After four years of being stuck at 4:34, Thames’ iconic clock tower is finally telling the right time again.
The clock, at the corner of Pollen St and Mary St, was gifted to the town by the Thames Lions Club in 1968. It has since fallen silent due to an outdated system and stopped for stretches of time since 1988.
Thames-Coromandel District Council and Thames Community Board worked with building owners GDC Buildings and received $21,000 from Pub Charity and Trillian Trust to fully cover the restoration and parts, with no cost to ratepayers.
“Thames is the heart of the Coromandel and the clock sits at the heart of town,” managing director of Pub Charity Martin Cheer said.
“Pub Charity is rapt to help with an investment in such an icon for the benefit of the people and their future generations.”
Thames-Coromandel District Council said specialised contractors Pilbrows Watchmakers completed the repair last week, bringing the historic landmark back to life.
Councillor Martin Rodley, who has long advocated for the clock’s revival, said the repair may seem small, but its significance to the community was clear.
“This clock has always mattered to the people of Thames. It’s part of who we are and getting it ticking again shows what we can achieve when our community and partners pull together.”
The Profile reported on the tower’s frozen clockface back in June, 2021, and cited Thames Star articles from 1968 which raved about its installation.
The then-Mayor Wallace Brunton called it a “red letter day” – a day of special significance or opportunity.
He said it was a “monument not only for the people of Thames, but a fitting memorial to the local [Lions] club members whose efforts made the gift possible”.
With the mechanism repaired and the hands moving once more, the clock tower is back to doing what it was built for – keeping Thames on time.
Thames’ town clock is back ticking again after years of being frozen in time. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
