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The arrival of the Albertland settlers in 1860s will be remembered with a weekend of celebrations in and around Wellsford this weekend (May 26 to 28).
The programme, coordinated by the Albertland Museum, will include a light-hearted drama production and variety show, family research opportunities, a historical bus tour, car boot sale and anniversary dinner.
The Wellsford Drama Club will present Keep To Thy First Wife at the Wellsford Community Centre on Friday and Saturday nights, from 7pm, with a matinee on Sunday at 2pm. The Sunday performance will include high tea.
It is the first time the club has collaborated with the museum for the annual celebration.
The one-act play follows the trials and tribulations of Herbert who advertises for a new wife on the premise that his current wife is soon to pass away, leaving him with a farm and family to care for on his own. The fun starts when the wife makes a surprising recovery.
It was written by Jane Wilson, whose husband’s forebears came to New Zealand on the Annie Wilson, bringing some of the first Albertlanders to the district.
The bus trip, with an on-board commentary, will leave from the Wellsford Railway Station on Saturday at 10.30am and visit places such as Minniesdale Chapel and the Druid’s Hall. The tour will stop for lunch at the Port Albert Hall where there will also be a car boot sale from 10.30am.
The Anniversary Dinner will be held at the Wellsford RSA starting at 5pm. All welcome.
The Albertlanders sailed from England to New Zealand in the early 1860s aboard numerous ships including the Matilda Wattenbach, Hanover and William Miles. Their plan was to set up a nonconformist settlement at Port Albert, but isolation and difficulties of access hindered progress and the original plans for a township were thwarted.
However, many descendants of the original Albertland families still live in the area.
Info & tickets: https://www.iticket.co.nz/events/2023/may/albertlands-anniversary-celebration
