The Twizel Heritage Group has been collecting, repainting and displaying various types of machinery and buildings used during the town’s hydro days.
Last month the heritage group, which operates under the auspices of Twizel Promotion and Development Associated (TPDA), negotiated the indefinite loan of a Hamilton crane from the HamiltonJet Heritage Trust.
The versatile cranes were common on the Upper Waitaki power project, both with the Ministry of Works and Development and earth-moving contractors.
The prototype tractor-mounted hydraulic crane was developed by CWF Hamilton and Co at Irishman Creek Station in the Mackenzie Basin and was based on an International Harvester tractor.
CWF Hamilton was a major engineering contractor which supplied 54 penstocks and couplings to the Tekapo B power station and many of the massive control gates and hydraulic cylinders which operate them.
The display unit was found by member Rick Ramsay on TradeMe and was owned by Beach Engineering in Pleasant Point.
HamiltonJet director Ben Reed said the company was extremely proud to be involved in commemorating the important piece of history.
"[We are] looking forward to the many years of enjoyment the crane will bring to both local residents and visitors to Twizel."
Heritage machinery co-ordinator Mr Ramsay said having the Hamilton Crane on display would enable the group to not only tell the story of their use on the Upper Waitaki scheme, but also the development of the prototype at Irishman Creek, and the enormous engineering contributions CWF Hamilton made to some of the largest power schemes in New Zealand.
"The trust saw the value in acquiring the crane, and also have paid to have it painted."
As well as adding to the machine display, the group has added again to the heritage building part of the display.
"One hut came from Pukaki Village when the Pukaki control dam was being built. It was acquired by the late Joe Allan of Bendrose Station and donated by his son Dave Allan to the heritage display site.
"The second hut is from the Roxburgh Dam project and was acquired from a Twizel section.
"The hut was used at the Hawea Dam, then shifted to Otematata and finally to Twizel where it was being used by a contractor for site storage."
The heritage group recently received a building permit to relocate a Twizel garage beside the Heritage House.
Mr Ramsay said the group intended to place a model of the power scheme which was in the Twizel Information Centre during the power project.
"A group of engineer interns from Meridian will bring the model back to operating order.
"A wide range of period tools and recreational gear has been acquired to place in the garage once it is on site.
"The Meridian Energy Power Up Fund has provided the finance to have the garage foundations poured. We hope have the garage in place by Christmas."
The heritage display in Wairepo Rd is free to view.
