Our Buildings

The buildings that have been shifted to 397 Wellington Road in Marton for preservation over the years.

Captain Cook Cottage

The Cottage was the first to arrive in 1973 given to MDHS by Mr Bob Smith of ‘Hollybank’ Upper Tutaenui, built by the Small family from Scotland. After significantly restoring the interior and collecting exhibits, the Museum opened in April 1978 in the renamed Captain Cook Pioneer Memorial Cottage.

Old Marton Gaol/General Store

In 1980, the Marton Police Station’s disused gaol block which, built in 1916, was gifted. It was converted into a General Store and includes Marton’s first telephone exchange (1899), antique bottles and corsets, chewing tobacco and a washing machine. In all the buildings, we have Edwardian and Victorian pioneer furniture, clothing, kitchenware, blacksmith tools, schoolroom paraphernalia, wartime relics, transport & railway mementos.

Early Settler Wagon

In 1990, the Friedrichs donated a wagon that had been used for farm and general transport. August Friedrich from Prussian Poland built two farm wagons in Australia, delivering them to New Zealand along with the family in 1863. From Wellington, the wagons carried the parents and eight children up the Beach Highway to Scott’s Ferry. One of the wagons saw service in WW1 in Gaza, Palestine for the NZ Army, before being returned and gifted to the museum. It has been stored in the barn next to the gaol ever since.

Snellgrove Barn

In 1980, we also received a 130 year old furniture factory, donated by Mr Max Morrison of Fern Flats. It was on the farm of the Emanuel Snellgrove family who had been cabinetmakers and funeral directors in London before arriving in the Rangitikei in 1859. It too required significant repair and shelving for overflow curios.