Cobblestones Museum facts for kids
The Donald Woolshed, Wairarapa's first purpose built woolshed, built Manaia (now Solway) c.1858
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| Location | 169 Main Street, Greytown, New Zealand, New Zealand |
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| Official name: Cobblestones Shearing Shed and Cobblestone Museum Stables | |
| Designated: | 23 June 1983 |
| Reference #: | 2873 and 4003 |
Cobblestones is a special museum and old-time village located in Greytown, New Zealand. It's a place where you can step back in time and learn about the history of the Wairarapa region. The museum is built around the original Hastwell stables and the old cobblestone paths. These paths were once used by stage coaches traveling between Masterton and Wellington.
Cobblestones Museum is home to six very important old buildings. These buildings are protected because of their history. They include:
- a colonial cottage, built around 1867.
- Wairarapa's first Public Hospital in Greytown, built in 1875.
- Wairarapa's first Methodist church, built in 1865.
- the Mangapakeha country school building, which opened in 1902. This was a single-teacher school.
- The Hastwell Stables, which are central to the museum.
- the Donald Woolshed, built in 1858. This was the first building made specifically for shearing sheep in Wairarapa.
What You Can See at Cobblestones
The Exhibition Centre
The Exhibition Centre is a modern building that opened in November 2014. It shows off many interesting stories from Wairarapa's past. You can see old objects, photos, and machinery here. It also has a special room where the museum keeps its collection safe.
A big exhibition is currently on display, looking back at 80 years since World War 2 ended. This exhibition focuses on how the war affected Greytown and the nearby areas. It shares stories from soldiers and remembers those who did not return home.
Cobblestones Park and Gardens
The old-time village at Cobblestones is set within beautiful park-like grounds. There are many different kinds of trees here, both native and from other countries. Greytown was the first town in New Zealand to celebrate Arbor Day. This is a day dedicated to planting trees.
You can see native trees like kahikatea, kowhai, totara, and karaka. There are also trees from other places, such as maples, ash, and fruit trees. The gardens at Cobblestones are very popular. Many people visit them on garden tours, and it's also a lovely place for weddings.
