FROM VINES TO VICTORIES: UNRAVELING MARLBOROUGH'S HERITAGE
19 MAY 2023
This Place Rocks!
Brayshaw Heritage Park is in Blenheim, Marlborough which was established in 1968 and it's a park full of historic buildings, all belonging to a different organisations and clubs that commemorate the history of Marlborough.
The park is actually really big and it's so fascinating to explore all of the buildings to find new things to learn about and to interact with vintage items which is pretty fascinating. To give you an idea about what the park entails, here's a list of some of the organisations:
- Marlborough Creative Fibre Guild
- Marlborough Rock & Mineral Club
- Marlborough Guild of Woodworkers Inc
- Poultry & Pigeon Club
- Marlborough Museum
- Marlborough Vintage Farm Machinery
- Vintage Car Club of NZ (Marlborough Branch)
- Marlborough Associated Modellers
A lot of volunteers help to run the organisations and most are enthusiasts of the industry and have a lot of knowledge to share. Our favourite building in the park is the Rock & Mineral Club as they have a huge range of gemstones and rocks available to look at and purchase... and you know how much we LOVE rocks and gemstones! The volunteers are all so knowledgable and love sharing stories and facts and Arabella loves hearing all about it and learning new things as she is fascinated with them (the rocks and gemstones, not the people).
In the back of the club is a workshop where you can hire out the machines to cut and polish your own rocks and gemstones... how cool is this? I believe it was around $4 per machine for 3 hours. We are wanting to take some of our gemstones to have a go with the machines one day as they have sticks that are attached to the gemstones for little kids so they don't touch the machines with their hands. So if you're in Blenheim, we'd recommend this as a great learning experience for kids... and looks fun for adults too! There are plenty of rivers and beaches in Marlborough for you to find some cool rocks, or you could just buy one in the club.
The park is actually really big and it's so fascinating to explore all of the buildings to find new things to learn about and to interact with vintage items which is pretty fascinating. To give you an idea about what the park entails, here's a list of some of the organisations:
- Marlborough Creative Fibre Guild
- Marlborough Rock & Mineral Club
- Marlborough Guild of Woodworkers Inc
- Poultry & Pigeon Club
- Marlborough Museum
- Marlborough Vintage Farm Machinery
- Vintage Car Club of NZ (Marlborough Branch)
- Marlborough Associated Modellers
A lot of volunteers help to run the organisations and most are enthusiasts of the industry and have a lot of knowledge to share. Our favourite building in the park is the Rock & Mineral Club as they have a huge range of gemstones and rocks available to look at and purchase... and you know how much we LOVE rocks and gemstones! The volunteers are all so knowledgable and love sharing stories and facts and Arabella loves hearing all about it and learning new things as she is fascinated with them (the rocks and gemstones, not the people).
In the back of the club is a workshop where you can hire out the machines to cut and polish your own rocks and gemstones... how cool is this? I believe it was around $4 per machine for 3 hours. We are wanting to take some of our gemstones to have a go with the machines one day as they have sticks that are attached to the gemstones for little kids so they don't touch the machines with their hands. So if you're in Blenheim, we'd recommend this as a great learning experience for kids... and looks fun for adults too! There are plenty of rivers and beaches in Marlborough for you to find some cool rocks, or you could just buy one in the club.
Choooo Choooo!
New Zealand seems to have an abundance of train and miniature train rides - we've been to them at the Heritage Park in Whangarei, the fiery red Oamaru Steam Train (where we got to see little blue penguins once we hopped off!) and one in Picton that only costs 20 cents to ride! Yes, 20 cents! We wanted to go on one near the Rail Tunnel Loop Track in the Karangahake Gorge in the North Island but it was raining the day we wanted to go. Any chance we get, we'll be tooting along on some sort of train.
The Brayshaw Heritage Park have miniature trains that run every 1st Sunday of the month and they also have a larger train that runs during special events. This was the highlight of our trip on the Open Day and the girls were super excited to hop on board.
