Durie Hill Elevator

Durie Hill Elevator is a public lift in Whanganui that carries visitors up a 66-meter vertical shaft after they walk through a 213-meter tunnel into the hillside. The system features British-manufactured machinery designed to move many people per hour with straightforward reliability.

Built between 1916 and 1919, the structure solved a practical problem: people living on the hilltop needed easier access than climbing 191 steps. This innovation allowed a new suburban community to flourish where geography alone would have limited growth.

This elevator anchors a planned residential community that took shape in the 1920s, designed to connect hilltop homes with the river valley below. It represents how engineering solutions shaped where and how people chose to live.

Visitors need to walk through the tunnel to reach the lift, so wear comfortable shoes for the journey. The ride itself is brief, but allow time for the full experience as the tunnel walk and elevator trip together take several minutes.

The construction required roughly 2500 tons of reinforced concrete, an enormous amount for the early 1900s and a sign of how seriously engineers took the structure's durability. Such material investment reflects the importance placed on serving the new community reliably.