Broadgreen Historic House

16/09/2026

A couple of weeks ago Broadgreen House celebrated a significant milestone - the reopening of the Broadgreen Glasshouse.

Closed in 2023 due to structural concerns, restoration began on the glasshouse in February 2026. After months of careful work where the glasshouse was dismantled bit by bit, the foundations were strengthened and reinforced, and then the puzzle was put back together again, the glasshouse was finally ready to be reopened in early September 2026.

Thank you to all who attended the event - the day was wet and cold, but the glasshouse, in all her beauty, was still worth coming out for to celebrate.

The restoration of the glasshouse was made possible through generous financial support from the Lottery Grants Board, Lottery Environment and Heritage. We are thankful for their support of this heritage project.

04/09/2026

We can't wait to see you all here at Broadgreen House on Sunday!

Join us at Broadgreen House on Father's Day, Sunday 6 September, to celebrate the opening of the recently restored glasshouse.

Entry is free (even for fathers!) and event will be on from midday to 3pm.

See you there :)

Event link 👇

https://www.facebook.com/share/1dbyNGzDWn/

28/08/2026

That is one mighty fine glasshouse! Even if we do say so ourselves!

And we want you to come and celebrate it at Broadgreen in Bloom: A Garden Party!

Bring your whānau and join us for a fun-filled afternoon this Father's Day.

Explore our historic home and rose garden, challenge Dad to classic garden games with prizes, meet Faerie Lou, enjoy face painting
and treasure hunts, and relax with High Tea accompanied by live harp, clarinet and brass band performances.

This is a wonderful chance to connect with one of Nelson's historic gems and celebrate together in the gardens.

Our fingers are crossed for some dry weather too!

📅 Sunday 6 September
🕛 12pm – 3pm
📍 Broadgreen House, Stoke
🎟️ FREE ENTRY

24/06/2026

Before photography, families treasured tiny painted portraits called 'miniatures.' Artists painted with water colours on vellum (animal skin) and ivory, with the portraits often set into lockets and brooches.

One such treasured keepsake is this miniature portrait of James 'Jamie' Strachan. Born in Scotland, Jamie was the first of eight children of Benjamin and Jean Strachan.

The family arrived in Nelson aboard the 'Admiral Grenfell' in 1853 when Jamie was three years old. They settled in Riwaka where Benjamin worked as a cooper making wheels for the first carts in the district. Unfortunately, Jamie passed away in 1861 at the age of 12.

This exquisite portrait of Jamie was created at the photography studio 'J Horsburgh Photographer' on Princes Street in Edinburgh. The artist used Chinese white to bring to light Jamie's features. Housed in a memorial frame - possibly made by his father - this portrait is a poignant keepsake for a child lost too soon.

Discover more stories like this in our current exhibition 'Beyond the Canvas: Art in all its forms' on now at Broadgreen House.

Broadgreen House is open Monday to Saturday, 11.30am to 3pm (last entry 2.30pm) and Sunday, 10.30am to 4pm (last entry 3.30pm).

10/06/2026

Beyond the Canvas: Art in all its forms celebrates the remarkable (art)work of former Broadgreen Assistant Curator Phyll Farrer.
For over 20 years, from 1986 to 2007, Phyll dedicated herself to documenting the textile collection at Broadgreen House.
With pen and precision, she captured every thread - from the finest lace to the most intricate embroidery - transforming technical drawings into works of art.
Today, Phyll's drawings remain an invaluable resource for Collection Staff at Broadgreen House, used daily in their work. Now, for the first time, these beautiful drawings are on public display in Beyond the Canvas.
Visit Broadgreen House to discover Phyll's artworks for yourself.
Broadgreen is open everyday, and is free for Nelson-Tasman locals!

