The restoration of the Ferry Landing Stone Wharf in Whitianga is taking another step with Auckland Stone Masons coming down to start rebuilding sections of the wharf wall.

The Thames-Coromandel District Council is advising Whitianga locals and visitors to the area that work has been planned to start from late October and is expected to take six weeks to complete.

The restoration of the Ferry Landing Stone Wharf in Whitianga has been planned to start during October and should take six weeks to complete. Photo: TCDC

Mercury Bay Area Office Manager Sam Marshall says it is one of the oldest working stone wharves in the Southern Hemisphere and is classified as a Grade One structure by Historic Places Trust.

'It is in need of restoration and through a community partnership with our council, Historic Places Trust, iwi, the community and the Institute of Engineers, the plan is to restore it to its former state,” adds Sam.

In December of last year the Lotteries Environment and Heritage Fund approved $187,645 towards Stage One of the restoration work, while the Thames-Coromandel council contributed $279,000.

These funds helped paid for the recovery of some of the old stone blocks from the sea floor last December.

Sam says these stones, estimated to weigh between 100 and 1,000kgs, will be used to rebuild the original stone steps and sections of a missing wall.

'Now we've also had sign-off from Heritage NZ to allow the stones to be used in the rebuild of the wharf wall and that work will be done mostly during the low tide periods where possible.”

A machine will be used to place the larger stones back into the wharf wall, while experienced labourers will be employed for a number of other jobs.

These jobs includes cleaning and soft blasting all existing stones plus areas to be repointed, cutting and placing existing stone to suit the rebuild of the wall section, as well as cutting and placing stone steps.

Labourers will also be repairing holes and damaged sections of the wall, repointing and carrying out mortar repairs to all wall sections, along with removing and replacing the plinth concrete cap.

The Whitianga ferry service will keep operating during the works. Health and safety signage will be in place and we ask people to be careful and keep clear of the work site.

To learn more about the history of the Old Ferry Landing and the restoration project visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council's website at: www.tcdc.govt.nz/oldferrylanding