New buildings and facilities provide a startling contrast

Press, 28 October 1977, Page 17

New buildings and facilities provide a startling contrast

The Amberley domain will be bristling with new buildings and public facilities tomorrow, but parts of the grounds will provide a startling contrast. Visitors to the Amberley Historical Society’s tent will be spirited back 100 years in time when they see a replica of a typical two-roomed cottage from the 1850 era. The historical society is definitely taking advantage of the show’s seventy-fifth anniversary. It will introduce the grand parade at 1.15 p.m. on Saturday with Clydes-

dales, horse drawn gigs, vintage tractors, traction engines and a pack of hunters and hounds in traditional grab, all voluntary participants from clubs and individuals. The atmosphere of “old and new” will be pronounced more this year than in any other. The new addition to the pavillion will stand proudly amongst historical photo displays and a board showing the written history of Amberley — compiled by a local teacher. Maybe this will instil in Amberley the need for the society’s basic aim — the

establishment of a museum. Formed in 1974, members have already successfully obtained the old Markham St courthouse from the Hurunui County Council as a site for the museum. Plans to erect a replica of the old Thwaites cottage (first built 1865) and re-erect a donated sod cottage onto the site are well under way. The society already has a collection of agricultural machinery, which includes horse drawn ploughs, three cultivators and two hay sweeps.