Beale Cottage

21/12/2021

While there isn't much happening to update you about at the moment, I'm still checking out other house-museums for inspiration. ☺️

The Katherine Mansfield House & Garden (her birthplace) beautifully showcases what the family home on Tinakori Rd, may have looked like during the years she lived there (1888-1903).

It also includes an exhibition on a specific area of interest (in this case, music 🎻) & a room dedicated to sharing an extended timeline of her life.

Beale Cottage is getting a little bit of work done, with a 'plan' to re-open to the public in 2022. I'll keep you posted on developments & calls-to-action.

27/06/2021

Lovely to receive this post from Annabel Cotton today - it starts to paint a picture of the people who have lived here since 1872.

"This cottage was the home of my great aunt, Maisie Forrest. The Forrest family owned the house for many decades. Council news reports suggest they bought the property in 1920 but I think it might have been earlier than that on the basis I've always understood Grandpa Forrest (George Forrest) was involved in building St Paul’s Catholic Church in Ngaruawahia and used to ride out there every day on his bicycle from Cheshunt Cottage. That church opened in 1913. The Forrests named the house Cheshunt (not Chestnut) Cottage after the village that the family left in Hertfordshire to move to New Zealand. Also I've always understood the family moved from Cheshunt to Hamilton and that house when the five children were small and their mother died on the journey to New Zealand. Maisie bequested the house to Hamilton City. Maisie died in 1988, not 1992. Maisie was adored by my brothers and me. She was a wonderful great aunt. Long time Hamiltonians may remember Maisie as a librarian at Hamilton Library when it was located on Alexandra St on what is now CentrePlace. I'd love to be involved in planning for the future of the house and was delighted to find this FB page. I'm certainly available for doing a tidy up in the garden. I live at Rotokauri so am local. My late mother, Pauline Cotton, provided the Council with a considerable history of the house as well as lists of plants and probably plans of the garden layout. Maisie and Grandpa Forrest grew vegetables and flowers that they sold from the back porch. The vegetable garden was where there are now apartments at 13 Beale St"

Photo from Hamilton City Libraries online collection
https://heritage.hamiltonlibraries.co.nz/objects/20177/m-forrest-last-day-at-the-library

24/06/2021

📢 Exciting update about the future of our oldest house!

Unlike other Hamilton East buildings, Beale Cottage has stood the test of time, so it's really exciting that the community will finally be invited in to enjoy the space and learn local history.

Work on the chimneys & landscaping will get underway, before it is open to the public. What the space looks like as a house museum / gallery is still to be decided ... watch this space for updates!

Council acts to preserve and enhance Beale Cottage, which has stood the test of time in Hamilton East since the early 1870s.

20/06/2021

📣Beale Cottage a step closer to being open to the public.

On Tuesday elected members will vote on a report recommending the council open Beale Cottage to the public (even if only a trial).

👍1. The best ways you can support this is by emailing your Yes feedback to [email protected].

👍2. Or attending Tuesday's public forum at 9.30am. You'll have 3-5 minutes to tell the elected members why you support this or what you want to see happen. Book your spot by emailing first.
Here's the report for rainy day reading

https://www.hamilton.govt.nz/AgendasAndMinutes/Community%20Committee%20Open%20Agenda%20-%2022%20June%202021.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0bRaITcT0qewU8l2Xy7ARELO2KwpmmpO-NnJfTDQ8E6JjaXXxTCbOyf60

18/06/2021

📣Beale Cottage a step closer to being open to the public.

On Tuesday elected members will vote on a report recommending the council open Beale Cottage to the public (even if only a trial).

👍1. The best ways you can support this is by emailing your Yes feedback to [email protected].

👍2. Or attending Tuesday's public forum at 9.30am. You'll have 3-5 minutes to tell the elected members why you support this or what you want to see happen. Book your spot by emailing first.

