Province of Nelson - 150 years commemorative quilt

1992

Rural Women New Zealand

Hidden (in storage)

Type

  • Quilt
  • Textile Work

Medium

  • Woven fibre (unspecified)

Dimensions

  • H1305 x W1570mm

Women’s Division of Federated Farmers (now Rural Women New Zealand), ‘Province of Nelson - 150 years commemorative quilt’ (1992), Richmond Library, Waimea Richmond, Te tai o Aorere Tasman District

Image: Bronwyn Holloway-Smith, Public Art Heritage Aotearoa New Zealand, Feb 2025

2024–Current

In storage, Richmond Library, 280 Queen St, Richmond, Te tai o Aorere Tasman District

1992–2024

Richmond Library, 280 Queen St, Richmond, Te tai o Aorere Tasman District

Organisations
Associated Artwork Organisation(s)

Description

This quilt was made by branches of the Women’s Division of Federated Farmers in the Tasman District in conjunction with the Tasman District Council. It commemorates 150 years of European settlement in the Nelson Province and the 350th Anniversary of Abel Tasman’s anchorage in 1992. Each branch has depicted something of significance to its area.

The centre piece shows Ligar Bay and the Abel Tasman Memorial with the hills of Golden Bay in the background.

The work includes stitching, collage and quilting.

The participating divisions, and what they have depicted are:

  • Maruia: The Maruia River and the hills behind.
  • Motupipi: St. Aidan’s Church.
  • Rockville: The Devil’s Boots.
  • Stanley Brook: The Stanley Brook with Mt. Billy Goat in the background.
  • Murchison: Pastoral scenes of the area.
  • St. Arnaud: The Buller River and the hills behind.
  • Brightwater: A local logo showing the water wheel used by the late Mr Ellis to generate electricity for the area. It is used by the school and some local clubs.
  • Tākaka: The W. D. F. F. restrooms in Commercial Street.
  • Pākawau: Farewell Spit Lighthouse.
  • Bainham: The Historic Bainham Store.
  • Motueka: Sun, fish, apples, pears and kiwifruit for which the district is known.
  • Richmond: Showing the diversity of the area. Waimea College and Intermediate School, Holy Trinity Church, chip mill, Medium Density Fibre Plant with log truck and the Otterson Gum Tree.
  • Moutere: Lutheran church with grapes and hops grown in the area.
  • Tasman-Mariri: Apples and pears grown in the district.
  • Māpua-Mahana: Mapua Inlet with Grossi Point surrounded by orchards.
  • Riwaka: The source of the Riwaka River and the Fantail, one of many birds seen in the bush.
  • Redwood Valley: Public Hall built in 1887.
  • Tapawera-Tadmor: Forestry, pastoral farming and boysenberries - the economy of the district.

The work was removed by the library in 2024 due to changes in the space where it was on display. The library plans to rehang it again as soon as they have a new hanging system in place.