The centre is a new heritage and history hub in Norfolk St that will feature the town’s museum, heritage research, and local history displays.
Two of five parts of the centre, the Gore Visitors Centre and Māruawai Temporary Exhibition Space, will open in July.
Eastern Southland Gallery curator Jim Geddes is polishing off the last few aspects of the exhibition area, building the last few walls and displays.
There were already events in the works for the space, he said.
‘‘The idea is that we will be launching it with a themed exhibition from the museum, then in October we’ve got our first touring exhibition from Te Papa,’’ he said.
The Hokonui Heritage Research Centre will be structurally complete by July and fitted out in October, which will provide a publicly accessible archive of information and publications in the Gore district.
Work on the He Hikoi a Te Awaawa Mataura / Journey Through the Mataura Valley and Gore Historical Museum displays and Flemings Mill displays, which will describe a journey through the history of the region from river to industry, continues but is being hindered by a lack of funding.
There is no timeline for completion and Mr Geddes said the whole project had been difficult for the past few years although bit by bit it was coming together.
‘‘It all depends on the funding, and we had it prior to Covid. The problem was with the rapid increase of building materials, it pretty much doubled. The funding for the displays had to go into the building, and we had to pretty much start again.
‘‘The good news is we got to this point debt free and fully funded. We just kept slowly fundraising and bringing in donations, and when the cash flow comes on stream we will just keep developing it,’’ he said.
He was very pleased to be at this point in the project after the funding goal posts ‘‘shifted into another planet’’.
The Gore District Council initially funded $1m for the project back in 2007 with a further allocation of $350,000 and the rest came from various organisations and individuals contributing to the project through grants or donations.
Former mayor Tracy Hicks was in charge at the time of the green light for the project and said despite controversy around funding and the long wait it was going to be an asset for the community.
‘‘I think it’s going to be really exciting and a well worthwhile addition to this part of the world. It’s one we’ve been missing for quite some time, telling the story of the Mataura Valley.
‘‘I think knowing our history tells us a lot about ourselves and also foretells a lot about what the future might hold as well,’’ he said.
Mr Hicks said a lot of time and effort had been poured into the project between the members of the arts and heritage department and the community who he thanked for their generosity.
A date for the official opening of the centre is yet to be set.
