Wanganui Branch
Past Events
Life on A Five Pound note
27 September 2026
Chris Mahoney who told us about his ancestor Sarah Smart who arrived in New Zealand in December 1850 on the Randolph, one of the first four ships organised by the Canterbury Association. Sarah and her husband William travelled with their twelve children in steerage. The conditions in steerage were bad with the passengers crowded into a small space between decks, sleeping in tiers of bunks.
Sacred Heart College
July 2026
Frances Quirk, sales manager for Ryman HealthCare's Jane Winstone Retirement Village gave an informative and very entertaining presentation on the history of Sacred Heart College (the former grounds of which the village now occupies) and of the school's chapel. The chapel was spared demolition......
Police beginnings in NZ
June 2026
Jim Watt, descendant of Wanganui's first mayor, William Hogg Watt, gave a well received presentation on his father, Morris Watt. He began with the arrival in New Zealand of his forebear George Watt in 1851 with his second wife Margaret. William Hogg Watt was one of George and Margaret's sons and Jim related the beginnings of the shipping and merchant firm Taylor and Watt, which operated in Wanganui for several decades.
Police beginnings in NZ
April 2026
A very well received talk was given by author Rob Rattenbury, former police officer, dog handler and Armed Offenders Squad member. Rob outlined the history of the New Zealand police force, beginning with pre-European Maori forms of justice, to the armed constabulary of the mid-1880s, the introduction of women into the force, then on to modern policing as we know it today.
Cobb and Co Story
March 2026
The first Cobb and Co coach ran from Dunedin to Gabriel’s Gully on 11 October 1861 From there it spread to other centres round the South Island and then expanded throughout the country. The last coach service was in 1923. One of our members remembers his father telling of travelling on the coach in 1922.
Pendle Hill Story
February 2026
Jill Clark spoke about her recent Fletcher family reunion at Pendle Hill Estate in January 2026 where her family first lived.
Her ancestor Samuel Fletcher arrived on the “Alma” in 1856, and he married Harriett Lomas in 1866
Early history of the Whanganui River mouth
July 2025
There were 21 attendees (including four visitors) at our July meeting when author/historian Laraine Sole spoke about the early history of the Whanganui River mouth and harbour, including accounts of pre-European history. With work in progress to restore the port it was good to look back at what our early settlers would have seen as they entered the river. Laraine has written numerous books, including histories of many Wanganui suburbs and pubs. A very informative and well-presented session, evidenced by the many after-talk questions.
Sarjeant Art Gallery
June 2025
We had an interesting meeting where Jennifer Taylor from the Sarjeant Art Gallery talked about the ups
and downs of relocating the Sarjeant collection to temporary premises during earthquake strengthening
which was galvanized by chunks of concrete falling from the ceiling. It took several years to catalogue and safely pack everything but along the way they relocated several items that hadn’t been catalogued from the early years, and could log the condition of each item for future use. And then there was the equally long process when they moved everything back into their newly refurbished and extended new building.
Fossils found on Kai Iwi Beach
May 2025
Bruce Taylor from the Kai Iwi Beach Motor Camp, and president of the Whanganui Rock and Mineral Club talked with enthusiasm and knowledge about his collection of fossils found on Kai Iwi Beach and other places along this coast.
He brought with him samples of whale, penguin, sharks' teeth and many bits of moa bones that have turned into rock over many millennia. He also showed us two megalodon teeth which he purchased from America, but were known to have been present in this area.
He sends some of his findings to Te Papa for verification and at present they are removing for him an almost complete seal skeleton from its encasing rock.
His knowledge of the best places to hunt and how to recognize a fossil will encourage some of our members to head for the beach on the next sunny day when the tide is right I’m sure.
John Handley who arrived in NZ in 1842
April 2025
Quentin Handley spoke about his family, beginning with the arrival of his great-great-grandfather John Handley who arrived in New Zealand in 1842 with his wife Martha and three children. He was a builder and member of the town council and bought property at Rapanui in 1853, but died an early death after falling from his horse when returning home one evening. Quentin spoke of his family's genealogy and the history of the farm which has remained in the Handley family since its early days.
Home of the Peace Through Unity Trust
March 2025
A good number of us spent a pleasant afternoon at Te Rangi, currently the home of the Peace Through Unity Trust.
The Trust was begun by Anthony and Gita Brooke in 1987 after devoting their lives to assisting a culture of peace in many countries around the world in association with the United Nations. The House at 4 Allison St built somewhere around 1915, is a haven of peace surrounded by trees with a view out over the city and river, and with several quiet lawns and verandahs. It is built in the Transition style between villa and bungalow and is mostly unchanged inside with elegant rooms and furnishings. It was well worth the visit
A tribute for long-serving member
February 2025
A tribute for long-serving member and finance officer Hugh Ramage was read out by Lynley.
Lynley presented an historical review of Founders Wanganui, including editorials written by late historian Hugh Ross and spoke of the strong relationship we have always had both with the Public and Heritage Libraries.
Branch Bus Trip
November 27, 2020
For the final meeting of 2020, the Wanganui branch took a sight-seeing tour of many of the historical places in Wanganui aboard a London double decker bus. A great day out and barely skimmed the surface of what there was to see
Meeting at Bushy Park
March 20, 2020
Some of the members of the Wanganui Branch enjoying the elegant silver service and bone china afternoon tea in the dining room at Bushy Park Homestead.
Some more of our group in the breakfast room..
Wanganui Student Literary Awards
Wanganui Heritage Tales
