Carterton District Historical Society

25/06/2026

Every Thursday I try to put up something of interest be it old or new but some days it just doesn’t happen.
Today as I was leaving the rooms I had a search for an old photograph we have of the Dalefield Dairy Company dated 1908. Included in the photo are several well known local names - J Moncrieff (Secretary), MT West (Manager), A Gallon (Chairman), WC Ordish, A Knutson, C Tunnicliffe, CH Cormack and R Bassett.

19/06/2026

Today we visited Gladstone School to have a look at their 150th Anniversary celebration photographs. It was lovely to see photos of pupil classes, photos of the original buildings, stories about the school, honours board and a time line of Gladstone School plus much more. The school opened in June 1876 with 24 pupils and by 2026 the school roll now stands at 178 pupils. This is a great country school with good community spirit.

06/06/2026

Last night the Charles Rooking Carter Awards 2026 was held at the Wairarapa Events Centre. It was a wonderful evening celebrating many of the people and groups within the Carterton District for the work and achievements in the community. The evening’s Master of Ceremonies and Guest Speaker was Miriama Kamo who did a marvellous job running a very smooth production.

The Carterton District Historical Society was nominated in the category “Arts, Culture & Heritage”. Along side us in this category was Madeleine Slavick and Wayne Pitau.

Madeleine was chosen as the winner in this category and then went on to be named the overall winner of the evening. Congratulations Madeleine, well deserved.

For the Society, it was just wonderful to be nominated for our contribution to preserving Carterton’s heritage. Below is the certificate we received which will be proudly displayed in our rooms.

Thanks to everyone involved in making this a superb event and evening.

14/05/2026

There’s a new window display at our rooms at 142 High Street North so when you’re in town pop along and check it out. The display is about the Carterton District Rail Line, incidents and accidents. There’s lots of information to read and learn about our rail line that you may not be aware of and some interesting facts to find out about the history of our area.

10/05/2026

Does anyone have any recollection of this derailment which took place on 6 October 1956 at Matarawa? This group of photographs are taken from Harry Hughan’s family photograph ok album.

30/04/2026

Here’s a photo that was recently sent to us of 19 pupils at Waihakeke School taken in 1962. There are a number of names well known in the area.

The children are:
BACK ROW: Tom Tulloch; Max Cadwallader; Bruce Phillips; Thomas Towler.
THIRD ROW: Lesley Nixon; Diane McGimpsey; Shirley Tulloch; Jennifer Burden; Shona Cadwallader.
SECOND ROW: Graeme Burden; Helen Daysh; Gary Yee; Karen Daysh; David Tulloch; Colleen Calvert; Ross Nixon. FRONT ROW: Desmond Yee; Donna Cadwallader; Ann Yee.
ABSENT: Paul Redwood; Irene Walczak

25/04/2026

Thanks to everyone for supporting our Society and many thanks to those who came along to our AGM on Sunday 19th April, both members and locals The meeting ran very smoothly and I am happy to say that we have a full Committee to keep the Society ticking along.

The Committee consists of Chairperson, Steve Cretney, Deputy Chairperson, Cimone Grayson, Secretary, Vivienne Hawken, Treasurer Maria Thompson and Marlene Ditchfield, Allan Renall, David Cramp and Robyn Ray-MacGregor. I look forward to the coming year working with this great team and the volunteers who come regularly to work in the rooms. Thanks again.

Send a message to learn more

16/04/2026

We changed the window display at our rooms on Wednesday in preparation for ANZAC Day and reflects on the lives of two local brothers from Carterton who went to war and didn’t come home, Frank and Nilander Johnson. May we take time to honour these and other young men and who went away to war and never returned to their families.

13/04/2026

A reminder that the Carterton District Historical Society is holding their AGM on Sunday 19th April between 2pm and 4pm at their rooms 142 High Street North Carterton. All welcome.

09/04/2026

On Wednesday afternoon on 8th April Maria Thompson and Vivienne Hawken went to ArrowFM in Masterton to be interviewed by Janette Wallace Gedge about the Carterton District Historical Society. Armed with some information to talk about we walked into the unknown. Janette made this first venture into radio for both of us an easy process and there was no need for our nervousness in being interviewed.

If you would like to watch the interview it can be found on the ArrowFM website under programmes and then Cobblestone Chronicles or use the link below.