A huge funding shortfall has made it unlikely that a monument recognising Cardrona's original settlers and war veterans will be built.
Cardrona Heritage Trust (CHT) chairman Blyth Adams told a gathering of about 40 people at the Cardrona Valley residents and ratepayers annual meeting during the weekend a museum could be a "swap" for a war memorial.
About $75,000 is needed by the CHT to advance its plans for a life-size statue of a horse and rider on a plinth, which would be situated in the grounds of the Cardrona Hall and the township's restored chapel.
However, a resource consent for the war memorial and settlers monument would expire in October this year, Mr Adams said.
The CHT had raised almost $6000 for the monument project, but had been unsuccessful in applying for funding grants, which had resulted in the financial shortfall, he said.
Grants had been made by some community trust organisations and this could be used for a museum, Mr Adams said.
The idea found favour with several residents, who want to see a memorial to recognise Cardrona's early gold-mining pioneers, settlers and its world war servicemen.
Cardrona resident Yvonne Visser said a museum would be more beneficial to the local community than a monument because it would keep visitors in the village for longer.
"It will provide tourists with an alternative attraction when they stop to visit the hotel," she said.
Waiorau Station landowner John Lee and the CHT had been in discussions over a potential site for a future museum, with a land parcel at the entrance to the Snow Farm and Snow Park skifields earmarked, Mr Adams said.
However, the distance between the skifield entrance intersections and the main Cardrona village could pose access issues, as it would be preferable for people to walk between any attractions, he said.
Cardrona Hotel proprietor Peter Byrne said the restored historic post office and schoolmaster's room alongside the hotel was unused and could incorporate a museum.