Here's the report for rainy day reading
https://www.hamilton.govt.nz/AgendasAndMinutes/Community%20Committee%20Open%20Agenda%20-%2022%20June%202021.pdf

26/04/2021

What Bevan said... 👇👇

"Beale Cottage is a historic reserve and the lawns and gardens are not being well maintained by HCC. The site is becoming overgrown and unsightly which is disappointing considering the significance of this property".

Instead of shaking his head and walking away, he gave that feedback to the Hamilton City Council through Antenno. If you don't have Antenno, you can give general feedback on lack of maintenance at Beale Cottage using the link below.

Thanks Bevan!

https://www.hamilton.govt.nz/our-services/do-it-online/general-feedback/Pages/default.aspx

03/03/2021

Firth Tower Museum Matamata is a collaborative effort between Matamata-Piako District Council (the site) and the Matamata historical society (the exhibits & displays).

Throughout the reserve there are original and relocated buildings to share their chosen stories of the estate and district.

It's an impressive collection so if you're in the area in the weekend check it out.

26/02/2021

A nice write-up about Frankton's Railway Village.

During the 1920's, 1400 prefabricated houses were built for NZ Railway employees. They were built of native wood, to set designs in a factory down the road.

100 years on, remaining houses are managed under council planning provisions which ensure the frontage remains and infill stays out.

Frankton's Railway Village is over 100-years-old. It's occupants share why they think it's a special place.

19/02/2021

If this was a Real Estate Advert it would say 'Opportunity, Opportunity, Opportunity'!

I've wanted to see inside the cottage for years, so was super excited to be given a tour today.

The cottage is in better condition than I was expecting and despite the garden being a mess you can easily picture what it could look like, with a little tlc.

Personally I'd love to see the rooms staged - an 1870s living room, 1920s bedroom, 1950s kitchen and of course a recreation of Dr Beale's surgery & registry (with surgical oddities).

*Market gardening was a big part of it's story and I also learnt the house has links to our arts scene so that would have to be included too!*

But, the best outcome will be the one the community wants, not me, not council staff and not elected members.

So, what would you like to see happen here?

10/02/2021

A report into the future use of Beale Cottage was due to be presented to the Community Committee of the Hamilton City Council today. As per the agenda, the staff have been unable to complete this so have asked for a deferral to a future meeting.

https://www.hamilton.govt.nz/AgendasAndMinutes/Community%20Committee%20Open%20Agenda%20-%2011%20February%202021.PDF

While use of the space would be nice, the priority at this stage is to protect the structure and integrity of the Category 1 Historic Place. This will mean ensuring the council has a robust management plan and adequate funding from the Long Term Plan. We'll post another update soon.

https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/769

06/12/2020

The Kihikihi Police House & Temple Cottage is a fantastic example of a community coming together to protect, restore and share a piece of local history.

My family and I enjoyed hearing from passionate and knowledgeable volunteers while we explored the buildings and site. Despite being sandwiched between a busy road (SH3) and growing housing developments you still feel like you've gone back in time.

It's open on Wednesday afternoons and the first Saturday of the month. Kid friendly too!

You can tell a huge amount of work goes into making it happen, but it's exciting to think we might be able to do that at here! Just as the Police station was built to be a workplace and residence, so too was Beale Cottage. 🏡🩺

Like & Share this page (and the Kihikihi page) for updates. We'll do a call out to come along to the first meeting of the "Friends of Beale Cottage" in the New Year. (Kelli)

26/11/2020

Owned by the Hamilton City Council since the early 1990's, we think it's time the community had access to this unique historical site.

We could start small, perhaps with events like meetings, performances or book readings in the garden. It could lead to hosting art exhibitions in the cottage to ultimately sourcing 1870s household furniture and surgical equipment for history tours of the house and dispensary. If we really want to put it on the map we could create a museum of scientific oddities... It's up to us!

If you're keen on helping to make any of this happen make sure you Like & Share this page for updates. We'll do a call out for an initial meeting in the New Year.

(For transparency's sake, posted by Kelli Pike)