Farm site for Nelson museum

Press, 14 July 1982, Page 28

Farm site for Nelson museum

Harvesting on Marsden’s Farm, Stoke, about 1915, which is now the site of the Nelson Provincial Museum. James Marsden’s farm was described in 1905 as “nearly all ploughable and fields splendid crops of barley, wheat and turnips. .Mr Marsden’s homestead is complete in every respect, and the outbuildings, stables and granary, sheep dip and yards are spacious and modem in style.” These 160 hectares and homestead are now the site of the suburb of Stoke. Just opposite the Stoke . shopping centre are the remaining five-hectare Woodland gardens known as Ise] Park; This was purchased by the Nelson City Council along with the Marsden homestead (Isel House) in 1959.: ■ The park contains many fine specimens . of trees, some of which are considered notable exotic trees of national interest. Most of the trees were, established by James Marsden’s father as early as 1850. The park is now administered by the Parks and Reserves depart-

ment and is also the site of papers, diaries, paintings, maps, plans and other historic documents. . The photographic collection is also available for public use. The collection has more than 100,000 glass plate negatives dating back to 1860. Prints from these are available for family history, historic research or for decoration. ; Other important collections housed at the museum include early, colonial items, Maori artefacts and the Cawthron Institute's natural history collection. At present, the Nelson Provincial Museum is preparing the displays for a new gallery dealing with the

the Nelson Provincial Museum. The museum has a fine collection of china from the Marsden family. This is on display, along with period furniture, in the front rooms of Isel House. The Nelson Provincial Museum is situated just behind Isel House. Amongst its collection of material relating to the whole Nelson Province is an excellent historical reference, library and an invaluable historical photograph collection. The library-has a full-time librarian and is available for research and reference. It includes book collections, manuscripts, early newsMaori history of the Nelson

region. This will be the first in a series of four new galleries planned for the Museum in the near future.