03/06/2026

Earlier this week, we introduced you to a boot. And a mysterious boot it was. So mysterious in fact that Broadgreen Curator Melissa fell down a rabbit hole in the hope of finding out more.
This boot, along with three others, none of which matched, were discovered under the floorboards of Adeline's Cottage in the early 2000s.
The boot dates to around 1855, it is a child's boot, a girl's right boot to be precise. The other three boots were also children's boots - a girls left boot, and two boy's boots.
The tradition of concealing shoes in buildings goes back centuries. Shoes were often placed in chimneys, roofs, or under floorboards. Concealed shoes were sometimes placed in family groups, with a shoe to represent each member of the family. Why exactly shoes were concealed within a building has puzzled historians for years. However, most believe that it was done as a sort of ritual to ward off evil, bring good luck, or encourage fertility.
The exact reason why our four boots were placed under the cottage floorboards, well we may never know.
These boots are now safely cared for in Broadgreen's collection. Visit us at Broadgreen House to discover more hidden stories from Nelson's past.

31/05/2026

A couple of weeks ago, Broadgreen Curator Melissa stumbled across a single boot hiding in a box in the office. The boot was in need of some conservation care - with areas of mould appearing on the leather upper.
The mould was quickly dealt to, but Curator Melissa wanted to know more. Where did the boot come from? Where was its other half?
A look at the collection record shed some light - the boot, along with three others, none of which matched, were found under the floorboards of Adeline's Cottage in the early 2000s.
Adeline's Cottage is located next to the original gates to Broadgreen, and was once the gardener's cottage. Adeline Buxton moved into the cottage following her wedding to Broadgreen gardener Thomas Chisnall, which is why it is now known as Adeline's Cottage.
The collection record didn't answer the bigger question though: what was the boot doing under the floor with three others that didn't match? Were they simply lost? Did a dog, or rat steal them and leave them under the house? Or were they there for another reason altogether?
And so Curator Melissa fell down a rabbit hole... Stay tuned to discover what she found.

20/05/2026

They say good things take time, and the restoration of the Broadgreen Glasshouse is a great thing!

The project has taken a little longer than expected, but trust us it will all be worth the wait.

Specialist heritage repair products were required to get the timber joinery in tip-top shape before painting could begin, but that painting is now well underway.

We'll keep you posted on when we expect to open the doors once again.

The restoration of the Broadgreen Glasshouse has been made possible thanks to a generous grant from the Lottery Grants Board.

11/05/2026

On Friday 1st May, the latest exhibition at Broadgreen House was officially opened!

Beyond the Canvas: Art in all its forms.

At Broadgreen House, art is everywhere. It exists in the traditional forms of oil paintings, watercolours, and decorative items. But it also thrives in the unexpected places: in wallpaper design, textiles, music and literature.

Beyond the Canvas explores and celebrates creativity in every medium.

Broadgreen House, 276 Nayland Road, Stoke, Nelson.
Open Monday to Saturday, 11.30am to 3pm (last entry 2.30pm), and Sunday 10.30am to 4pm (last entry 3.30pm).

Broadgreen House exhibition reconnects art and history

23/04/2026

An Enduring Love Story

Maud Hunt and Joseph Stewart were like any other young couple in love in Nelson in the early-1910s. But in 1914 when war broke out, everything changed. A year later, Joseph volunteered to serve his country joining the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Before he left, he proposed to his beloved Maud, with the two announcing their engagement shortly before he departed.

During his service in Palestine, Joseph purchased cream silk for Maud's wedding dress sending it home along with the promise that he would return and they would marry.

Maud's wedding dress made from this cream silk is currently on display at Broadgreen House in Enduring Love: An ANZAC Exhibition. Also on display is Maud's veil, on loan to Broadgreen House by Maud and Joseph's daughter-in-law. The veil continues to be worn by Maud and Joseph's descendants.

Uncover more of Maud and Joseph's story of enduring love at Broadgreen House.

Enduring Love: An ANZAC Exhibition is open at Broadgreen House until the end of May.

Lest we forget.

Broadgreen House, 276 Nayland Road, Stoke, Nelson.
Open Monday to Saturday, 11.30am to 3pm (last entry 2.30pm) and Sunday 10.30am to 4pm (last entry 3.30pm). Please note Broadgreen House will be open from 1pm on ANZAC Day, Saturday 25th April.