The house was given by the Anderson family to the Invercargill City Council in 1951, but has been closed since 2014 due to earthquake concerns.
After many delays and budgets constraints, last year council contractors started the required strengthening and external watertightness work on the facility.
Trust chairman Craig Macalister said yesterday, regardless of completion of that part, there was still work to do in the interior of the house to make it completely functioning.
However, the trust has been working with council staff to develop a business plan and an operational model which would best fit the current funding opportunities and demand.
There was nothing confirmed yet but by September it was aiming to open at least part of the facility, the ground floor, to the public on weekends, he said.
"We will be working towards having the whole house reopening, but it will take time to get there.
"The whole work which is happening now will basically open the doors but there will be a bit of work which is needed inside the property — so our proposal is to promote a staged open approach to recognise that, and to acknowledge there would be some limitations on its usage for a period."
The trust has submitted a proposal to the council’s venues and event services unit, which would be soon presented to councillors to formally request occupancy of Anderson House.
It had previously indicated it would like to take on the running of the house, prospectively using it as a function complex and even potentially establishing a cafe there, he said.
Mr Macalister said the trust was planning to promote open day events to understand the community’s needs and wishes, and fundraising could cover the costs of the necessary improvements.
It could include upgrades in the kitchen and toilet, he said.
"The trust is quite happy to fundraise to achieve goals but we need to understand what these goals are and, at the moment, with the house locked up, it is really hard to do that."
He was looking forward to having the strengthening and external watertightness completed.
"Then hopefully in end of May we can start to get it ready to have it open by spring.
"It is very exciting for ourselves and for the Invercargill community as I’m sure they are looking forward to get bit more use of this facility."
