With just a single day each year allocated to maintenance there is no allowance for downtime when faced with the challenge of repainting the Durie Hill Elevator tunnel. A team of eight painters armed with Resene Wintergrade Lumbersider were charged with washing down the tunnel and applying two full coats ready for reopening just a day later.

Resene Wintergrade Lumbersider was selected due to the low temperatures experienced in the tunnel during the application period and to ensure that the short timeframe could be met.

Finished on 2nd August 1919, the Durie Hill Elevator is unique in the Southern Hemisphere allowing residents to ride in relative comfort to the hilltop rather than take the more taxing steps alongside. The tunnel leads 205 metres inside the hill to the Elevator itself, which rises 66 metres to the top of the hill in an ascent time of one minute.

From practical beginnings the Durie Hill Elevator is now a popular (and well painted!) tourist stop giving thousands of visitors a spectacular view over Wanganui City with the minimum of exertion.

Painting Contractor: G Jones Decorating, Quality Decorating
Owner: Wanganui District Council
Resene: Neville Rowan, Wanganui Trade Sales Representative
From the Resene News – issue 4/2005