That is the job facing Dooleys Masonry, the Oamaru company renowned for major stone masonry restoration projects through New Zealand, including the present restoration of the facade of the Oamaru Opera House and the restoration of the Dunedin Railway Station.
Kerry Dooley admits the mammoth project will not be easy and will be made more difficult by being unable to find the original plans for the Boer War monument in Oamaru.
Until they remove 2.7m-high marble statue of Trooper Jack on the top, they are unsure about what method they will use to dismantle the monument.
But Mr Dooley is determined it will be rebuilt to its former glory.
Work has already started on the project, with a fence being erected around the construction site.
On June 16, Trooper Jack will be cut from where he has been on top of the monument since it was finished in November 1904.
Mr Dooley expects the statue to be lifted off the monument on June 17.
That will then indicate to Dooleys how best to dismantle the monument.
"We don't really know how exactly we will do it until the trooper is removed and we can see inside," he said.
The monument is made up of panels and blocks, with reinforced concrete of cement and gravel without fines (sand) down the middle.
At the same time the monument is being dismantled, Fulton and Hogan will the pouring the concrete base in its new position.
Mr Dooley said two methods were being considered.
One is to use a cutter to cut sections off and lower them.
The other is to remove the panels and blocks away from the concrete, then demolish the centre.
The pieces of the monument will be cleaned, restored and stored until ready for reassembly.
The monument will be turned 180deg, with Trooper Jack and the recumbent lion at its base facing north.
The water fountain from the lion's mouth into a marble bowl will be restored.
It is expected to complete the project in mid to late October, depending on unknown restoration work and weather.