Inside the train station there are photos about the history of the trains and some cool vintage luggage stacked up to the side, so there's plenty to look at while you wait for the train to depart. We chose to take our seats in the train otherwise we would have missed out and had to wait till it came back.
The train ride took us through a beautiful park in Blenheim where we walked and scootered most days and it ran alongside the river. It wasn't a fast train which meant the trip took about 30-minutes - well worth the money! We stopped a couple of times to let some new passengers on who were waiting in the park and at one point the driver disconnected from the carriages, reversed away (thinking we were going to be stranded... just kidding) and joined onto the track right behind where we were sitting, because the track only goes to a certain point and then it turns around again.
The train has been well looked after and we loved all the colours on it and how enthusiastic all the volunteers were!
The Brayshaw Heritage Park have miniature trains that run every 1st Sunday of the month and they also have a larger train that runs during special events. This was the highlight of our trip on the Open Day and the girls were super excited to hop on board.
Inside the train station there are photos about the history of the trains and some cool vintage luggage stacked up to the side, so there's plenty to look at while you wait for the train to depart. We chose to take our seats in the train otherwise we would have missed out and had to wait till it came back.
The train ride took us through a beautiful park in Blenheim where we walked and scootered most days and it ran alongside the river. It wasn't a fast train which meant the trip took about 30-minutes - well worth the money! We stopped a couple of times to let some new passengers on who were waiting in the park and at one point the driver disconnected from the carriages, reversed away (thinking we were going to be stranded... just kidding) and joined onto the track right behind where we were sitting, because the track only goes to a certain point and then it turns around again.
The train has been well looked after and we loved all the colours on it and how enthusiastic all the volunteers were!
You Gotta To Go To All Corners Of The Park
Every year on the 6th of February, the park hosts an open day where the whole park bursts into life with music, food and all of the organisations and clubs open up their doors and show off their skills and goodies! We have been to the park a few times and when the Open Day came around we wanted to go along as we hadn't seen all of the buildings before, so it was the perfect opportunity to check it all out! We had a really fun day out and we must have spent hours walking around the place and we still didn't get to see everything as there was so much.
There were tons of old tractors, cars and machinery packed in to one area and I stood up against the wheel of one of the vintage tractors and it was wheely, wheely big! Taller than me (photo below).
There's something special for the little ones to make sure they see every area in the park... they get given a 'passport' which they need to get stamped by certain organisations - it really was created so people see the whole park instead of just certain areas. The girls were really excited to do the passports but it also did mean we heard a lot of "can we go find the next one yet?"! Once the passports were stamped, we handed it in and all the kids went into the draw to win a $50 gift card... the girls didn't win but the boy who did was smiling from ear to ear and was super excited!
There were tons of old tractors, cars and machinery packed in to one area and I stood up against the wheel of one of the vintage tractors and it was wheely, wheely big! Taller than me (photo below).
There's something special for the little ones to make sure they see every area in the park... they get given a 'passport' which they need to get stamped by certain organisations - it really was created so people see the whole park instead of just certain areas. The girls were really excited to do the passports but it also did mean we heard a lot of "can we go find the next one yet?"! Once the passports were stamped, we handed it in and all the kids went into the draw to win a $50 gift card... the girls didn't win but the boy who did was smiling from ear to ear and was super excited!
Thomas The Tractor Engine
It was a pretty hot day to be walking around in the summer sunshine, so we were going to head home but we saw a 'Thomas' tractor pulling a cart around the park and how could we turn down the opportunity to ride it?! Come on, it's THOMAS THE TRACTOR ENGINE!
