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TERRACE STATION at HORORATA ~ Sharing stories ~
Take a peek inside
This homestead and garden date from the mid-1850s when the property was owned by the Studholme brothers. In 1861 John Hall bought this run and called his property Rakaia Terrace Station. During the next forty years additions were made to the original three roomed house which had come pre-cut from Australia. Sir John Hall was the parliamentary advocate for the Women’s Suffrage Movement. New Zealand was the first country in the world where women could vote in parliamentary elections.
The extensive garden area of about 1 hectare has adapted from the Victorian formality of earlier times to a relaxed, informal style, with mass plantings of bulbs and woodland perennials. A tree walk winds beneath 19th century Sequoias, Douglas fir, Quercus ilex and other species.
Responsibility for maintaining the NZHPT category I homestead, and many farm buildings of the 19th century now rests with the Terrace Station Charitable Trust. Information is available about this.
OPTIONS FOR VISITORS:
Groups with a minimum of 20 and maximum of 50 people can visit by prior arrangement, but not usually during the months of May, June and July. Your $30.00 admission allows you to enjoy the extensive lawns, gardens and magnificent trees. You can look into the front rooms of the homestead; information about the property and early photos are displayed in The Hutch. This one-time garden summer house also has displays of garden and farm tools and some household items.
Tea and coffee, but no food, can be provided for an extra $4.00 per head. Groups are welcome to bring a picnic to have in the garden; chairs are available for your use. Wheelchair access is very limited and there is no wheelchair toilet available. Walking frames can be accommodated more easily.
Groups can choose to access three of the following six important display areas:
1 - The Carriage House with 19th century horse-drawn family vehicles and some of the late Richard Foster’s veteran and vintage vehicles and motoring memorabilia.
2 - Sir John Hall’s 1898 office, within the homestead, contains many political and other books and also contains a collection of memorabilia from the 1906 Christchurch International Exhibition.
3 - The 1898 kitchen, within the homestead, has displays of kitchen and household items from the 19th and 20th centuries, including the first electric stove in use here from 1931.
4 - The Children’s Room, also within the homestead, has displays of books, toys, educational and other items that were used by four generations of children who have called Terrace Station ‘home’, the earliest dating from 1824.
5 - The Blacksmith’s shop with the forge in place though not working; a collection of farming items.
6 – 1885 purpose-built Swaggers Hut, 19th century Ploughman’s Caravan, and remnants of the light horse stables are able to be viewed. Information is provided within them.
Garden only – Adults: $15.00 per head. Groups with a minimum of 20 people are welcome and a talk will focus on the history of the garden and the tree planting. The Hutch will be open. You may bring a picnic to have in the garden. There may be woodland plants for sale.
Garden only visits with no booking required - Adults: $10.00 per head. Children: no charge
One Sunday in each month of August, September, October, November, December and April. There is usually a stall selling woodland plants. EFTPOS is not available. More information on the website at the time.
contact Kate Foster, 03 318 0756 [email protected] www.terracestation.org.nz
If you are unable to come out to Hororata, Kate is available to talk, during the daytime, to groups in Christchurch or nearby and share some of the stories of Terrace Station.
