The Arrowtown Trust won the supreme award at this year's TrustPower Queenstown Lakes District Community Awards, held at Arrowtown Hall last night.
The trust earned its award for the restoration of three historic but deteriorating Buckingham St cottages and the former Millers Flat church for low-impact commercial use.
The trust receive a certificate, trophy and $1500 prize money.
It now goes on to represent the district at the 2011 national community awards, in the Ashburton district in March.
TrustPower community relations representative Jess Somerville said a special part of Arrowtown's rich history lived on thanks to the committed volunteers of the Arrowtown Trust.
"The restoration of the three miners cottages was a mammoth task achieved by huge voluntary hours from the Arrowtown Trust."
Volunteers were involved in every aspect of the project, from background work, co-ordinating the construction, and fundraising the more than $700,000 needed to complete the project.
"Thanks to the foresight of the Arrowtown Trust, Arrowtown is now home to three fully restored miners cottages and a special part of its unique history has been preserved for the benefit of many, " Miss Somerville said.
Wanaka rower and Mt Aspiring College year 13 pupil Saasha Bruce (18) was named the winner of the youth community spirit award.
Miss Somerville said yesterday Saasha was a natural leader who had served as a volunteer since the age of 11.
She has helped at a local library, umpired netball, coached basketball and rowing, been involved in local productions and cared for two severely disabled children.
She holds nine Otago rowing records and was a recent New Zealand junior rowing world championship team triallist.
She will received a framed certificate and $250, and donated another $250 of her prize to Wanaka youth group Kahu Youth.
