Much-loved local icon 'Dale' the spider is set to find a new home thanks to a careful removal by our NZ Facility Management team!
Dale is a 5-meter wide, eight-legged arachnid statue that sits six meters above ground. The landmark structure is a representation of the Australian huntsman spiders that settled in the west Auckland suburb of Avondale in the 1920s - widely believed to have hitched a ride across the ditch on railway sleepers.
The spiders flourished in the suburb and earned the name of the 'Avondale spider', even finding fame in the 1990 horror film Arachnophobia, with 300 of the spiders used in the filming!
After 22 years in his current location, Dale was removed by our Auckland Council Contract Projects team, allowing any necessary restoration before he finds a new home.
The team in action - including Malcolm Maciver, Project Manager (left center) and Michael Smith (second from left)
After weeks of planning and a long shift finishing at 2 am, the icon that weighs 500 - 600kgs mounted on a stainless-steel web was removed safely and intact. Well done, team!