A $1.1 million grant from the Central Lakes Trust (CLT) will go towards giving the Cromwell Museum a new space in the Cromwell memorial hall and events centre, due to open next year.
The Central Otago District Council (CODC) and the Cromwell Museum acknowledged with gratitude CLT’s grant, which will be used for the museum fit out, CODC Group Manager – Community Experience David Scoones said.
“This grant will enable the Council to develop a high-quality experience for visitors, which will reflect the history of the Cromwell area from the early times of Māori presence, through the days of the Otago gold rush, and the growth of pastoral farming through to the present day.”
The Trust had funded a total of $2.8m towards the new hall and event centre. Part of the most recent CLT grant will also go towards building a new playground.
“We are grateful to the CLT team for all their work and extra contribution to this project,” Mr Scoones said.
Cromwell Community Board Chair Anna Harrison also expressed the Board’s gratitude:
“We are excited about how these spaces are coming together and the facilities they will provide for our community. Thank you to CLT for this additional funding to support the project.”
Cromwell Museum trustees chair Martin Anderson said the grant would enable the museum to realise its vision of interpreting the region’s culture and history to an ever-growing population.
“In a stunning location in old Cromwell, overlooking Lake Dunstan and adjacent to the cycle trail, the museum will attract a wide cross section of locals and visitors. The development of new displays will identify the museum as a facility of national importance.”
The museum is working towards occupying its new space from July 2026.
