Hill elevator reopens
Whanganui’s iconic Durie Hill elevator reopened yesterday after a comprehensive mechanical overhaul.
This will be good news for residents of the hillside suburb who regularly use the elevator to get up the hill and for visitors keen to experience one of Whanganui’s most popular vintage attractions.
Whanganui District Council’s facilities management officer, Pete Tantrum, says there has been ongoing maintenance on the elevator, “but a recent breakdown gave us an opportunity to take the elevator mechanism out and give it a full refurbishment”.
“While we were waiting on parts to arrive from overseas, we were able to disassemble the whole thing and thoroughly check every part.”
He says the 100-year-old elevator, “is now operating like a new machine and customers will notice that it runs a lot smoother with the work completed. It’s an amazing piece of engineering.”
Whanganui & Partners’ acting general manager and strategic lead — destination marketing, Paul Chaplow, says visitor numbers will increase over summer.
“We’re very pleased to have the Durie Hill elevator back in action and in really good shape in time for the school holidays and our summer events.
“This summer is shaping up to be one of our busiest ever with the vibe. festival this weekend, Christmas events, Speedweek, Opera Week, Vintage Weekend, the 30th Anniversary New Zealand Masters Games and the CoLab international glass conference all happening before the end of February.
“With an attraction as unique as the elevator, it’s important to have it running when visitors are in town.”
Mr Chaplow says the elevator is a must-do experience. “The view from the top, across the city and the Whanganui River, is superb — and then you can climb up the Durie Hill War Memorial Tower for an even more panoramic outlook.”
Centenary celebrations for will be in August.