Flaxbourne Heritage Centre opening
Hardworking trustees John Hickman, Kevin Loe and Sally Peter have been integral in getting the Flaxbourne Heritage Centre up and running
A full programme of activities is planned for the grand opening of the new Flaxbourne Heritage Centre next Friday 14 April.
The celebrations kick off at 10am followed by a Ward School kapa haka, speeches, ribbon cutting, kai blessing and food.
After lunch festivities continue with old Ward School bus rides, a Whale Trail treasure hunt, school tug of war, a rugby game and the museum opening to visitors.
A wide range of artefacts and memorabilia detailing the area’s history of Māori settlement, moa hunters, shipwrecks, early farmers, war history and landscapes will be on show.
Local historian Sally Peter, one of several industrious workers behind the new facility, said the museum is filled with personal reflections and memories.
“It’s been a real community effort and it’s exciting to get it to this stage,” she said.
Museum designer Sally Papps who designed the space has worked tirelessly with her team alongside locals to get the collection installed and displayed.
One of the most spectacular is the original glass Fresnel lens from the Cape Campbell lighthouse, which featured in the 2016 movie Light Between Oceans. It had to be dismantled and moved piece by piece from the lighthouse to its new home where it takes pride of place.
The Flaxbourne section of the Whale Trail opens on the same day. It runs from Te Ruakanakana/Lake Elterwater to the Whale Trail shelter, built by Blenheim Rotary South, opposite the new Heritage Centre.
Project Manager of the Whale Trail Nigel Muir said finalising the trail design and finishing earthworks along the Flaxbourne section was a significant milestone.
“We are incredibly proud to collaborate with the Flaxbourne Heritage Centre to celebrate these two Ward community assets and grateful to all of our supporters and partners who have made it possible," he said
The centre creates a village hub for the Flaxbourne community and has been years in planning after the 2016 Kaikōura earthquake destroyed the old museum and damaged the community hall.
