The Cardrona hall was built in 1879 as the local school. Children used to walk or ride for many miles to attend lessons each day, and the adjoining paddock was where they left their ponies during school hours. For many years, Cardrona was the largest school in the whole of the Wanaka district, but in 1954 dwindling numbers caused its closure. It was then gifted to the valley as a community hall, and in recent years both the hall and church have been restored to their original condition and are now used to host meetings, weddings, and musical events.