Windmill to undergo major facelift
One of the country’s oldest surviving windmills could soon be restored to its former glory.
The historic Willowbank windmill, which was built in 1909, is to undergo a major facelift with the construction of a new main fan.
And to help pay for the restoration, the All Points branch of Rural Women New Zealand will hold a country fete at Hawthorn Den Inn at Willowbank on Sunday February 24.
All Points member Jeanette McIntyre said the windmill was a well-known landmark and icon in the district.
‘’It’s very precious and an iconic part of our district and we want to preserve if for history’s sake,’’ McIntyre said.
The Willowbank windmill has a category 1 listing under the Historic Places Trust and was recognised as a building of significance.
It is one of only two railway windmills to survive on its original site in New Zealand complete with its own water tank, the other one being in Nelson.
The Willowbank windmill served the Waikaka branch railway line from 1911 until the line’s closure in 1962.
It provided water for the steam locomotives travelling from McNab to Waikaka in Eastern Southland.
McIntyre said more than 116 railway windmills were dotted around the country in the early 1900s.
The wind provided the power to operate the pump which filled the tank with water to supply the steam locomotives for their operation.
Water tanks or vats were strategically placed along New Zealand’s railway lines and connected to pumps commonly powered by the windmills.
Many of the vats have now been demolished or have simply deteriorated through lack of maintenance.
The construction of the main fan on the Willowbank windmill would be carried out by Colin Smith of the Croydon Aircraft Company at Mandeville.
McIntyre said about 30 stall holders were expected to attend the country fete at Hawthorn Den Inn.
‘’We’ve focused on having good quality, mostly local stall holders.’’
She hoped the fete would raise a significant amount of money for the restoration of the Willowbank windmill.
The stallholders would sell a range of items from food and fashion to vintage clothing and artworks, entertainment and face painting for the kids.
McIntyre said the windmill committee would also have a display and information stand at the fete.
The fete will open at 11am on Sunday February 24 with the cost of admission $10 for adults while kids were free.