Archive given local riches

WORKERS: The archive has records relating to the Bouzaid and Ballaben clothing factory that closed its doors in Greytown in 2009. PHOTO/FILE

A treasure trove of new archival information was been donated to Wairarapa Archive in the three months to September 30.

Among those of particular significance were probus club records, photographic slides that once belonged to Greytown historian the late Jack Bull and a registry of baptisms, wedding and funerals conducted by a church in Mauriceville.

A steady stream of historical information continues to arrive at the archive relating to World War I, this being the year 100 years on from the start of the war.

Included in the quarterly donations were records from Greytown School and the Wairarapa Vintage Car Club.

Copies of the Weekly Star dating back to the 1890s were given as were papers from the Wellington and Holdaway families and material that had been gathered for a reunion of Bouzaid and Ballaben workers.

Outreach work by the archivists included war historian Neil Frances developing a WW100 heritage trail in conjunction with Destination Wairarapa, and visiting the site of the Featherston Military Training Camp at Tauherenikau along with Historic Places Trust and government representatives, assessing its historical value.

District archivist Gareth Winter helped Greater Wellington Regional Council staff prepare a display on flooding of the Waipoua River and helped Cobblestones Museum Trust prepare a history of its buildings.

He also advised St Matthew's Collegiate on how to set up a school archive and was part of a group helping to develop a strategic plan for the Montford Trimble Trust.