At the start of the year, the historical HMS Malabar property was a broken shell of a building, slowly crumbling away after lying empty for more than two decades.

But today the former naval supply headquarters that was built in 1899 as the residence of the Office-in-Charge of Works is on the brink of a remarkable revival.

For more than two months, between 20 and 30 workers from two local contractors have undertaken the major renovation project while trying to preserve original features including flooring, banisters, stairways and even the cast iron safes once used to hold money.

The new windows for the naval structure, which is also known as Moresby House, have been painstakingly carved from Accoya wood in Bermuda by local firm Strike Force and installed.

Andrew Dias, general manager of the West End Development Corporation, told The Royal Gazette that the construction project, which will also include landscaping and a new porch, will be complete before the end of April.

“These guys have made pretty amazing progress,” Mr Dias said. “The front section of the property is being totally restored like-for-like so it will look just like it used to be.

“In the back section, we have replaced the majority of the woodwork as well as erecting a new roof and structural beams to create a larger, open space. Significant grading of the land around the property has also taken place and the entrance has been moved farther east for safety reasons.

“The porch phase of the project should be starting within the next two weeks and we will be 100 per cent finished within three to four weeks; April 20 is the date that has been set.”

The end of the HMS Malabar project will coincide with the completion of a series of other historical renovation projects that have been under way at the entrance to Dockyard.

The Bungalow Cottage and the Star of India, which neighbours HMS Malabar, are also expected to be finished within the next month, while work on Prince Alfred Terrace should finish this week.

Wedco has overseen and funded most of the projects, although it received a $3 million government grant for the work on Moresby House that will be paid back under a promissory note.

“We have been upgrading the properties in Dockyard for a number of years,” Mr Dias said. “And many of these projects that are coming to fruition now have been in the pipeline for some time.

“The impetus for doing more at once has partially been down to the America’s Cup and hurricane repair funds becoming available, but it’s important to stress that these projects would have taken place, albeit they might have taken longer to complete.”