Empty commercial-zoned lot in heart of Whanganui goes on market

A mural of artist Edith Collier was painted next to the site in 2019. Photo / Mike Tweed

A prime piece of real estate in central Whanganui is up for sale.

The empty 380sq m lot at 45 Ridgway St, next to Ridgway Park and opposite the Rutland Arms Inn, has a 2022 rating valuation of $380,000.

It is owned by Whanganui developer and heritage advocate David Corney.

In recent years, the site has been used as a pop-up space with food and beverage vendors, including The Common Ground and Slim’s.

BBQ Chef, a Mediterranean grill, was the most recent operator.

Overlooking the property is a mural of artist Edith Collier, painted by Pat Berry during the Whanganui Walls event in 2019.

It is zoned central commercial and Whanganui District Council’s rates for 2025-26 are $5525.64.

The lot and Ridgway Park are part of a block that once housed six heritage buildings.

They were burned to the ground in a large fire in 1994, with more than 65 firefighters, from Whanganui, Palmerston North, Feilding, Waitōtara, Marton, Bulls and Rātana, called to the blaze.

In 2019, Ridgway St beat out Greytown’s Main St and Nelson’s Seymour Ave to claim Best Street at Keep New Zealand Beautiful’s annual awards.

Mike Tweed is a multimedia journalist at the Whanganui Chronicle. Since starting in March 2020, he has dabbled in everything from sport to music. At present his focus is local government, primarily Whanganui District Council.