Home	The official website of the Foxton Windmill
History	Key Holders	Pictures	News	Technical Details	Sponsors	Recipes	Shop	Visit

HISTORY

A short history of the windmill.

1990	The idea and concept proposed to the Foxton Community Board by Mr. Dirk van Til and Mr. John Langen
1991	Incorporation of Society
	Visit to the Netherlands, a guided tour by Mr. John Heydra to several flourmills and the gift of a full set of plans and specifications for a typical Dutch Stelling Molen.
	Commenced fundraising with the sale of individual BRICKS
1992	Consultations with civil engineers lead to a redesign of the windmill base to a concrete panel construction with a brick veneer cladding in order to comply with the New Zealand building codes.
1995	Test drilling  of proposed building site resulting in instructions to drive eight 10 metre  long piles to a solid gravel base.
1996	Under supervision of Mr. Cor Slobbe, purchased and sunk 8 steel  encased concrete piles to the required depth.
1998	Mr. Cor Slobbe, with the assistance of a volunteer, lays the foundation on the piles. Order placed with Monier for the supply of 11,000  bricks.
1999	Mr. Grant Stevenson " Verve Consulting"  engaged as marketing and fundraising  consultant.  Horowhenua District Council grants $15,744.
2000	Quantity Survey by Rider Hunt in order to obtain a more accurate costing.
May:	Although the  funds available were insufficient, a decision was made to start casting  concrete panels for the base at Roaches Concrete Products plant under  the supervision of Cor Slobbe.
	Application made to the Horowhenua District Council for  a $50,000 grant as well as an application for funding under the Shooting  Star Programme Eastern & Central Community Trust
August:	Concrete panels placed on the foundations. Lease of Council land confirmed
Septemb er:	Instructions  from Horowhenua District Council that in order  to qualify for the grants applied for, the society will need to conduct a feasibility study. Tower Consulting Group in Christchurch selected for this task.
Decemb er:	Concrete floors laid in base structure. The Horowhenua District  Council working committee on the Shooting Star funding, reports, the Foxton Windmill project meets with all the criteria set.
2001
February:	A stop work notice received from the building inspector’s office. Rectifications required  to be undertaken to the already completed base. The recommended alterations  are impractical and the committee decides to consult Ormond Stock Associates  for an independent review of the already completed foundations and base structure. As a result an alternative, simpler solution recommended by OSA is accepted by the building inspectors office on both the foundations and the yet to be commenced laying of the brick veneer.
February 13	The Netherlands Ambassador, Her excellency Mevrouw An E de Bijll Nachenius lays the first stone.
April / May / June / July	Erection of scaffolding to allow for bricklaying and the installation of the reefing  stage
	The Eastern and Central Community Trust donates a sum of $ 289,000 to the project.
August / Septemb er	Reefing stage completed and installed
	Mr. Grant Stevenson applies on our behalf for a $100,000 Lottery Grant
October / Novemb er	Visit to The  Netherlands to investigate the possibility of the manufacture of the running  gear axle, camwheels and sails, Vaags Molenwerken selected as our supplier of this equipment and Hans Titulaer as the supplier  of the millstones.
Decemb er	The Lotteries Grants Board provides a sum of $ 100,000 to pay for the running gear,  the Royal Netherlands Embassy donates the Millstones. The laminated timber required for the building of  the windmill tower arrives in store and work on the making and assembly  of this section commences.
2002
April	The tower section completed and erected next to the base structure ready for lifting
May	The tower section lifted with a large public attendance and without any problems, by McIntosh  Cranes
	The Horowhenua District Council releases the $ 50,000 grant, order placed for sailstocks with Vaags Molenwerken
August	The first shipment  containing main axle, camwheels and wallowers received from Vaags Molenwerken. Started the assembly of the windmill cap
Novemb er	Mr. Walter Vaags inspection visit to determine the time of their involvement in the final stages of construction A $40,000 top-up donation from Eastern & Central Community Trust
Decemb er	The windmill cap completed and lifted into position.
2003
March	Arrival of  one 40 ft container, with sailstocks, millstones and other parts as well as the crew from Vaags, Henk, Gerben en Martijn
April 10	Trial running  commences
April 13	The project completed and official opening on the 13th of April by the Governor General of New Zealand, Dame Silvia Cartwright and the ambassador Mevrouw An E de Bijll Nachenius