Arthur Beaumont Boyce was a popular sight as he and his horse Bob delivered soft-drinks and soda syphons around town. This soda syphon was used by Boyce sometime between 1920 and 1945 for selling soda…

Until movies were popular in the 1900s, these lanterns were used in public halls or cinemas.  They were described as “magic” which is how people perceived them.  Although audiences today would find the entertainment basic,…

Published in 1938, this book is the memoir of a feisty grandmother born into extreme hardship in Victorian New Zealand. Author Susan McKearney, born Susan Hooey in 1870, lived through wars, epidemics and depressions both…

Before the invention of stainless steel in 1915, metal knives were made of iron or carbon steel.  They needed daily maintenance to prevent them from rusting, so these grinding machines were used regularly in Victorian…

These models were gifted by sculptor Fred Graham (Ngāti Koroki Kahukura, Tainui) during the planning of the Cambridge Le Quesnoy Memorial. Graham’s design draws inspiration from two powerful symbols: the Eiffel Tower and the New…

This kāheru (also spelled kaaheru) is a traditional Māori gardening spade, likely used for light agricultural work such as turning soil in preparation for planting kūmara. Kūmara, also known today as sweet potato, was a…

What were Marion Whitelaw Crickett’s thoughts in August 1877 as she walked down the aisle in this beautifully tailored wedding gown?  She was about to marry Pukerimu farmer Robert Fisher, who was well on his…

Every town has its signature store, and for Cambridge it was Calvert’s.  Buttons, bows, material, menswear, frocks, furniture, curtains, carpets – it was all there.  If you were coming to Cambridge to shop, you almost…

As fears of Japanese invasion gripped New Zealand in March 1942, every household in Cambridge received a copy of The Emergency Precautions Scheme (EPS) for the Guidance of Householders—a wartime civil defence guide designed to…

Cambridge’s Alexandra Hall was alive with music, colour and movement in September 1903. Between 50 and 60 “splendidly attired” couples graced the floor for a grand fancy dress ball. The Waikato Times reported that the…

The Wallflower is best described as an electronic, country, sci-fi concept album, a fever-dream satire about teenage angst that blurs the lines between music, cinema, and storytelling.   Conceived by Andrew Johnstone and produced by…

This ribbon was formerly cut by the Governor of New Zealand, Lord Plunket during the opening ceremony of the Victoria High Bridge in Cambridge on 21 December 1907.       Maker: Lettering by Cambridge…

A rare and valuable reminder of the Maungatautari Peeke and its role in the Kiingitanga’s pursuit of financial independence Maker: Maungatautari Peeke; producer; 1894 – New Zealand Where: Maungakawa When: 1905 Materials: paper, ink Measurements:…

This printing press was the social media of its day. It was possibly used at Te Kauwhanganui parliament near Maungakawa, north of Cambridge  in the 1890s. Te Kauhanganui understood the power of the press.  Te…

This is a rare image of William K Carter, known as King Carter, outside the original National Hotel in Cambridge. It is a glass-plate negative in excellent condition and is possibly taken at a similar…