Tinwald! Is it just a suburb, Ashburton’s little sibling or is it something much more? While the typical traveller passing through town along State Highway 1 might see Tinwald and Ashburton as one big place split in two by the river, us locals know that isn't the case... There's something different about Tinwald. In the... Continue Reading →
Buildings come and go, this is something we are used to in Ashburton. Right now, we are going through a period of rapid change evidenced by projects such as the upcoming new Library & Civic Centre, the Kmart complex, as well as the numerous houses, outbuildings and businesses being altered and built all around the... Continue Reading →
Tales from WW1 and WW2 about local nurses and soldiers never fail to spark our imagination and they help us to understand their lives and the world they lived in. We are fortunate to be able to share in their highs and lows, triumphs and tragedies via their letters, diaries and photograph albums. Previous blog... Continue Reading →
The early days of European settlement were tough, but there was still the odd bit of fun to be had. Among all the hard work, tragedies and struggles for survival suffered by local European settler families, there was plenty of room for amusement as evidenced by the many stories and tall tales that survive from... Continue Reading →
When you come across the scant remains of a place like Waterton, you start to wonder what led to such a fate. The old cemetery on Grahams Road is the last inkling of this once a popular township, which fell prey to issues caused by a need for labourers elsewhere, as well as that classic... Continue Reading →
As an entity the British Empire is hard to discuss. Having once laid claim to a quarter of the Earth, it brought prosperity and advancement to some, while many more suffered from oppression and exploitation. For better or for worse, the British Empire was a very powerful global force for a long time and many... Continue Reading →
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then an album must be worth millions. Last year the Ashburton Museum had the pleasure of borrowing a very special photo album from Betty Wilson, who allowed the Museum to scan the photographs inside and keep digital copies for the community archives. (Note: this is not the... Continue Reading →
In early May 1977, demolition workers were carrying out a run-of-the-mill job at 35 Oak Grove. A large wooden house which had previously been split into four flats was being pulled down due to problems with the age of the building and its maintenance. This house was once Warwick Hospital, also known as Warwick House... Continue Reading →
What remains of the quaint model village of Barrhill is undeniably unique, the few original buildings standing as a reminder of what was once a thriving settlement and a dream-come-true. Barrhill was laid out in the 1870s by John Cathcart Wason, owner of the Corwar Estate, to accommodate his workers and their families. Parents and... Continue Reading →
Trendy hairstyles are always changing, and these days we tend not to think much about how people tend to wear their hair. Personal preference is the norm. Trends do factor in for a lot of young people; the 'middle part' has gained popularity among Gen Z, and the classic (yet infamous) mullet is pervasive as... Continue Reading →
Ashburton Museum Blog 