There was a bit of a line which was no surprise as the park was packed, so we waited in the shade until the line got a bit smaller, then we hopped on board and went on our merry way! Anything with wheels that moves us around is a win for the girls and it's worth the money to see the smiles on their faces while they experience something new. What would have made the ride even better was if we had been dropped off at our car ;)
The ride was less than $10 for all of us and it was a 5-minute ride in a loop around the park, where the kids waved at anyone they could! It's funny how when there is a kid on something with wheels, it's met with waves and smiles. Aaah, humans are funny wee things aren't they!
We didn't end up going on the miniature trains on the Open Day as we knew we could just head along on the next day they were running and when we did, there were only 2 people in line, yaaay (cause it was paaacked!).
Inside the stables were some very cool vintage horse carts and saddles. We were talking to one of the volunteers who was telling us about everything in the stables and he gave us his address to take a look at... we have no idea what haha. I thought Lath had heard what he had said and he thought I had heard, so we had an address but no idea what we would one day be going to see! We have forgotten the address now but I assume it was something to do with the stable at the Heritage Park.
We have had so many unique experiences while travelling around New Zealand and we hope the girls remember all these wonderful memories when they're older. If not, at least they have this blog to look back on ;)
There was a bit of a line which was no surprise as the park was packed, so we waited in the shade until the line got a bit smaller, then we hopped on board and went on our merry way! Anything with wheels that moves us around is a win for the girls and it's worth the money to see the smiles on their faces while they experience something new. What would have made the ride even better was if we had been dropped off at our car ;)
The ride was less than $10 for all of us and it was a 5-minute ride in a loop around the park, where the kids waved at anyone they could! It's funny how when there is a kid on something with wheels, it's met with waves and smiles. Aaah, humans are funny wee things aren't they!
We didn't end up going on the miniature trains on the Open Day as we knew we could just head along on the next day they were running and when we did, there were only 2 people in line, yaaay (cause it was paaacked!).
Inside the stables were some very cool vintage horse carts and saddles. We were talking to one of the volunteers who was telling us about everything in the stables and he gave us his address to take a look at... we have no idea what haha. I thought Lath had heard what he had said and he thought I had heard, so we had an address but no idea what we would one day be going to see! We have forgotten the address now but I assume it was something to do with the stable at the Heritage Park.
We have had so many unique experiences while travelling around New Zealand and we hope the girls remember all these wonderful memories when they're older. If not, at least they have this blog to look back on ;)
The History In Marlborough Museum
The Marlborough Museum is housed within Brayshaw Heritage Park and is a treasure trove of artifacts and collections that capture the essence of Marlborough's history. From the maritime adventures of Captain James Cook to the remarkable pottery collections of Elizabeth Lissaman and Fran Maguire, every corner of the museum holds stories waiting to be discovered.
You get to explore the various exhibits in the museum to gain a deeper understanding of Marlborough's history. The Wine Exhibition showcases the proud winemaking heritage of Marlborough (it's wine city there, folks!), where you can learn about the craftsmanship and dedication that goes into creating these world-renowned wines. Quick story - when we first started driving around Marlborough, we found ourselves saying "hey, that's the XYZ winery" over and over with all these wines we've been drinking for years!
Anywho, you can take a step back in time as you visit the Te Pokohiwi exhibition, where you can delve into the ancient culture that once thrived in the area. Through artifacts and displays, you'll gain insights into the traditions, customs and way of life of the early inhabitants.
The Victorian Rooms provide a glimpse into the elegance and refinement of a bygone era where you can admire the intricate details of the period furniture and decor, transporting you back in time to a period of grace and sophistication.
There is a lot to see and do in the museum and, yes parents, there are interactive things to keep the kids interested! Museums can be really hard for kids as at certain ages they can't understand certain things and if there's a lot of reading it can be suuuuper booooring for them (which I totally get as sometimes I get reeeealllly booooored too!).
We have visited the museum a few times during the week which is when we do our indoor adventures (because it's way quieter) and we've enjoyed pottering around, looking at artifacts and learning about the history of Marlborough. The girls enjoy opening the drawers in the corridor to see what's inside them and, as kids do, they run ahead to see what they can discover in the next room. There aren't very many indoor activities available in Blenheim on a rainy day so it's worth popping in to have a look! (Click here to read our top things to do in Blenheim with kids - both indoors and out)
During the park's Open Day, the entry to the Marlborough Musuem is free!
