https://www.facebook.com/2274486452785037/

Carterton District Historical Society

Home
New Zealand
Carterton
Carterton District Historical Society

We are a voluntary group interested in the history of the Carterton District - it’s places, buildings, people and events.

30/09/2026

The window display has been updated again and this time is centred on the story of Samuel Oates carrying gum tree saplings in a large wheelbarrow over the Remutaka Hill for Charles Rooking Carter which is a well known story in the district. While he rested up in Greytown three of the saplings were stolen. One of them still stands today in Greytown.

Over the years there have been several races commemorating the journey. The first was held in 1936 with many other variations of the race with different courses over years.

Stop by and read the stories and view the photos.

22/09/2026

Thought of you after talking to you yesterday. Just ideas to think of

19/09/2026

Sorting through some old photos during the week I came across this one of early High Street Carterton. I’m not sure of the date but before 1942 when the earthquake destroyed the lovely Post Office building on the corner of High Street and Holloway Street. Just look at the street scene with horses and carts, a car, ladies in long dresses, men on horseback with a dog beside them, a man on a bicycle pedestrians and all those power poles. Quite a different scene from what we see today.

10/09/2026

One of my colleagues is researching the history of a building that was in Belvedere Road in its time known as the Kings Theatre and was on the western side of the Club Hotel with the entrance to the Carterton Showgrounds which is now the Carterton Rugby Football Club.

The King’s Theatre was a popular venue for balls, dances, concerts and movies. It was then used by the A&P Society while the shows were held in Belvedere Road. After the move of the show to Clareville, the building had a few owners including local businessman Alan Stewart, who redeveloped and modernised the building, giving it a new lease on life. Tohunga Whare Construction took over half while Woodfield Industries, who manufactured plastic bags, occupied the rest. Woodfield expanded to occupy the whole building until 1977 when they went into receivership. Five years later the building was purchased by three Iranian investors, and it became Amity Industry’s which burnt down in 1983.

My question is does anyone know when this photo was taken and whether there are any people in the cast who you can name.

01/09/2026

Spring is here as from today and we’ll be celebrating the Carterton Daffodil Festival on Sunday 13th September. To participate in this celebration we have changed our window display to reflect this occasion. We’ve gone yellow with a picnic theme and some information about how this festival started and what the day will hold including the ever popular Steam Train ride from the city of Wellington. Fingers crossed for a fine Spring Day on the 13th.

22/08/2026

What happened to this small building on the eastern side of High Street North on the south side of the old Power Board building which is today the premises of WCM Legal?
The building has the name BAX above the entrance.
When did this building disappear and what was the business? When was this photo taken?

14/08/2026

Today we installed four information boards for the empty site at 41 High Street North.

Included is a photo of the original building and a more modern view of the building before it was demolished.

Underneath the photos are four boards explaining what businesses were on this site prior to demolition.

Stop by and read about the history of this old building site in the Carterton business area.

We’re look forward, in due course, to see what will appear in this central space.

06/08/2026

Here’s a lovely photo of the building that originally stood on the corner of High Street North and Holloway Street in Carterton.

The building was owned by Frank Feist and was established in 1881. He was a general merchant and direct importer, ironmonger, draper and grocer as the signage on the building states.

Frank Alfred Feist was born in Islington, London in 1861 and arrived in New Zealand in 1866. He married Amelia Prince in Masterton in 1882. He was a prominent local businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Carterton from 1911 to 1914. He died in January 1948 aged 86.

The building has changed in its appearance over the years and was unfortunately burnt down in October 2021.

31/07/2026

Amongst some photos we were searching through on Thursday I came across this photo in a photograph album. It is the grindstone wheel used at Wakelin’s Flour Mill situated at 147 High Street South in Carterton. You can see on the right of the photo the old flour mill building.
What I am trying to find out is why the old wheel was mounted like this and by whom, when was it mounted and where is it now.
Can anyone throw any light on to the history of this old grindstone wheel?
The mill closed in 1964.

Address

142 High Street North
Carterton
5713

Opening Hours

2pm - 4pm

Telephone

+6463795564

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Carterton District Historical Society posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Carterton District Historical Society:

Want your organization to be the top-listed non profit organization in Carterton?