Durie Hill Elevator returns to normal operations

Published on 02 May 2022

The Durie Hill Elevator is back in business.

The elevator’s annual maintenance check and repairs to a slip that restricted access to its Anzac Parade entrance are now complete. While the maintenance check and slip repairs were underway, Whanganui District Council provided a free shuttle service on weekdays for elevator users and the Durie Hill community. This service has now ended.

Durie Hill Elevator operator Anthonie Tonnon is pleased it was business as usual from Saturday, 30 April and in time for the start of the school term on Monday, 2 May.

“While the Anzac Parade slip repairs were underway, we continued to offer return trips from the Blyth Street entrance so visitors and others could still enjoy the lift experience. While they couldn’t access Anzac Parade they were still able to explore the underground tunnel.

“We’re looking forward to seeing our regulars again - including students on the school run and Durie Hill residents who use the lift to access the town centre and Whanganui locals and their families visiting Durie Hill for recreation,” says Anthonie Tonnon.

Council general manager – property and open spaces, Sarah O’Hagan, said repairs to the slip, which happened following heavy rain from Cyclone Dovi in early March, were complex. Its closeness to nearby buildings, the new entranceway structure, Durie Hill Steps and State Highway 4 meant extreme care had to be taken to keep the public and contractors safe.

Whanganui arborists used abseiling equipment to remove several tree trunks and branches that were putting strain on the undermined bank before work could begin to clear the slip.

Once cleared of tree debris, a specialist geotechnical abseiling crew carefully removed the unstable material.  About 60 cubic metres of material was removed over three days.

“The stabilised bank now requires hydroseeding – to be sprayed with grass and mulch – but this can be done while the entranceway is open,” Sarah O’Hagan says.

“We’re pleased to have the entrance open again and we would like to thank elevator users and the Durie Hill community for their patience while this work was completed.”

After being closed because of COVID-19 restrictions, the Durie Hill War Memorial Tower is also open again for visitors under the Orange traffic light setting. 

Other work to reseal the surface of the lookout area above the elevator’s Blyth Street entrance has been delayed. The lookout is closed in the meantime and is expected to reopen on Wednesday, 4 May.

More information about the historic elevator.