History of Founders Heritage Park

Founders Heritage Park, situated on five hectares on Atawhai Drive, close to Miyazu Gardens and Whakatu Marae, was the brain-child of a number of Nelson citizens who set up Founders (Inc.) in 1977.

This historic village is the result of community spirit. It was made possible with initial support from Nelson's business community. A number of major firms assisted in the construction of historic replica buildings and the donation of original buildings. An extensive historic collection of up to 20,000 items was also donated by residents, leading to the opening of Founders Heritage Park to the public in 1986.

Nelson City Council took over ownership and management of the park on 1 April 1995. Now the Founders Heritage Park Subcommittee oversees the implementation of the Founders Park Strategic Plan.

Collection Policy

Click here to download a copy of the Founders Heritage Park Collection Policy (PDF@32KB).