Discover the history ofMarlborough
Tracing the people, places, and events that shaped our region.
Explore Our History
Image info
Green-lipped mussel farm near Havelock, 1 February 2013.
Photo: QFSE Media. Cropped. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 New Zealand.
Aquaculture
The Marlborough Sounds are the heart of New Zealand's aquaculture industry, which dates back to the 1960s.
View Aquaculture ArchiveImage info
An archival image dated 30 October 1935 shows players in The Runaway Girl, presented by the Blenheim Amateur Operatic Society. Left: Jenny March as Winfred Gray. Right: the English girls with Maurice Desmond as Sir William Haake.
Arts & Culture
From the early Māori arts to contemporary works, Marlborough has always nurtured a thriving creative scene.
View Arts and Culture ArchiveImage info
Buildings in Beavertown replica village at Brayshaw Park, Blenheim, Marlborough, photographed in 2025.
Photo: Aaron Goodwin. Released into the public domain.
Brayshaw Park
Brayshaw Heritage Park is home Marlborough Museum and many clubs, societies, and guilds.
View Brayshaw Park HistoryImage info
Family group posed outdoors in Blenheim, photographed by Arthur John McCusker.
Photo: Arthur John McCusker. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, O.003706. Gift of the Guard family, 1993.
Colonial Era
Explore Marlborough's colonial past, detailing the Wairau settlement and growth of Marlborough.
View Colonial Era HistoryImage info
Blenheim soldier Cyril Henry Goodwin, circa 1940. Second World War Armoured Brigade, Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
Source: Family records, Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 13
Photograph supplied by the Goodwin family. All rights reserved. Must not be copied, shared or republished without express permission from the Goodwin family.
Marlborough at War
Learn how local conflicts, the New Zealand Wars, and global campaigns shaped local history. Lest we forget.
View Marlborough at War ArchiveImage info
Scenes from the Prince of Wales’s visit to Blenheim and Picton, published in the Auckland Weekly News, 20 May 1920.
Auckland Weekly News / Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections.
People
Early Māori rangatira and pioneering locals built this region. From Chiefs to Suffragettes, read their personal histories.
View Historical People BiographiesImage info
A collage made of images found from public domain sources.
Print & Media
Trace the journey of local communication, showing how early media shaped the Marlborough province.
View Print and Media HistoryImage info
Cook Strait rail ferry GMV Aramoana berthed at the Interislander terminal in Picton.
Photo: Gordon B. Scott / Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections 996-0802.
Rail & Maritime
The Blenheim to Picton rail line and South-North Island ferry links created our essential transport hubs.
View Rail and Maritime HistoryImage info
Blenheim Rowing Club Carnival, 1928: Tug-o-war competition.
Photo: Arthur John McCusker / Te Papa Collections Online. Gift of the Guard family, 1993. Te Papa (O.003709).
Sport & Recreation
Marlborough's sporting traditions include early rugby matches and the historic Pelorus Sound regattas.
View Sport and Recreation HistoryImage info
White Cliffs, Wairau Boulder Bank and Wairau Bar river mouth across Cloudy Bay, 24 March 1959.
Photo: Leslie Adkin / Te Papa Collections Online. Gift of Adkin Family, 1997. Te Papa (CT.010307).
Te Pokohiwi o Kupe
Journey back 800 years to Te Pokohiwi o Kupe, New Zealand's earliest, securely dated human settlement.
View Te Pokohiwi and Wairau Bar HistoryImage info
Wheat harvesting, Blenheim, Marlborough, January 1968.
Photo: W. Cleal. Archives New Zealand - Communicate New Zealand Collection. R24737750; record A85624. Cropped. Licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Technology
Early motor vehicles and industrial mechanisation made the growth of provincial industry possible.
View Technology and Industry HistoryImage info
A retired farming tractor on the grounds of Brayshaw Heritage Park, with hills and Brayshaw Station in the background.
Photo: Aaron Goodwin. Released into the public domain.
The Pastoral Boom
Witness the evolution of Marlborough's farming, from manual toil to the age of steam-powered agriculture.
View Pastoral Boom and Farming HistoryImage info
Montana Vineyard, Blenheim, February 1983, Marlborough Province.
Photo: W. Cleal. Archives New Zealand - Communicate New Zealand Collection. R25074849; record R14793. Cropped. Licensed under CC BY 2.0.
The Viticulture Era
Pioneering 1973 vines established Marlborough globally. However, local viticulture has 19th-century roots.
View Viticulture and Wine Industry HistoryImage info
Sluicing, Wakamarina, Pelorus Valley. Published in The New Zealand Graphic and Ladies Journal, 15 July 1899, p.68.
Photo: New Zealand Graphic; Rayner / Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections NZG-18990715-0068-02. Cropped.
Wakamarina Gold
In April 1864, a major gold find in the Wakamarina Valley drew thousands of people seeking their fortune.
View Wakamarina Gold Rush HistoryMarlborough
at War
Resilient Through Conflict
Discover the region's history in relation to various domestic and global conflicts, and don't forget to visit the digital roll of honour - a tribute to Marlborough's fallen across many major battles. The roll is a work in progress, with names added as information becomes available.
Support This Project
You can help the Tracing Marlborough project grow.
Contributions detailing the history of Marlborough sports clubs, schools, businesses, and community groups from the colonial era to the present day are welcomed. This living community project expands continuously through public involvement, and contributions of stories, documents, and local histories are always welcome.
Contribute
Explore More with Tracing Marlborough
Discover the history of Marlborough through the stories, people, and events that helped shape our communities. Browse local histories, study regional heritage, and examine helpful educational resources.
Our Story
Learn about local historical preservation efforts and the ongoing work to document and share the history of the Marlborough region.
Learn More about the history of Goodwin & AssociatesCommunity Links
A handy directory connecting you with the many local historical societies, community trusts, and preservation groups operating across Marlborough.
Explore LinksResearch & Resources
Access historical accounts, biographical profiles, and learning materials serving as a resource for researchers, educators, and students.
Explore CollectionsRoll of Honour
A digital Roll of Honour commemorating Marlborough service personnel involved in conflicts and military campaigns both at home and abroad.
Roll of Honour