Museum Suggested For Ferrvmead Site

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30578, 22 October 1964, Page 22

Museum Suggested For Ferrvmead Site

k museum of science and industry, which would possibly replace the pilot scheme at present under way in Garvins road, Hornby, may be established on the Ferrymead property at Heathcote. The secretary of the Association of Friends of the Canterbury Museum of Science and Industry (Mr G. H. Hickford) said in a letter received by the Heathcote County Council last evening that the association was interested in the site because the Garvins road site would be too small for future requirements. “The Ferrymead site is of great historical value,” he said. “One of our objects is to preserve industrial equip-

ment of past years and to use it for educational purposes. Naturally there will also be much public appeal in our venture, and we consider that Ferrymead and our museum would be ideally suited.” He suggested a meeting of members and councillors so that details could be gone into more fully. The possibility of rail access would also be investigated. During the last few months the council has been negotiating with the Junior Chamber of Commerce to have the site developed. The council decided to refer the letter to the chamber, with a recommendation that the association's proposal would fit into the over-all scheme. Asked by “The Press” last evening to elaborate on the question of rail access, Mr Hickford said the association was hopeful of having a connexion with the ChristchurchLyttelton railway line. There was a possibility that ,a line could be run along the original route used by the Ferrymead railway 100 years ago to connect with the port line at the pumping station between the Woo Ist on and Heathcote stations. Mr Hickford said that this would involve a pumber of difficulties, as much of the land was now owned by private farmers. He said the . Railway Enthusiasts’ Society was keenly interested in the ! association’s proposal.