The Duntroon institution reopened earlier this week after a $450,000 refurbishment.
Waitaki Whitestone Geopark general manager Lynley Browne said it was “a real milestone” to have the work completed.
“It’s been years in the making, what we’re looking at today.
‘‘This refurbishment is only possible because of the vision and the dedication of the people that have gone before.”
The exhibition has undergone a full facelift with new carpet, newly painted walls and revamped displays.
There are also new storyboards on the walls explaining the history of the fossils on display as well as interactive touch screens with more information.
“What was really important for us in this exhibition was to basically revitalise it, modernise it and make it more engaging.”
The exhibition also paid tribute to the “scientific brilliance” of the late University of Otago palaeontologist Emeritus Prof Ewan Fordyce.
Vanished World founding member Mike Gray was one of a handful of past volunteers who got an advanced look at the refurbishment last week.
He loved the way the story of the region was told through the exhibit.
‘‘The story just unfolds in a way that I think is exciting.
‘‘In the past, the exhibits had grown as exhibits arrived over many years so the cohesion of the storytelling wasn’t that strong.
‘‘It was time that the whole thing had a good look and a good study in a professional way to bring it up to museum standards whereby the story telling comes across to the viewers.
‘‘It’s just gone up a level.”
The museum was a real asset to the district, he said.
‘‘As a district we should be proud of it because most museums are big museums that tell multiple stories and here we have a very professional museum telling a local story.
‘‘I think that’s fairly unique. Most people have to go to bigger museums to see these stories but here we have one in our district.”
By refurbishing the museum, it now better links the exhibition with other geopark sites and other tourism operators in the district, geoscientist Sasha Morriss said.
“While it’s within these walls, this is really pointing to a much wider ecosystem right across the district where people can then learn about other aspects of the geopark, whether that be modern penguins, whether that be coastal sites and beaches, whether that be wetlands.”
Ms Browne was excited about the future possibilities for the space.
“We’ll be able to have guest lectures, we will be able to potentially have different exhibits from other museums in time.
“It’s going to open up new opportunities for us here.”
The museum, previously named Vanished World Centre, is run by the Waitaki Whitestone Geopark Trust.
The refurbishment cost about $450,000 which came from previous Vanished World Incorporated Society savings and a string of grants from various trusts.
Ms Browne was thankful for all the support they received from the scientific community as well as local contractors who carried out the work.
Timaru South School will be the first school to visit the revamped museum with 84 students to come through later today.
