The restored museum is again set to be one of the main visitor attractions within the Bells Parade precinct on the Mersey River.

Beautiful Bells Parade and Pig Island are key destinations along the Coastal Pathway, thanks to the new River Road section opening next month, connecting Latrobe to Devonport.

Thanks also to Landcare hero Ron Hedditch who has tirelessly worked with brother Phillip since 1991, maintaining the area.

Latrobe Deputy Mayor Graeme Brown said lots of wildlife returned to the island because of their efforts.

"We installed a gravel track around the island to cover the roots that stopped people using it, and there are boardwalks and seating for people to enjoy the area," Mr Hedditch said.

"This is the jewel in the crown of Latrobe and with the new Axeman's Hall of Fame display, this is an amazing place to visit," Councillor Brown said.

The Australian Axeman's Hall of Fame closed six years ago amid concerns it no longer represented the rich history of the sport.

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Originally built with a federal grant, it opened in 1999 to become one of the best-known Latrobe tourist sites but had gotten tired and outdated.

Latrobe Council took over managing the building from the Australian Axeman's Association (AAA) and leased it to a Thai restaurant operator.

Despite signs all over town bringing visitors to the Australian Axeman's Hall of Fame, people were disappointed to find a room buried out the back was closed.

However, after months of work in conjunction with the AAA, the displays have been modernised and improved using new and old technology. Visitors can see through to the area due to a new entry.

Memorabilia related to each woodchopping "Legend" is displayed in cases.

There's a wall with inductees' names and access to an online database of inductees.

A large screen shows competition footage, and you can watch stories and interviews about the sport.

Before the refurbished museum formally reopens in April, two icons with chopping in their DNA took a sneak peek.

Larger-than-life chopping legend North-West Axeman's Association president David Foster and AAA vice president Dale Beams were impressed.

Mr Beams with wife Amanda are the sport's power couple, and all three are world-class woodchoppers who feature in the display.

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"They have done an excellent job," Mr Beams said of the duo brought in to breathe life into the Hall of Fame.

The council was fortunate to find curator and conservator Libby Prescott and graphic designer Marianne Hawke living in the municipality helping with the Shearwater Seven Day Makeover.

Bringing the Axeman's Hall of Fame back to life was their first joint project.

It was clear the old display didn't fit the space it inhabited.

"It was too cluttered and had lost its train of thought, so it was rethinking how to very simply and with a fairly minimal budget revisit the whole thing and put it back together to tell the story," Ms Hawke said.

There are always axes to grind in any sport, but as outsiders, the women were able to visit the famous woodchopping families and obtain some of the missing links needed to tell the story.

"We had to get the showcase back to where it should have been representing the rich history of the sport," Mr Beams said.

He was sceptical after being told the consultants knew nothing about woodchopping.

However, bringing fresh eyes and coming from outside the inner sanctum of the sport paid off.

"They've come at it from a different angle, and looking at it now less is best," Mr Beams said.

"It's been done professionally, and it looks brilliant.

"This is a valuable tourist attraction.

"You can visit this place and truly see the history of our sport; it's all here, and you can learn about our legends and inductees, and hopefully, we can improve on it even further in the future."

The Australian Axeman's Hall of Fame was built at Latrobe because the town hosted the world's first official international woodchopping championship in 1891 at George Atkinson's saleyards behind the Lucas Hotel.

The huge event had up to 4000 spectators, many coming by special trains from Ulverstone, Deloraine, and Launceston.

"The sport spread from (Latrobe) and went worldwide," Ms Prescott said.

Australian axemen excelled as winners of national and international titles, and the athletes who were a cut above the rest became revered as legends.

The Australian Axeman's Hall of Fame is dedicated to their achievements.

"They are fantastic physical athletes; their strength, balance, dexterity, and skills are just phenomenal, and I hope it continues because it is an amazing sport," Ms Prescott said.

"Every single 'legend' inducted into this Hall of Fame is a character in his own right."

The new-look Australian Axeman's Hall of Fame has captured and saved all that history.

"It was in danger of disappearing; it was dispersing and being neglected, and this has salvaged it," Ms Hawke said.

The initial idea for a showcase stemmed from Foster's father, George, who dreamt of "winning Lotto" to build one for his trophies.

At his funeral a timber industry manager asked what would become of it all and the seed was sown.

His powerhouse son went on to win an astonishing 186 world titles becoming a national celebrity and is the only woodchopper inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

"They have done a fantastic job; it does look great, and it's also leading us towards the future," Mr Foster said.

He would love to see a woodchopping event and inductees dinner at the venue.