William Bishop - Early Nelson Settler
William Bishop (born 1817 and died 1884), my grandmother’s father, arrived in New Zealand from Bath in 1843 on the barque London (388 tons). William would appear to be the oldest male and traditionally...
View ArticleBartlett's Creek Cottage
Cob homes were a popular building type in the greater Marlborough area with well preserved examples such as Riverlands Cob Cottage and the Molesworth homestead. Tucked neatly away up the North-bank of...
View ArticleA historic New Street residence
21 New Street, Nelson. The Twist Family residence 21 New Street is located on the fringes of the historic central business district of Nelson. A house on the property was built for William and Annie...
View ArticleOmaka Cemetery
One of the oldest and most well known cemeteries in the Marlborough District is of Omaka Cemetery, which lies south west of the town's centre. Omaka Cemetery. Image supplied by author The cemetery...
View ArticleJohn Henry Gay
John Henry Gay was born on the 4th September 1844 at Motueka, Nelson, New Zealand and died 29th December 1911 in Nelson. John is buried in the Wakapuaka Cemetery, Nelson.1 John Gay, foreman of the...
View ArticleSt Mary's convent
Our once fine French edifice 1 The Convent of the Immaculate Conception sat at the top of the Manuka Street hill from 1892 to 1983. It was a large wooden building with an overall height of 87 feet...
View ArticleUnderstories of Sacred Heart College
Experiences of attending school at Sacred Heart College, Nelson 1964 - 1967 The old Convent Building, formerly in Manuka Street, included the attic floor called ‘The Granary’, now at Founders Park....
View ArticleMarlborough Women and the Petition
On 19 September 1893, after submitting a petition with nearly 32,000 signatures, New Zealand became the first self-governing country to grant women the vote. In most other democracies – including...
View ArticleMarlborough Women Standing tall
Strong Women - Standing tall The franchising of women did not immediately change women’s lives for the better. There was still discrimination and few opportunities available. However there are...
View ArticleKaituna Cemetery
Nestled away behind tall standing trees protecting it from noise and debris lies the Kaituna Cemetery in Marlborough, just north of the North Bank Road turn off. A quaint little cemetery which can be...
View ArticleNelson Heritage Homes
As part of the 2018 Nelson Heritage Festival, a number of historic homes were opened to the public, as a fundraising event for the Cancer Society. Many of the homes had not previously been open to the...
View ArticleWangapeka Gold
Gold was known in the Wangapeka district since the late 1850s.1 However, although an award was paid in 1861 to prospectors for the discovery of gold in the Wangapeka district, the decision by...
View ArticleLowther Broad
Lowther Broad was District Court Judge for Nelson and died in Nelson on 16 August 1892, aged 52 years. He was the fourth son of the Rev John Broad, Baptist minister of Hitchin, Hertfordshire,...
View ArticleSergeant William Mason
New Zealand's early police officers were well known in the towns which they watched over. Often they would go out of their way to gain the public's trust and friendship to allow them to do their duties...
View ArticleThe Nelson Contingent at Parihaka
The Nelson Company of VolunteersIn mid-June 1880 the grateful citizens of Nelson and outlying settlements gave prizes to the volunteers for their sharp-shooting at the range. The firing was beset with...
View ArticleWhittington Landon-Lane
Whittington Landon Lane was born to Susan and George"Mizpah" Lane on the 14th of July, 1859 supposedly in the port town of Picton. A very eccentric name to come out of Marlborough, but his father's...
View ArticleEdward Laney the baker and his daughter Ann
In the early years of Nelson life was tough for all. Days were long and hard for the settlers trying to build a town and a new and better life in a place that was very different from European shores....
View ArticleGeorge and Susan Landon-Lane
George and Susan Landon-Lane lived for much of their married life in New Zealand. The story of their earlier lives in England is an interesting one.George Landon-Lane. Image supplied by authorIn early...
View ArticleLong Island Submarine monitoring station
Long IslandLocated 35 kilometres from Picton, Long island guards the entrance to Queen Charlotte Sound. It is the first marine reserve in the South Island and has a long history of fortification. To...
View ArticleTakaka's First Library
On 7th June 1869 the Nelson Evening Mail carried a notice that the ship Icon from London was carrying one case bound for the Takaka Public Library(1). Where this library was located is not known but it...
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