And responsibility for ensuring that Eyemouth's most prominent building will be ready by then has been given to Derek Janes, a resident of Cockburnspath for the past six years.
Advertising for the role of administrator coincided fortuitously with Derek retiring as senior manager of culture and sport at the City of Edinburgh Council, and when he retired at the end of March this year he was free to take up the part-time position with Gunsgreen House. Derek's career has been largely spent in managing and working in museums in Lancaster, Bury, Coventry and Edinburgh and his experience will be invaluable as the Gunsgreen House Trust move forward with their ambitious project to make Gunsgreen House one of the most exciting new visitor attractions in the Borders.
Derek said: "This is a really wonderful opportunity – I can use all the experience and knowledge I have built up to help the trust to make a success of this exciting and important project. I look forward to working with local people, organisations, and businesses in Eyemouth and East Berwickshire to further grow the tourist industry in this area.
"We are keen that Gunsgreen House adds to and benefits Eyemouth by being an additional attraction for both the people in Eyemouth and visitors to enjoy," added Derek who will be working alongside the volunteers at Eyemouth Museum to ensure the two visitor attractions complement rather than compete with each other.
Colonel Simon Furness, who chairs the trust's operational management group, said, "The trust has been very fortunate in procuring the services of a professional with so much relevant experience."
The trust hope to have enough work completed on the house to be able to open it up to local groups over the winter months.
Once the house is open, visitors will enter at cellar level, their first encounter bringing them face to face with its most notorious role as the centre of smuggling in Eyemouth and the Berwickshire coast.
"What we have got here is a house that has a real link with the smuggling trade," explained Derek.
After finding out about the history of smuggling along the coastline visitors will then move into the basement where there will be a video introduction to the house and its owner John Nisbet. The kitchens of the house are on this level and are being developed into facilities for children and older people to enjoy. The main floor will be furnished as it would have been in the 18th century, and the house's infamous tea chute (where 'non-duty paid tea was hidden from the authorities) will be there for all to see.