And with over 1300 individual pipes to carefully handle and pack away, the work by Oamaru organ builder Ron Newton on the 1931 Lawton and Osborne organ at Waitaki Boys’ High School is expected to take several weeks.
Mr Newton said he worked on the organ during a 1990s rebuild, and kept it going intermittently since.
Returning this week for the major project marked the beginning of at least a year’s work.
"We’re just packing it up in containers. It is quite a big instrument with two consoles and some fairly hefty pipes.
"Everything in this organ is top quality — I’m very excited about the job."
The organ components were built by Lawton in Aberdeen, Scotland, then imported to Oamaru and assembled in 1931 by Onehunga-based Osborne.
The organ disassembly — including removing 1304 pipes — is the first stage in a year-long project to bring the school’s Hall of Memories up to code after the Ministry of Education agreed to assume ownership.
The job now was relatively "straightforward" and made easier by his prior knowledge of the instrument.
"The pipes are very soft because they’re made of lead and tin so they have to be very carefully handled and wrapped."
The hall was built in 1926 in memory of the old boys who served and died during World War 1.
It was opened by the Duke of York, later King George VI, during the 1927 royal tour of New Zealand.
Within its hallowed walls are brass plaques recording the names of young men who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Board of trustees chairman Paul Edmonston said it reflected a poignant legacy after World War 1 in North Otago in the loss of so many from a whole generation.
The hall renovation, expected to cost millions, was a big step forward after wide consultation with the school community in the past two years to secure its future.
The Heritage New Zealand listed building would be seismically strengthened and re-roofed by the ministry, Mr Edmonston said.
It meant it would continue to stay at the heart of the school as a reminder of its old boys who died for a greater good.
"It’s a major upgrade ... it’s going to get a major overhaul."
Meanwhile the organ remained under school ownership with its restoration expected to cost well above $10,000.
brendon.mcmahon @odt.co.nz
