Siblings Cade and Kottia Vercoe think the new extension to the Marlborough Rock and Mineral Club, well, rocks.
Cade, nine, and Kottia, six, were at the grand opening of the club's new $45,000 extension on Saturday, along with founding members of the club.
Club president Ron Bothwell said construction took two years, using voluntary labour, and the money was raised by selling books, hosting shows and from the commission on items sold in the shop.
Growing membership in the past few years prompted the expansion of the club's headquarters at Brayshaw Park, he said.
No decisions had been made on the eventual use of the space, but it was built to store display cabinets, books, donated rocks and minerals and maps.
Members go on regular field trips, and teach people how to carve stone and make jewellery out of it.
The clubroom has a workroom with numerous saws and drills, which members use to sharpen their carving skills, as well as an impressive collection of rocks and fossils from around the world.
Founding member Bessie Arnold said the club had come a long way since its humble beginnings in 1973, when 32 people gathered at a house in Renwick for the club's first meeting.
The clubroom was built in 1996 and was extended in 2000.
Mrs Arnold said her grandson, who is now a geographical sciences tutor at Massey University, had maintained an interest in geology that started as a young boy on the club's field trips.
"It stirred an interest in him. He always used to look around and find something."
The club is open to the public every Sunday.
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