Trains!

Well actually one train and it’s break carriage.

A few weekends ago, me and my friend Helena went to Featherston. We had a few hours to kill on Sunday before catching the Wairarapa  Train back to Wellington, so we did a wee walk around the township and stopped by the Fell Locomotive Museum.

I remember coming here as a kid, and well I love it. There is something that is inherently cool about trains, and train museums seem to fuel a child like delight in me.

It’s big and black, and apparently called Freddie, and one of the few Fell engines left.

Around the walls is all sorts of memorabilia to do with the Fell engines and the journey that they took over the Rimutaka’s.

There is also a neat little movie made in the early 50s about the journey made by the Fell engines and how they all worked and the perils that were faced. Very exciting.
This is a museum that should not be by-passed, there is something there for every one, even the non train enthusiasts.

 

New Endeavour

Well my latest endeavour into the heritage realm, is taking a free course through Te Wananga o Aotearoa called Mauri Ora. Where I am learning about Maori culture and practices past and present. So far I’m three months into and really enjoying it. The first portion of the course looks at different types of gatherings and the protocols surrounding them. I’ve almost finished my work book for this portion and will soon be beginning the second part that looks at how Maori came to New Zealand and the skills and knowledge bought with them.

Part of my reasoning for taking this course is to continue my learning and understanding of Maori culture. For though I’m a New Zealander, I’m not Maori and nor do I have any Maori ancestory, it is a part of my countries culture and heritage that I felt I didn’t know enough about it and what I do know comes from an Art History and Museums background.

I encourage any one who is interested in learning more about Maori culture and heritage to pick up this course

http://www.openwananga.ac.nz/mauri_ora.html

 

A week of today’s

I’ve got a job now, so I’ve been really slack in updating this site…sorry!

I also am working at a place with limited internet access, so I can’t check twitter and re-tweet stuff…so here is this weeks today in history from NZHistorydotnet

Today in History 21 Mar 2003, Race Relations Day celebrated for first time http://bit.ly/48HnCm theme for 2010: ‘It’s About Us- Whanau’

Today in History 22 Mar 1994, Kiwis win Oscars for ‘The piano’ http://bit.ly/c7RjEs – my fingers ache just thinking about it

Today in History 23 Mar 1848, The John Wickliffe anchors at Port Chalmers http://bit.ly/as3OgA – Happy anniversary day Otago (hol ws on Mon)

Today in History 24 Mar 1770, Ngati Kahu kidnap victim dies at sea on French ship http://bit.ly/a4TemM

Today in History 25 Mar 1847, Wakefield and Featherston duel in Te Aro http://bit.ly/9MXfyo – Featherston fired first, but missed..

Today in History 25 Mar 1847, Wakefield and Featherston duel in Te Aro http://bit.ly/9MXfyo – Featherston fired first, but missed..

 

Waitangi Day

So this is pretty much an important part of NZ culture and heritage, and I felt it to be rather apt at posting a small tribute here on Heritage Abound. As this day commemorates the signing of one our founding documents…

From www.nzhistory.net.nz

Today in History 6 Feb 1840, The Treaty of Waitangi is signed http://bit.ly/9craW1

In the article are internal and external links to more information about the Treaty of Waitang; what it is about etc.

 

Event happening

Just got an email from my friend Paulette, who works at DOC as a heritage ranger.

They are having talks and tours through the Old Government Buildings during Feb-April.

I’ve put the programme listing down below.

Go Check it out, as they are awesome buildings to go and look at.

Published by
Department of Conservation
Wellington Conservancy
P.O. Box 5086, Wellington 6145
2010
Free talks and tours — 6 February to 20 March
Bookings essential: E-mail pwallace@doc.govt.nz or phone 04 470 8439.
Meet at the main entrance, opposite the statue of Peter Fraser.

