Yes, it is exciting visiting some of New Zealand's historic buildings
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| Te Waimate Misson - a "Georgian Beauty" |
One of my favorite things to do with the Only Child, is to visit some of New Zealand's historic buildings. Not every weekend, but at least two or three times a year. As you might expect, the Only Child does not share my exuberance at the antiques on display in these houses - yet!
However, I do notice her incorporating the word 'antique' in to her vernacular.
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| Lovely old things for your Only Child to marvel at. |
One of my favourite houses is Te Waimate Misson house - built in 1832. The Misson house is on the grounds of New Zealand's first large English-style farm. Back in the 'olden days' the Church Missionary Society wanted to show the 'uncivilized' natives how to run a farm and to live life 'their' way. Ahh, some type of micro-colonialism. So there's the extent of my history lesson on Te Waimate.
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| An 'olden day' shower. |
Te Waimate Mission house has conserved the larder - and this is very exciting for an Only Child to see what an olden day 'fridge' looks like (I told her it was an olden day fridge - and aren't we lucky to have a big white one these days...). And there are still so many objects in the house conserved from it's time as a farm station and as a school.
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| Kemp House - built 1820-1821 |
But, our absolute favorite building is Kemp House. There is something so romantic about Kemp House, it's Victorian gardens, and it's outlook on to the peaceful Keri Keri river. Amazingly, the Kemp family kept the house in Victorian condition, and lived in it right up until the 1970s! And thank goodness they did, the Only Child got to see first hand how home life was quite different to what she has today. Though, toys are timeless - and there was a gorgeous Victorian Noah's Ark toy on the dinner table that we both spotted.
Next to Kemp house is the stone store, and opposite is Rewa's village - a reconstruction of an old Maori Village. There is tonnes of archaeology in Keri Keri, and Rewa's Village houses a few archaeological finds. But the Kemp House - Stone Store area is really a treasure for New Zealanders - it's just beautiful, interesting, and there's a great cafe next to the Stone Store called The Pear Tree. Just in case you feel the need for coffee and a muffin, or a piece of cake.
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Pompallier House 1842 - named after Bishop Pompallier
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Apart from Catholicism, what Pompallier House does is take guests on a working tour of the tannery and printery. We didn't know this going in. But within 15 minutes of stepping in to the french rammed earth house, my Only Child was 'working' leather making it smooth, and had already witnessed the animal skins that had been stripped of fat. The Only Child had learnt that animal skins were soaked in human urine in the olden days, and that the excess skin fat was used to make soap for those early folk.
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| Kids making leather - your child will love it! |
Also, the children get to observe and participate in the upstairs printery. The Only Child was very intrigued at the printing plates - lots of intricate little pieces. I have to admit, when I heard about Pompallier House, I wasn't that interested in seeing a printery - but when you see it in action, I bet a part of you (for at least a second) will feel like a little kid.
The Only Child's verdict on Pompallier House? "So cool!".
Entry in to Pompallier House, Kemp House, and Te Waimate Mission House will cost you a small fee. The fee helps with the enormous preservation and conservation of these wonderful houses from the 'olden days'.
Next time you are in the Bay of Islands, or anywhere in Northland I guess - find out where the closest historic building is to you - and visit it. Children love to use their imagination, and the objects on display will keep them wondering about what the world was like before they were around...
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