What could possibly be the connection between the port of Lyttelton and the famous BigBen in London?
The Lyttelton Harbour/Whakaraupō community is what we’re about – Harbour People, Places and Stories. So we’re regularly going to have a chat to someone connected to the museum and/or the community and share their stories with you.
Christine Wilson is Chair of the Lyttelton–Mt Herbert Community Board and so much more..
As you wield your steam iron (or better still ignore the need for ironing altogether) spare a thought for generations of housewives and servants, for whom laundry was a heavy and time-consuming business.
ike many items from the Lyttelton Museum’s collection, these beautifully sleek, albeit ordinary-looking wooden skis hide stories of adventure and ultimately, tragedy.
Thurs 29 March 1917
Revalli 6.30. Breakfast seven. We had small piece of bacon & bread & butter for supper. Tea is drunk out of large bowls. We were paraded for our equipment this morning it is all new gear. The list of our shortages was taken for a new issue, All our badges had to be taken off & our hats peaked. We was inspected by Colonel in Charge of our camp.
Fri 9 February 1917
Got up at 7.10. I have a wash in a pannican of fresh water every day now as every man is allowed a certain amount for drinking. Light wind blowing fine day small swell running. Had good dinner today got some hash from the Sgts. Mess. Lecture semaphore & physical drill this afternoon we had knot tying & I showed how to splice an end of soap them we had physical drill till 4 pm.
The Lyttelton Harbour/Whakaraupō community is what we’re about – Harbour people, places and stories. So each month we’re going to have a chat to someone connected to the museum and/or the community and share their stories with you. We’re starting with the man who got the Museum going …
Happy Birthday Baden!
This month the calendar features the Canterbury Yacht and Motor Boat Club, established in 1921, and Miller's slip at Godley Quay.
James Bruce Collet, "Bruce" was born in Lyttelton in 1920. He attended the Lyttelton Main School before going to high school in Christchurch, having to catch the train each day. He then joined his father in the pharmacy business, working in his shop on the corner of London and Oxford Streets while attending technical college at night in Christchurch.
Wed 24 January 1917
Got up at 6.45. Weather very calm but a fair ground swell running. Found that there is a certain way to use Sea water soap & it is the best soap to use aboard ship.
Wed 17 January 1917
Revalle 5.30
Started on route march at 6 am got back to camp at 6.45 had breakfast at 7 fell in at 7.45 for muster parade roll.
Tues 9 January 1917
Transferred to 21 Rifles from 22nd. Proceeded from Featherston Camp over the Rimutakas in train to pick up 21 Rifles in Trentham.
n 1986 a group of items formerly belonging to Lewis Radovonich (b1895, d1963), were donated to the museum by J. Radovonich. Among the items was Lewis' 1917 Soldier's diary in which he diligently recorded his daily life on active service.
The photo gracing the Lyttelton Museum calendar this February shows London Street looking west from the Oxford Street Intersection ca. 1865.
Our first object of the month is a plaque commemorating Captain Scott and the four members of his Polar Party after their ill-fated expedition to the South Pole.
Hello! Welcome to the New Year and to the Lyttelton Museum's new blog!