That was one option for using the building, which will be vacant if a $5million upgrade of the district’s rest-home and hospital proceeds.
The plans for the upgrade involve a wing being added to the Chalet Home for the Aged and a new hospital built there, incorporating the two services into one building.
The existing hospital on the site, built in 1929, would be surplus to requirements, Maniototo Health Services Ltd board chairman Stuart Paterson told a meeting in Ranfurly this week, held to gauge support for the redevelopment plans.
"Then we’ll sell it or find a new use for it. We want to hear ideas for its use and it would be good if it could be be used again for some reason and, of course, it would have to be used for something appropriate to be in the vicinity of a hospital," he said.
The building has Heritage New Zealand category two classification, as a "place of historical or cultural significance or value".
At the meeting, businesswoman Amie Pont said the hospital building could become the base for a thriving tourism venture, housing the Eden Hore collection.
"It could become a major tourism venture. I’d just like to sow that seed ... "
The Central Otago District Council bought the 276-item collection in August 2013 for $40,000.
The garments, collected by Naseby farmer Eden Hore, are regarded as the country’s largest private collection of 1970s and 1980s couture fashion and have been insured for $92,750.
A study into the care, storage and display of the collection is being carried out. Ranfurly resident Mike Summers praised the health company’s plans.
He asked who would maintain the old hospital building when it became surplus to requirements.
"It will just deteriorate until it’s sold or demolished," he said.
Mr Paterson agreed the building would become "a major problem" if it remained vacant.
It would cost up to $400,000 to demolish the facility, so the health company was keen for it to be used for another purpose, he said.
