Carnival of rust

 

While I was down at the waterfront trying to get my head around all the exciting heritage stuff going on just everywhere, I spotted a rusty old crane that instantly had me almost running to it (probably because I LOVE old cranes and machinery) to get a photo. I figured it was probably something used at the Oamaru Harbour Board quarry and silently lamented its rusting state. Rust though has its place but not on that old girl now sadly too dangerous for kids to play on or go near so the council fenced it off a while back. Of course I wanted to know what it was and who made it. So I went digging as all mad historian types do.

Image Credit: Culture Waitaki

The steam crane (pictured right) was built by Stothert and Pitt Ltd, in Bath, England, in 1926 and ran on rails. It was purchased by the Gisborne Harbour Board for its quarry at Whareongaonga to supply stone for breakwaters on the outer harbour. The 20-ton crane arrived in Gisborne around August of the same year and the engineer reported 'The 20-ton quarry crane has been delivered by Messrs.Stothert and Pitt, and has been transported to the quarry for assembling.' (Poverty Bay Herald, 23 August 1926, p.7). The crane was soon put to work.

'At the quarry face the stone is handled by a Rushton steam navvy on caterpillar treads, and a 20-ton and an 8-ton steam locomotive crane handle the stone. The stone is then conveyed in skips or trucks to the loading berthage, from whence it is handled by a 20-ton derrick crane on to the decks of the two transportation self-propelling scows. These scows are being specially fitted up with tipping gear, so that upon arrival at the side of the breakwater construction it will be possible in a simple manner to deposit the stone where and as required. When sufficient stone is deposited to the requisite height (mainly 12ft below low water) to form the base of the breakwater, divers will be engaged in levelling this base in preparation for the concrete blocks, the manufacture of which is in hand at the blockyard at Gisborne.' (Evening Post, 30 September 1926, p.12)

 

The engineer in his report to the Gisborne Harbour Board in October 1926 said the crane had been assembled and put through a trial 'to the satisfaction of the inspector' and was ready to be used when required. (Poverty Bay Herald, 25 October 1926, p.7) 

By 1933, the crane had been stored at the railway yards in Nuhaka, after being leased to a contractor for harbour works at Waikokopu: the Gisborne Harbour Board sold it to the Oamaru Harbour Board in May of that year for £1,250. (Gisborne Times, 28 November 1933, p.3)

The crane served the Oamaru Harbour Board for many years, being used for work on the breakwater until its use ran out and it was destined to be cut up for scrap in 1985. The Oamaru Steam & Railway Society stepped forward to save the old work horse from destruction. It was later moved to its present location as part of a children's playground silently joining the carnival of rusting objects that form a steam punk-themed display. The OS&RS raised concerns about the condition of the crane, believing it was the only one of its kind existing in the country. It was still in working order in 2016: however in 2026? Without a major restoration the old crane may remain silent and ceased up with it.