Mel Williams, Visitor Services
Of the ten Heritage Clubs in the Heritage Park at Kiwi North the Whangārei Stationary Engine Club was the one I knew least about, but it quickly became clear that the fascinating machines curated and cared for by the passionate members of this club, tell some incredible stories from Northland’s engineering history.
A day could easily disappear within the walls of this club and I thoroughly enjoyed my personal tour of the sheds by club secretary, John Eynon. When I walked in I saw and heard engines of all shapes and sizes, but I walked out with a sense of history and unexpected connection.
One of the first engines I was shown was a Petter Atomic Diesel, known by club members as the “Lorax” due to its environmentally devastating past. The story of this engine began in a ship in the Kaipara Harbour, a ship which later ran aground in Fiji. It was here that the engine was salvaged and deployed in a local saw mill, where I’m told it was used to strip a nearby island of Fijian Kauri. The Lorax was returned to New Zealand in the early 2000’s, broken down into a thousand pieces. Each peice of this impressive engine was restored and reassembled by the Whangārei Stationary Engine Club, led by Rob Thompson, and it now stands proudly in the main shed for all to see.
In the same shed is an imposing Atlas Imperial Diesel Engine. This engine began its story in a tug boat which was built for the American Navy to push ships around Devonport in Auckland. In the 1940’s it was gifted to the New Zealand Navy where it became the HMNZS Manawanui. From here, the vessel was moved to the Paeroa Maritime Museum where it was scrapped. The engine was subsequently purchased by Whangārei Stationary Engine Club member, Jules Cryns.
Not all of the engines are big and loud, in fact one that I particularly enjoyed learning about was a project completed by the “Machine Club” at Maunu School. The primary school students spent an hour each week assembling an engine donated by a farmer in Hikurangi. It was pulled apart and restored, impressing the members of the club, and still impressing visitors today.
Established in 1988 by a group of enthusiasts from a variety of backgrounds, the Whangārei Stationary Engine Club was one of the first clubs to call the Heritage Park home. The principal aim of the club was to obtain and restore engines that have been used on local farms and industry in years gone by.
No foundation members remain but current club members and volunteers continue to work tirelessly and with incredible passion to keep the stories of each and every engine alive. I asked John Eynon about his 15 years in the club and what makes it so special and he spoke of the importance of preserving Northland’s mechanical history, and of sharing the stories of the engines and the people.
Preserving this history is a big endeavour so the Whangārei Stationary Engine Club is always looking for new members, and just like its foundation members, people from a variety of backgrounds are welcomed. According to John, there is a place in the team for anyone with a willingness to pitch in, to paint, pick up a broom, have a chat and share stories, regardless of age, abilities, interests, or mechanical knowledge.
So many of the engines on display can’t be found anywhere else, certainly not in the same incredible running condition. More than 200 engines have been sourced, restored, and returned to an operational state, delighting the eyes, and the ears, of anyone who stops by for a visit.