You get to explore the various exhibits in the museum to gain a deeper understanding of Marlborough's history. The Wine Exhibition showcases the proud winemaking heritage of Marlborough (it's wine city there, folks!), where you can learn about the craftsmanship and dedication that goes into creating these world-renowned wines. Quick story - when we first started driving around Marlborough, we found ourselves saying "hey, that's the XYZ winery" over and over with all these wines we've been drinking for years!
Anywho, you can take a step back in time as you visit the Te Pokohiwi exhibition, where you can delve into the ancient culture that once thrived in the area. Through artifacts and displays, you'll gain insights into the traditions, customs and way of life of the early inhabitants.
The Victorian Rooms provide a glimpse into the elegance and refinement of a bygone era where you can admire the intricate details of the period furniture and decor, transporting you back in time to a period of grace and sophistication.
There is a lot to see and do in the museum and, yes parents, there are interactive things to keep the kids interested! Museums can be really hard for kids as at certain ages they can't understand certain things and if there's a lot of reading it can be suuuuper booooring for them (which I totally get as sometimes I get reeeealllly booooored too!).
We have visited the museum a few times during the week which is when we do our indoor adventures (because it's way quieter) and we've enjoyed pottering around, looking at artifacts and learning about the history of Marlborough. The girls enjoy opening the drawers in the corridor to see what's inside them and, as kids do, they run ahead to see what they can discover in the next room. There aren't very many indoor activities available in Blenheim on a rainy day so it's worth popping in to have a look! (Click here to read our top things to do in Blenheim with kids - both indoors and out)
During the park's Open Day, the entry to the Marlborough Musuem is free!
Err...what is this?
Hello darling
Know Before You Go
- The park is open on the first Sunday of every month. Click here for more info and updated hours & prices
- The Marlborough Museum is open daily from 10am - 4pm (closed Christmas Day). Click here for more info and updated prices & hours
- The open day to the park is the 6th Feb and it's always packed with lots to see and do and plenty of food to purchase
- The miniature trains run every 1st and 3rd Sunday of month from 1pm-4pm and it costs a couple of dollars per person to ride- TAKE CASH as they don't have an eftpos machine! Click here for more info.
- There are toilets available inside the museum
- Often buses come in from Picton with a whole lot of cruise ship passenger so we tend to find out if there are any ships coming in and avoid the museum that day! You can also call the museum to ask if any are planned to visit (the people, not the cruise ship.. cruise ships don't like visiting museums)
Mappy McMap Face
How To Get To The Brayshaw Heritage Park in Blenheim
The Brayshaw Heritage Park is located at 26 Arthur Baker Place, Redwoodtown, Blenheim. It's just a few minutes from the centre of Blenheim and there is plenty of signage to the entry of the park. You can also look out for the vintage red, black and yellow train on the corner of New Renwick Road and Arthur Baker Place (kids are able to climb up and play in it!).
Conclusion
Get your history on and soak up all the fascinating stories about Marlborough's past. It's like stepping into a time machine without the wonky wiring! The park has so much to learn about and interact with and the kids are guaranteed to have a good time! The Open Day is a lot of fun with everything open at the same time and it's a hive of activity with bagpipers piping away, sausage sizzles, tea and cakes being served and plenty of enthusiastic people ready to share their knowledge.
Even if you're not a history buff (we certainly aren't), there's so much to see and do that there must be SOMETHING that will interest you ;)
Even if you're not a history buff (we certainly aren't), there's so much to see and do that there must be SOMETHING that will interest you ;)
Gallery of the Brayshaw Heritage Park
Check out the rest of the awesomeness that didn't make it to the main blog but deserves to be shown.
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