History comes alive at Mansion House

28 September 2005

History comes alive at Mansion House

Bread will be kneaded, butter churned and chamber pots collected during a ‘living history’ day at Mansion House on Kawau Island on Sunday 16 October.

The public are invited to come and see this usually static historic house come to life in an open day organised by community group Friends of Mansion House and the Department of Conservation.

DOC community relations officer Liz Maire said it was a chance for people to experience Mansion House in new way.

“Mansion House will be abuzz with kitchen maids, nannies and Victorian ladies making music and doing handicrafts. We’re hoping to give people a sense of what Mansion House might have looked like with its occupants engaged in activities of the day.”

The family-oriented day would include floral art demonstrations, classical music recitals, a working blacksmith and garden treasure hunt for children, said Mrs Maire.

Kawau Island Historic Reserve, one of the most significant heritage sites in the country, is associated with copper mining in the 1840s and former governor Sir George Grey in the second half of that century.

Mansion House Living History follows from the success of last year’s Kawau Carnival, where over 1000 people came to celebrate the history of the reserve, many in period costume. While the carnival is not being repeated this year, there have been several other open days including a Victorian games day and a day of guided tours.

Living History at Mansion House, Kawau Island Historic Reserve runs from 11am to 2 pm on Sunday 16 October.

Entry to Mansion House is by gold coin donation and discounted boat transport ($20 adult return, $10 child, or $50 for a family) will be available from Sandspit, near Warkworth.

ENDS

© Scoop Media