Richmond Cottage is a survivor from the early days of colonial New Zealand.

When it was first built for the inter-linked Richmond, Hursthouse and Atkinson families in 1853-54, the cottage was on a different site and had another name.

It began life on the seafront, where the Tasman Towers apartment block now stands, and was originally known as "Beach Cottage".

In 1961, the stone home was tagged for demolition. But the community rallied, and it was pulled down and rebuilt block by block on its present site. It was reopened as a colonial museum in 1963.

After another spruce up, Richmond Cottage opened again in June 2004.

Visitors can breathe in the past as they wander through the dining room, bedroom and scullery. On the walls, storyboards take you through the background of "the Mob".

Outside, nature tells another story.

The Heritage Garden surrounding the cottage is a recreation of a typical colonial environment against a native bush backdrop.

From the old world, there are roses and English cottage flowers; and from the "new world" of New Zealand is a magnificent yellow-flowering pohutukawa and specimens of the rare tainui bush, brought to Aotearoa in the floor boards of the Tainui waka.

These plants from the past give way to a sea of nikau palms and a wall of woven steel, which together form a guard of honour into Puke Ariki.

Open 11am - 3.30pm weekends and public holidays


Read more: Piecing Together Richmond Story