It's been 75 years since Invercargill residents voted to end prohibition.

Since then, a community-owned trust has controlled the sale of liquor in the city, frustrating some residents. But it's also funded thousands of southern projects.

Over the last 75 years, the Invercargill Licensing Trust (ILT) has handed out more than $180 million to the community, investing in everything from education to the ILT Stadium and Velodrome. Profits come from running the city's bottle stores along with its major hotels and bars. 

"There are 400 groups that receive assistance from the Invercargill Licensing Trust and the Foundation. And we're involved in just about every aspect of the community," says ILT board chairman Alan Dennis.

"We're involved in every aspect of the life of Invercargill. From major sporting facilities, right through to the arts."

Invercargill had been dry for 38 years when the city voted in 1943 to end prohibition. Residents decided liquor sales should be controlled by a community-owned licensing trust.

ILT still holds a monopoly over off-licence sales in the city. That means you can't buy beer or wine at local supermarkets - something ILT believes is a small price to pay.

"Whilst we acknowledge it's an inconvenience, it's one that the residents of Invercargill have been happy to put up with, given the significant returns that have come back their way," ILT CEO Chris Ramsay says.

ILT is ploughing ahead with a $40 million hotel in the central city - a development set to pour more profits back into the local community.