Click the image above to view slideshow

One of Te Puke's oldest buildings is back in business, following a near decade-long restoration project.

Plans to renovate the No 2 Road Hall began in early 2006, with the creation of a hall committee that began fundraising for the estimated $350,000 required.

No 2 Road Hall trustees Stan Steel and Steve Vercoe outside the restored hall. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Built by early settlers in 1882 for 303 pounds, the No 2 Road Hall (as it was then called), was originally meant to be the centre of the Te Puke township, says hall trustee Steve Vercoe.

'But the railway couldn't come up the road this far, because of the gorges, so the town's centre was relocated.”

Now a registered historic building with the NZ Historic Places Trust, it was previously used as a school, community hall, and a church.

NZHPT records the hall's first wedding took place in 1885, and it was used as a school from 1907-1956.

After more than 100 years, the building was left vacant, run down and a genuine eye sore.

In October 2006, a committee dedicated to saving and restoring the building on the original site was formed.

'It was deserving of a match,” says Steve. 'When we started going around for donations, two people actually got back to us with a box of matches and said here's my donation.”

By 2011, about $300,000 had been raised and work began on the renovations.

The corrugated iron roof was replaced with shingles and the front entrance restored to a single centre doorway. The rimu lining inside the hall was removed and the ceiling restored; the inside walls are now kauri.

'It's definitely not an eyesore now,” says Steve – who says raising the funds, and completing renovations, was a real community effort.

'It feels really good to have it finished though. It's looking really good and we've had lots of great comment from the public.”

The building is now awaiting its final compliance. With a licence for 50 people, Steve hopes it will be used for weddings and special occasions, such as family reunions.

'We have spent a lot of time and effort, so we want it to be kept for special things.”

The project was initiated in by committee chair Jim Pendergrass, who has written a book ‘' on the hall's history.