walls and floor in traditional lime plaster, which should help conserve its structure for centuries to come.
Although the name of the 1862 landmark may have led to occasional light-hearted speculation about the age and demeanour of its inhabitants, Mr Jackson said in fact "Old Sod
"The building is made of cobs, not sods. Cob comes from subsoil, and can be shaped and used in various forms. Sod is the top turf, which was also sometimes used to make early structures, but not in this case.
"I’ve been asked to remove an earlier restoration from the 1970s that used sand, cement, modern paint and a bit of chicken wire framework in places, and replace it with a traditional lime and horsehair plaster, and lime wash.
"This will allow the walls to breathe properly, and should help conserve the building for the next 200 years-plus."
Sometime farmers used "cow power" to prepare cob for building.
"Farmers would dig up the cob and spread it in their cow yard. Then the cows would trample it, while the farmer mixed in straw and a bit of manure from the animals, and the resulting mixture could be shaped into blocks for building use.
"The cottage here is made partly from blocks, although I couldn’t say if they had any help from cows."
Society spokeswoman Dr Roz McKechnie said the group was pleased to get the restoration under way after fundraising for several years.
She hoped the project would be complete by the end of the year, including interior and exterior replastering, and replacement of a concrete floor with compacted earth.
"Unfortunately vandalism and thefts have delayed the start of the project by several years, and we’re still seeking about half the funding to complete the three phases of work.
"The cottage was an inn and post office in its heyday during [the] gold rush years, and had occasional inhabitants up until 1939.
"The society took on its conservation from owners the Clark family in 1969, and it’s become a significant landmark and important part of the history of the area.
"We’d welcome any support people felt able to offer to help bring it back into its original state."
