Museum marks railway centennial

The 100th anniversary of Wellsford’s railway station opening will be marked by a photographic exhibition at the Albertland and Districts Museum this month.

The station was officially opened on 19 February 1909, when the railway was extended from Kaipara Flats.

The museum display includes photographs – many of them taken by local photographer Harold Marsh – of the railway’s construction, opening ceremony, memorabilia and events associated with this important milestone in the town’s history.

Museum secretary Lyn Johnston, who is Harold Marsh’s grand-daughter, is sure that the exhibition will encourage more visitors to the museum.

“It’s a celebration of what the coming of the railway meant for the town, and is an occasion well worth marking,” she says.

Volunteers like Mrs Johnston have put many hours’ effort into researching for the exhibition and preparing information about the railway. Entry is free.

There is a $5 entry charge to the museum which gives a valuable insight into early European settlement of the district. The museum, which is staffed by volunteers, many of whom are direct descendants of early Albertlanders, is open daily from 1pm-3pm.

The town’s promotions group had hoped to organise some commemorative events around a possible rail excursion from Auckland, but when the train trip failed to get off the ground, those plans were put on hold.

Lyn Johnston holds a photograph of the station opening ceremony taken by her grandfather, Harold Marsh. Helping to prepare the exhibition is her grand-daughter Nadia Weightman.