Up, up and away to a new life

An old Oamaru house will have a new life near Kurow after it was carefully lifted over a 2m-high wall and on to a transporter early yesterday afternoon.

After hours of intricate adjustment, the house was hooked to a cradle for a smooth sail across the fence in about a minute.

The work was done courtesy of McNeilly Heavy Haulage and Waikouaiti Auto and Engineering.

The 1950s-built wooden three-bedroom house was occupied until recently but its days were numbered after Oamaru Engineering bought it last year to expand the rear of its Orwell St premises.

The idea was initially to demolish the building but new owners Kelli Williams and David Campbell, of Oamaru, had a vision for it.

Once the building is tidied up it will serve as a home.