Ashburton on the Move: 150 Years of Relocating Buildings in Ashburton District by Michael Hanrahan, published by the Ashburton Museum & Historical Society Incorporated, is a bumper volume of knowledge that is the culmination of many years of research into relocated buildings in the Hakatere Ashburton District. This book can be considered the authority regarding... Continue Reading →
What are we known for in the Hakatere Ashburton District? Is it our agricultural and pastoral pursuits? Our beautiful countryside and outdoor activities? It’s hard to say, but if there’s one thing we are definitely NOT known for, it’s factory-scale glass production… but once upon a time, we could have been. The name “Southern Cross... Continue Reading →
Historic documentary artefacts such as diaries and letters are often packed with interesting information, that is often anecdotal and offers unique perspectives on events, time periods, and people’s lives. A diary for example will often contain a record of daily interactions between the writer and their close friends and family; it’s the kind of personal... Continue Reading →
While the vast majority of our armed forces during the Second World War would have done their best to uphold good standards of discipline, honour, and respect, it’s also fair to assume that many of our country’s young fighting men were desperate to let loose and temporarily escape their heavy responsibilities whenever possible. The phenomenon... Continue Reading →
It has nearly been a year since the coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey. Regardless of whether you are a republican, if you love the Royals, or sit somewhere in between these two extremes of opinion, the fact is that the King’s coronation was a major historical event. The last coronation of a... Continue Reading →
According to the 2020 Ashburton District community profile, in 2013 there were 13,690 dwellings in our district, a figure which does not include shops, businesses, or industrial properties. With that in mind, here is an important question: who is, or was responsible for painting the thousands of buildings around our District? There are many different... Continue Reading →
The laying of foundation stones, and opening ceremonies for buildings or services, are occasions to be remembered. Such events are a mark of progress, either commemorating the construction of something new, or a new iteration of something that was in need of refreshing. Below are a selection of photographs from the Ashburton Museum & Historical... Continue Reading →
Hospitals, doctors, nurses, caregivers, and pharmacists are all very important for supporting a healthy and thriving community. The people of the Hakatere/Ashburton District have fortunately been very well looked after throughout the history of the region. Below are a selection of images from the Ashburton Museum & Historical Society collection which relate to the history... Continue Reading →
Not much background information is known about this item from the Ashburton Museum & Historical Society’s collection, other than what’s presented in plain sight. The photos on this page are taken from a large printed calendar, which seems to have either been funded or produced mainly by Mr. D. Thomas, who was an auctioneer and... Continue Reading →
A few decades ago, I pasted a copy of a ‘Rosie the Riveter’ poster, into one of my history class notebooks. This poster was considered to be a symbol of women’s empowerment in the workforce during World War 2 in the United States. Rosie, in her denim overalls, red kerchief, rouge lips, and stern stare,... Continue Reading →
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