Description of the attraction
Among the many attractions of Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, the Colonial Cottage Museum (officially named “Nairn Street Cottage”), located on Nairn Street on the outskirts of Wellington's Mount Cook, undoubtedly deserves special attention. It is one of Wellington's oldest buildings and a fine example of colonial architecture, perfectly preserved to this day.
In the middle of the 19th century, in search of a better life in New Zealand, which by that time already had the status of a British colony, a huge stream of emigrants poured in, among them William and Catherine Wallis, who arrived on the North Island in September 1857. The young family, who were expecting their first child by that time, decided to stay in Wellington and bought a plot on Nairn Street. A talented carpenter and having tremendous experience, as well as all the necessary tools, William Wallis, with his own hands from local timber, built a house here for his family - a pretty one-story Georgian cottage, and it is he who today is known as the Colonial Cottage Museum. In the 70s of the 19th century, the family moved to a larger house built by William next door (unfortunately, it has not survived to this day), but the cottage was still owned by the Wallis, and later their descendants settled there.
In 1974, the city authorities decided to demolish the house, but still, thanks in large part to the efforts of the last owner of the house, granddaughter William and Catherine Wallace, its historical value was recognized and the cottage was preserved. In 1980, it was opened to the public as a museum.
Today, the old Wallis family home is one of Wellington's most popular and interesting landmarks and is a New Zealand cultural and historical heritage site.
