When carpet on the ground floor and staircase was due for replacement, the decision was made to restore the original kauri floor, which dates back to 1882 when the building was constructed as premises for the Bank of New South Wales and accommodation for its manager.
Director Jane Macknight said the building was arguably the most important object in the gallery's collection.
The wooden floor recorded the existence of a large fireplace and counter in the main banking chamber, now the main gallery.
The original position of the bank tellers' cubicles was also revealed, including a stain from a spilt ink pot.
''We are very pleased with the result. The carpet had been in need of replacement for some time, after about 30 years of use, and had become a health and safety risk.
''We also needed to investigate small areas of movement in the floor which turned out to be old and failing patches which have now been repaired with heritage kauri,'' she said.
The cost of the project was in keeping with the estimated cost of replacing the carpet.
Overall costs were kept low by a decision not to replace the basement and first floor carpets at this stage.
They will be considered for later upgrade as the cultural facilities redevelopment project progresses.
Gallery curator Alice Lake-Hammond said sculptures on display for the Michele Beevors exhibition, ''The Wreck of Hope'' looked stunning against the polished wood, which was why many galleries chose polished wood floors over other surfaces.
Two other exhibitions opened at the gallery yesterday - ''Ben Ohau'', paintings by Ohau-based painter Belinda Weir, and ''Look Again'', a collaborative project between the gallery and local schools featuring the works of the late North Otago artist Colin Wheeler from the gallery's permanent collection.
