At nearly 16.5 metres tall and weighing 260 tonnes, the huge wooden Wakanui Flour Mill was hauled 10.5km from its original site at Whakanui to the corner of Kermode and West Street over 18 working days.

Two traction engines pulled the building forward with the help of hardwood rollers, 10cm in diameter, positioned over tramway tracks laid along the road. All existing machinery remained inside the building during its move and early predictions were that the Mill would never stand the strain of the journey, in itself a mighty feat…

Come along to our new exhibition to discover the incredible innovation and technology used to make this massive move almost 120 years ago.