Loan and Merc lift ready

WITH a fourperson limitedaccess goods lift now operational in the massive 1882 Loan and Merc in Harbour St, the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust is not rushing to fill the first floor of its landmark building.

The secondstorey of the threestorey building has been vacant since the start of this year when the former tenant, the New Zealand Whisky Company moved its Oamaru barrel storage and bottling to the nearby Northern Hotel, in Tyne St.

Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust chairman Graeme Clark said while there had been a couple of inquiries since the beginning of the year, the trust had not ‘‘pushed’’ securing a tenant before the lift was completed, which had transformed the possibilities for the space.

‘‘It’s adaptive reuse, that’s the old catch phrase, but it’s quite true in this day and age. It would be good to get something to enhance the street obviously,’’ he said.

‘‘We are keen to get it leased out — but we’re kind of looking for the right people as well.

‘‘It’s a big space and it’s got to work for the people in there — but we’re looking for something interesting.’’

The trust owns 16 140yearold buildings in the town’s Victorian precinct. And heading into summer, he said he expected interest to increase as activity in the Victorian precinct ramped up.

Next year the trust would celebrate 30 years, having hosted its first public annual meeting in 1990.

It was working on ‘‘a couple of projects’’ to mark the occasion in the precinct.

‘‘It’s not just Oamaru’s asset, it’s a piece of New Zealand’s colonial history that we’re the caretakers of.

‘‘Oamaru’s very fortunate to have our heritage buildings — and it’s our point of difference. It’s the cultural hub of Oamaru.’’

The ground floor of the Loan and Merc is occupied by Housekeepers Function and the top floor by outdoor apparel brand Moke.