
Coach House Museum Collection The Coach House Museum is home to an outstanding collection of New Zealand heritage, showcasing over 140 years of rural history. The collection includes many restored historic vehicles, items of farm equipment and machinery and settler lifestyle displays from the Horse Drawn Era and beyond.
	Maori & the Early Manawatu Landscape The Museum explores the early history of local Maori Iwi and the dramatic changes European settlement brought to both the natural and cultural environment within Manawatu. Early European Settlement & Land Development The special stories of the lives of early settlers in the Manawatu are told throughout the Museum in an extensive display of artifacts, audio-visual displays, informative descriptions and photographs. The history of the Manchester Block, bush clearance, town planning, home-making, trade and agriculture are explored.
	Horse Drawn Era Vehicles & Historic Farm Machinery The Museum has a comprehensive display of horse-drawn vehicles ranging from heavy vehicles used to establish the district, through to the social and commercial vehicles used by settlers, traders and farmers. Historic farm machinery, agricultural equipment used by farmers in the region are also included in the Collection.
	Crawshaw John Deere Collection A passion for all things ‘John Deere’ has culminated in Otaki farmer Ferg Crawshaw’s outstanding collection of historic John Deere tractors and machinery. Over 30 vehicles and machines have been painstakingly restored by one dedicated John Deere man and are now proudly displayed for all John Deere enthusiasts to enjoy. Spall ‘Fitch Four’ Tractor & Stationary Engine Collection One of the rarest and internationally significant items of machinery in our Museum collection can be found within the Spall Collection – an impressive private collection of restored vehicles and stationary engines, including the rare 'Fitch Four' Tractor (one of only a few in existence world-wide).
	Higgins Group Company Historic Vehicles The Higgins Company grew from a small, contracting business established in the Manawatu by Irish immigrant Dan Higgins. It is now a leading New Zealand civil construction contractor business. Higgins are important supporters of the Museum and have generously provided the property to house the Museum’s collections. A collection of historically significant Higgins vehicles have been restored and are on display, including one of New Zealand’s first road-making machines.
	From Bush to Butter - The Family Dairy Farm When the ship Dunedin left New Zealand on 15^th February 1882 with the first shipment of frozen meat on-board, she also carried a small quantity of frozen butter. When the butter was then sold in England in perfect condition, dairy farming in New Zealand was changed forever…. The story of dairy farming in New Zealand is explored alongside the history of the Cheltenham Co-Op Dairy Factory– the first dried milk powder production factory and very beginnings of the world renowned global company Glaxo.
	Have a Go & Climb Aboard! There are a number of interactive displays and vehicles throughout the Museum that visitors may have a go or climb upon for a ‘real’ experience - these are clearly identified. Museum carriages have in the past been used for local parades and hired for special events. The horse-drawn ‘wim’ has been set up as a ‘have-a-go’ display which activates a water pump and is very popular with children. The ‘Wim’ is great example of volunteer ingenuity. More Fascinating History behind the Scenes….. The Feilding & District Community Archive plays an important role in receiving and cataloguing donated community records, some of which were previously held by the Manawatu District Council and Feilding Public Library, from 1875 to the present day.
	The Archive collection includes: · Extensive photographic records of people and events · Private papers, clubs and society records · Business records · Personal biographies and diaries · Newspapers · Printed texts	*Events Calendar*
	The Archive is open to the public every Thursday, from 10am to 4pm, and at other times by appointment when access to the Archive's computerised database 'PastPerfect' and document photocopying services are available.
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	121 South Street, Feilding, Manawatu, New Zealand * Open 7 Days 10am - 4pm * (06) 323 6401