Whanganui History and Heritage

19/10/2023

Meet these heritage warriors - the team behind the Historic Rates Records Database. A project which has taken years and years of painstakingly detailed work, this database lets you search through who was paying the rates on properties in Whanganui between 1864 and 1924. It's a great resource for doing family history, or if you're interested in the history of your own old house. The scale of what they have achieved already is monumental and they're still going! 🙌🙌 You can check out the database here: https://www.whanganui.govt.nz/Your-Council/About-Whanganui-District-Council/Whanganui-District-Council-Archives/Historic-rates-records-database

10/07/2023

Have your say - nominate heritage places

The Whanganui community now has an opportunity to nominate places of heritage significance that they would like to be considered for future inclusion on the council's heritage inventory.

The inventory lists significant heritage places in Whanganui district, and encompasses buildings, sites, and structures.

Whanganui District Council’s heritage advisor Scott Flutey wants to hear from the community. He says, "There may be a specific building, a special space of land, a monument, or a structure that holds archaeological, architectural, cultural, historical, scientific, or technical significance to our community – this is one way we can affirm and support heritage aspirations in the district.

“This nomination process will help direct our work reviewing the District Plan’s historic heritage chapter and highlight community perspectives and priorities for better protecting, supporting and celebrating Whanganui heritage places.”
Any person or group may nominate a site and all nominations will receive an initial appraisal. If a nomination clearly identifies heritage values at a place, and the community to which it is valued, then an evaluation and recommendations for scheduling will go ahead.

"Scheduling refers to the process of adding a site to the District Plan. By scheduling a site or granting it heritage status, we ensure its correct management and protection," says Scott Flutey.
Under the Resource Management Act, it is the council's responsibility to ensure the sustainable management of historic heritage. This is typically accomplished by listing identified places on the District Plan and establishing rules and guidelines.
“Our community will be familiar with some of the well-known sites that have already received heritage listing. These include the Durie Hill Memorial Tower, Upokongaro Store, Spriggens Park gates, Central City Pharmacy, and the Wanganui Commercial Club, to name a few. It is also worth noting that private houses can be scheduled as well.”

Deputy Mayor, Helen Craig, says that while there are many places already listed, the council is looking for additional sites for consideration. She says it’s important to understand what it means once a site or structure is listed. “Some protection is provided and listings have access to support, such as funding from Heritage NZ or the council’s Heritage Grant Fund. These grants can be extremely helpful in going towards such things as strengthening or upkeep. There are also some requirements that come along with alterations once a site is added to the heritage inventory, in order to retain and celebrate the heritage values.”

For further information on the heritage site nomination process, please visit www.whanganui.govt.nz/have-your-say
Scott Flutey says the council has organised drop-in sessions throughout the community nomination period, to provide an in-person opportunity to gather nominations and answer questions. These will take place:
• Thursday 13 July from 1.00pm-3.00pm at Alexander Heritage and Research Library, Pukenamu Queen’s Park
• Monday 24 July from 10.30am-12 noon at Gonville Library, Abbot Street
• Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 August at the Whanganui Home & Lifestyle Show, Jubilee Stadium.
Scott Flutey will also be available for appointments, contact him via email [email protected] or call 06 349 3168.
The nomination period will be open until 5.00pm on Sunday, 27 August 2023.

05/07/2023

https://www.whanganui.govt.nz/Your-Council/Have-Your-Say/Consultations/Road-Naming-and-Numbering-survey?utm_content=buffer0cfba&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer&fbclid=IwAR0LnlMn_nVNfdlx6w0NRbCGfTGpiL7JPouKXGmabWOsR25cp0grpqNPpuo

The council is seeking feedback on how names for roads in our district are decided and whether or not these should be applied to parks, reserves and open spaces

19/06/2023

14/06/2023

13/06/2023

An unusual bead is just one of the artefacts unearthed in the gallery redevelopment.

03/06/2023

Whanganui History and Heritage is currently researching some of our districts less well-known heritage listed buildings. We are interested in any information about the buildings, their owners, which shop's were there, who worked there, if you shopped there, and if you have any photos please post them along with your comments. Below is the first building on our list. Duigan's Building, 40 Ridgway Street, Whanganui. It was designed by G. L. Maclachlan and built by Ashwell & Hamilton in 1907.

03/06/2023

28/05/2023

24/05/2023

🏤 Last week to get your application in for the Heritage Grant Fund! 🏤

The fund provides assistance to building owners to undertake heritage enhancement work. This round closes at the end of May.

Check out the details👉 https://bit.ly/3MMsQCD

20/05/2023

Redevelopment video released May 2023.