6 Feb, 11 a.m. Waitangi Day. Welcome to the old Government Buildings. Property host Mike Deavin will greet guests and highlight the special features of the old Government Buildings
13 Feb, 11 a.m. A pinnacle of New Zealand’s wooden building heritage and notable in the world. ( Paul Mahoney)
Paul Mahoney is the National Manager of Historic Heritage for the Department of Conservation.
20 Feb, Note: 12 p.m. start. Conserving the lion of the old Government Buildings and other historic timber structures
(Jack Fry) Jack Fry is a conservator of artefacts. He can be found most Saturdays on Hikitia, heading the Maritime Archaeological Association’s conservation team.
27 Feb, 11 a.m. The old Government Buildings in the life and imagination of Wellington, 1876-1926. (Ben Schrader)
Ben Schrader is a public historian with particular interests in urban history and historic preservation. He is presently writing a history of New Zealand city life.
6 Mar,11 a.m. Working and learning in an historic treasure—the Law School and the old Government Buildings.(Geoff McLay)
Geoff McLay is a Reader in Law at Victoria University of Wellington, and has worked in the old Government Buildings since it reopened in 1996.
13 Mar, 11 a.m. Pipitea Pä and Mäori in early Wellington. (Morrie Love) Te Atiawa
20 Mar, 11 a.m. A comprehensive history of the old Government Buildings. (Mike Deavin) Mike Deavin is an experienced tour guide. He has led tours through Wellington’s law courts and the old Government Buildings. His love of historic buildings comes from years spent as an ecclesiastical joiner both in New Zealand and overseas.
Old Government Buildings
27 Mar,11 a.m. A lasting legacy of quality conservation restoration. (Allan Ross)  Allan Ross is a long-time supporter of the old Government Buildings. He was Regional Conservator for the Department of Conservation during the building’s extensive restoration in 1994-96.
3 Apr, 11 a.m. Getting the time right: An intimate look at the 1876 old Government Buildings clock. (Paulette Wallace).
Paulette Wallace is an historic ranger for the Department of Conservation.
10 Apr, Note: 10 a.m. start. A powerful expression of New Zealand’s development as a nation: the early years of the old Government Buildings. (Michael Kelly) Michael Kelly is the Wellington heritage consultant responsible for collecting and recording the history of the old Government Buildings for the 1994-96 restoration.
17 Apr,11 a.m. The old Government Buildings: the modern use of heritage buildings by a University on an integrated Campus and the impetus that a keen long term tenant can bring to urban renewal projects. (Terence Broad)
Terence Broad is a retired architect who worked at the Ministry of Works for 25 years including 8 years on the National Library building. Terence then joined the property section of Victoria University for 13 years. He considers urban design a most essential part of architecture and strongly supports active re-use of older buildings.

24 Apr,11 a.m. Historic archaeology in Wellington: the1855 earthquake and what archaeology can tell us.(Bruce McFadgen) Bruce McFadgen is an archaeologist with more than 45 years field experience. He has written extensively on catastrophic events in prehistoric New Zealand.
If  any of you want me to email the official flyer to you, let me know and I’ll pass it on.

I’ll most likely go to each one, and post up my thoughts of the talks here, and any pics I take

 

And the National Library too

Am I the only person to find the juxtaposition of ‘Katherine Mansfield’ and ‘camping’ a little unexpected? http://bit.ly/6ERDt5 #tbreaktweet

http://twitter.com/NZNL

 

Curtosy of NZHistorty.net

Today in History 6 Jan 1953, Godfrey Bowen sets world sheep-shearing record  http://bit.ly/6awwnV

Gotta love NZ and our sheep!

 

Old Public Trust Building, Wellington

This is another of my favourite buildings that can be found in Wellington. Found on the corner of Lambton Quay and Stout Street.

It was built during 1907-1909 and officially opened on 9 June 1909.

I think one of the reasons I like this building so much, is along the same lines as to why I like Turnbull House. It’s one of the few surviving turn of the century building that you can find in Wellington, with it’s Edwardian Baroque influence, it is an unexpected find in amongst the tall skyscrapers and if you’re not paying attention could easily be missed, and yet it seems to pop out at you. If it wasn’t in an area that gets masses of foot traffic, I could sit and look at it all day.

Below are links to websites with more information about the building, some of them are very interesting reads, especially the Wellington City Councils inventory.

WCC Inventory

Official Website

Time line

 

100 year old maps

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2915170/Archivists-strike-historic-gold-dust

I think this is pretty cool. These maps are over a 100 years old, and amazingly beautiful. The detail that cartographers go into is incredible.

 

Gold!

I was watching the news tonight and found this item of interest. A man in the UK found hordes of ancient gold whilst messing around with his metal detector in a private field.

Though it doesn’t really have anything to do with New Zealand heritage, it really interested me, as the pieces found were of intricate design and can be linked with the Byzantine era and it also shines some more light onto the “dark ages”. One of my interests is with the Byzantine empire and early christian art and architecture.

Below is one of the links I found to the article online

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/5/20090924/tuk-record-hoard-of-ancient-gold-found-i-45dbed5.html

I follow the British Museum on Twitter and they linked to this official page: http://www.staffordshirehoard.org.uk/