Canterbury-West Coast: Historical Societies and Heritage Support Groups
There
are many historical societies and heritage support groups around the Canterbury
and West Coast areas. Most focus on a specific aspect of our history, our heritage
or a particular place of special cultural or heritage significance.
These
groups provide the opportunity to get involved as actively as you wish, and all
welcome your support, whether financial or moral.
Ashburton
District
The Ashburton Aviation Museum Society Tel:
(03) 308 3262
Ashburton Museum and Historical Society
P.O Box 573 Ashburton Tel: (03) 308 3167
Ashburton Railway and Preservation Society Tel:
Ph (03) 308 9600
The Ashburton Heritage Week Trust
Contact: V. Barrett, 6 R.D. Ashburton Tel: (03) 302
8156
The Ashburton Vintage Home Restorers Group Contact:
Mrs N. Davidson 1 R.D. Ashburton Tel: (03) 308 0038
The
Barrhill-Corwar Lodge Preservation Society Tel: (03)
3021833
The Methven Historical Society Contact:
Mrs M. Martin 6 R.D., Ashburton Tel: (03) 302 4615
The
Mid Canterbury Branch, NZ Society of Genealogists Contact:
Mrs G Beauvais, 71 Allens Rd, Ashburton Tel: (03) 308 7435
The Mid Canterbury Vintage Machinery Club Tel: Ph
(03) 308 4254
The Springburn Historical and Geological
Centre Society Contact: Mr W. Jowett R.D.1, Ashburton
Tel: (03) 303 0853
Akaroa Civic Trust is a voluntary society dedicated to the
preservation of Akaroa's beauty and history. The Trust operates a website
which includes a database with photographs and the history of the 130 historic
buildings and artefacts within the historic area.
Diamond Harbour
and Districts Historical Association Contact(s): President,
Larry Berlin tel: (03) 329 4415 Secretary, Margaret Scott Tel: (03) 329 4802;
Email: mallan@caverock.net.nz
The Society
aims to improve the environment of historic Norwich Quay and promote the maritime
heritage of Lyttelton including maintaining and sailing the 1886 gaff-rigged cutter
Clementine.
This
society is dedicated to the recovery and display of Richard Byrd's Fokker Super
Universal aircraft Virginia and other items of Antarctic aviation history.
Canterbury History Foundation Contact:
PO Box 29-070 Christchurch Tel: (03) 351 6579 Fax (03) 351 6576 or 364 2003
Fund-raising organisation established to encourage and support
study, research, publication and interest in history, particularly in Canterbury
and to promote awareness of the social value of history in our community.
Christchurch Vintage Home Restorers Group Contact:
Mayo Orthhuys (03) 326 5494
A
Trust set up to save the Odeon Theatre from demolition so that it can be restored
and put to a commercial use once more and preserved for future generations as
a venue.
Cust and Districts Historical Records Society Inc.
Contact: PO Box 110 , Cust Tel: (03) 312 5577 Email:
pekali@xtra.co.nz
The Society
administers the Cust Museum housed in the building once the offices of the Waimakariri-Ashley
Water Supply Board. (Open: Sunday 2-4pm or by arrangement)
Kaiapoi
District Historical Society Contacts: Sue McKenzie,
tel: (03) 359 5165 or Dale Brown, tel: (03) 327 7705
The Society
administers the Kaiapoi Museum.
Kowai Archives Contact:
Avis Wilson (03) 313 3220
The Archives are held in the old Kowai County
Council Building (1922), Balcairn, and are open on the 2nd Sunday of the month
from 2-4pm.
Oxford Historical Records Society Contacts:
Mr Gavin Inch, tel (03) 312 4185 or Email: Roger Brown vandrbrown@xtra.co.nz
The
Society runs the local museum (75 Main Street) which is open by arrangement.
Rangiora and Districts Early Records Society Contact:
Mrs P.M. Mackintosh Email: mackintsoh.wrm@xtra.co.nz
The Society runs a small local museum open Sunday and Wednesday from 1.30-4pm,
Good St, Rangiora. Entry fee applies
Waipara County Historical
Society Contact: Bob McIlraith, tel (03) 314 4088
The Society administers
the local Museum on High Street, Hawarden.
The Burkes Pass Heritage Trust was
established to save and preserve St Patrick's Church - one of New Zealand's oldest
union churches and a significant historic landmark in the village.
Geraldine Historical Society Contact: Mrs A. Wormer,
28 Peel St, Geraldine Tel: (03) 693 9182
The Society administers
the Geraldine Museum.
Pleasant Point Railway and Historical Society
Contact: Marian Blanchard, tel: (03) 686 2269 Email:
ba.mc.blanchard@xtra.ac.nz
Timaru Civic Trust
Contact: Gwyneth Sides, tel (03) 684 3743
Timaru Historic Society Contact: Jeff Elston (03)
684 6704
South Canterbury Historical Society
St Mary's Restoration Trust Anglican Centre, 24
Church St, Timaru Tel: (03) 688 8377
Waimate Historical
Society Tel: (03) 689 7842 Email: wtemus@xtra.co.nz
The
Society administers the Waimate Museum
Temuka and Districts Historical
Society Tel: (03) 615 7890
The Friends are devoted to the history of Denniston. The group
runs a museum in the old High School. It also runs a web
site which contains history of the area.
Heritage Hokitika
Contact: Doug Muir, tel (03) 755 7405 or Brian Ward,
Secretary tel (03) 755 8232 Email: teichel@xtra.co.nz
Heritage Hokitika is an incorporated society dedicated to
restoring and preserving the historical identity of Hokitika. Major projects have
included the restoration of the Carnegie Library Building, the Hokitika Lighthouse,
a building to display the Countess, New Zealand's oldest lifeboat, and
a series of interpretation panels along the Quayside riverbank area. The society
has also been active in an oral history programme and has completed over 75 to
date. The society also supports an industrial machinery heritage group with a
museum/workshop area located near the airport.
Kotuku Heritage
Society Contacts: Bob and Marilyn Smithem, tel (03)738
0049
Established to manage the Jack's Mill School model bungalow
site.
Westland Industrial Heritage Park Contact:
Ian Gilbertson, c/- the Secretary, 40 Bonar Drive, Hokitika Email: igilbertonson@doc.gov.nz
This subgroup of Heritage Hokitika is undertaking the restoration
of heritage machinery including a Ruston Mill engine and a large early model industrial
concrete mixer.
Westport Railway Preservation Society Contact:
Mr Ray Fleming, President tel (03) 789 6877.
Learn
more about the historic sites in the care of the Historic Places Trust located
in and around the Canterbury
and West Coast regions
of New Zealand
Learn
more about the historic sites in the care of the Historic Places Trust located
in and around the 