18/05/2023

☀Happy International Museum Day! ☀
The theme for 2023 is: “Museums, Sustainability and Wellbeing.”
You can do your bit to help sustain our museum and boost our wellbeing, by visiting us today! What better way to celebrate.😎

24/04/2023

06/01/2023

Our location on the lower Whanganui River looks a bit different these days, but we take the historic traditions of trading produce and local goods very seriously.
Every Saturday of every year we are here, with our river at our backs, trading just as our ancestors did.

03/01/2023

30/12/2022

Summer Programme events especially for littlies

The Whanganui Regional Museum is making sure young children are catered for in the 2023 Whanganui Summer Programme with events over five days under the heading of “Creative Creatures for Kids at the Museum.”
• 9 January children can make moveable animal puppets.
• 10 January they can create a funky backpack charm using paint, beads and animal shapes.
• 11 January they can paint their own rock pet to take home.
• 12 January they can make a miniature owl toy using fabric, trim and buttons.
• 13 January they can print their own animal greeting cards using vintage graphics on an antique printing press.
These events are all 11am-12pm at the museum. They are suitable for children 5-10 years who must be accompanied by an adult. The cost is $2 per child. Bookings are essential and done with the museum. Tel 06 349 1110. Wheelchair access is available.

The Whanganui Regional Museum will nurture the creativity in 5-10-year-old children

29/12/2022

A small country school with a massive racing history
- Fiona O'Leary

A little school with a massive racing CV. Horse knowledge was a-plenty at the recent Whangaehu School reunion.
The 150-year reunion brought together a unique New Zealand racing story with four families having won the prestigious Auckland Cup.
Horsemanship wasn't on the formal school curriculum, but horses and racing certainly featured in extracurricular activity.
The first of the local horses to take the honours in the Auckland Cup was the Willkie-owned Ruato in 1961, followed by Neil and Erin Connors horse, Bodie, in 2003. Then in 2014, the O’Leary brothers, Daniel, Humphrey, Michael and Shaun won with ‘Who Shot The Barman’, closely following in 2018 by ‘Ladies First’, owned by Fiona and Humphrey O’Leary.
Of course, with other such racing stalwart families in the valley such as the Cvitanovichs, Cavanaghs and Connors, these are not the only notable racing achievements.
A standout being, Raymond Connors having ridden the winner of the Great Northern Steeplechase, on ‘Our Jonty’. Raymond and his father Mark, then also owning and training five other winners of that same race.
There were plenty of other racing stories shared over the reunion with other former pupils contributing to the game in many ways. Notably local, Stuart Watts, is currently the president of the Whanganui Jockey club and has himself had many successes on the racetrack.
Humphrey O'Leary says: "The racing game is sometimes called the School of Hard Knocks, but with patience and sound horsemanship, we can all enjoy the fun of the racing game".

From The left: Michael O’Leary, John Wilkie, Marilyn Wilkie, Neil and Erin Connors, Humphrey and Fiona O’Leary, Dan O’Leary, Anna O’Leary, Georgia Nugent-O’Leary and Shaun O’Leary

20/12/2022

A hand-made boat-shaped cradle has history

13/12/2022

We're unveiling our next Outfit of the Month next week!👗

12/12/2022

From small premises on Durie Hill, Wight Aluminium has expanded into a national company.

08/12/2022

Whanganui Artists Feature Strongly in Current Auction

Whanganui based Heritage Art Auctions is holding its final online sale for 2023 from Thursday December 8. It runs for 5 days.
Henry Newrick, the director of Heritage Art, notes that there are a large number of Whanganui artists (past and present) who are featured in this auction as well as many better-known national artists.
The oldest work to be featured is an attractive watercolour of the Whanganui River, showing whares on the riverbank and a canoe. It is by the artist Robert Pownall (1839-1889) and is signed and dated 1887. The next oldest is an original Burton Brothers albumen photograph c.1885 of the Wanganui River Bridge and lower part of the town.
Contemporary artists and photographers whose works are up for auction include Richard Wootton, Elva Abbott, Tina Drayton, Jack Hammond, Louise Herlihy and the talented David Battarbee whose microscopic attention to detail in his finely executed watercolours of well-known landmarks has to be seen to be believed.
At 83 years young, David Battarbee’s works always sell well at Heritage Auctions and the current sale includes a number of drawings and watercolours of iconic buildings around Whanganui.
With over 1,500 works in the sale, viewing of all art is not possible. There just isn’t the space but every piece of art is shown in the catalogue with 2 or 3 photos. Works that have an estimate starting at $200 or more (as shown in the catalogue) can be viewed by appointment. Call 027 471 2242 to arrange a time.
The Catalogue is now online at www.HeritageArtNZ.com and bidding opens from 5pm Thursday. The sale runs for 5 days and closes next Tuesday evening.

David Batterbee, Lot 30 Waimarie

08/12/2022