about the museum
Registered with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as having 'outstanding significance' this charming cottage was built as a home for the Wallis family. As you step inside you are transported to a time when candles were made from tallow (animal fat) and nails used for building had to be imported.
The original furniture, wallpaper and other items from the Wallis family give a sense that the family has just stepped outside. The block church in the boys’ bedroom was one of the few toys permitted for play on a Sunday. The iron-framed bed in the girls’ bedroom is where up to three children slept. The rimu and kauri dresser in the parents’ bedroom is a wonderful example of the workmanship of William Wallis.
The kitchen - the hub of family living - depicts an era when nothing was automatic and much was hand-made. In the nursery is a c1875 pram, designed with only 3 wheels, so the owner could avoid the road tax payable on all four-wheeled vehicles.
As you head out to the garden you pass the scullery and washhouse where delicious pikelets can be cooked on the coal range for groups and schools. Stroll around the heritage garden and sample the wild fruits at your leisure or purchase some homemade preserves from the shop.
