The South Otago Historical Society last summer hired artisan plasterer Mike Jackson to carry out a full restoration of the Old Sod Cottage, near Milton, which began by replastering the interior using traditional lime plaster.
Society spokeswoman and South Otago Museum curator Dr Roz McKechnie said yesterday Mr Jackson had recently completed exterior replastering for the 1862 cottage, which sits beside State Highway 1 at Lovells Flat.
She said the restoration fixed long-standing issues with earlier efforts to conserve the former inn and post office which had left its clay structure prone to rising damp.
"Everyone is very excited to see it looking so clean and tidy. Earlier restoration around 1970 had used what was available at the time, but a combination of factors meant that wasn’t suitable for the building’s long-term conservation.
"Mike has done a fantastic job using traditional materials that should allow the cottage to stand as a heritage landmark for many decades to come."
The Lovells Flat Women’s Institute oversaw day-to-day maintenance of the site.
"It’s such a visible and well-known landmark for anyone who uses the highway or lives locally. We have an application in for heritage protection status, although that’s a lengthy process, which we hope will eventually bear fruit."
In the meantime, the cottage would remain available for the public to visit while further minor restoration work was completed.
"It won’t be going anywhere anytime soon."
