• Your Hosts:  Colin & Esma Stevenson.
     
  • Location:  Highway 57, Tokomaru, Manawatu, New Zealand. (See map.)
     
  • Visit Us:  Experience static displays with a  guided tour. Open:   Monday  to  Saturday,  visiting hours 9.00am - 3.30pm; or Sunday,  10.30am - 3.30pm.  NB: “Steam Up” days run 1.30pm - 4.00pm (see calendar below for specific dates). Closed: Christmas Day / Good Friday.
     
  • Contact: Telephone, 64 6 329-8867; or send an email. Postal address: PO Box 46, Tokomaru, Manawatu, New Zealand.
     
  • Admission: Adults $10 each, Children $5 each.
     
  • Calendar: The museum has working steam displays about 10 times a year. Please note the “steam-up” dates for 2003/2004:—

           28 Dec

1.30-4.00pm.

New Year

2004.

04,11,18 Jan

1.30-4.00pm.

           11 Apr

1.30-4.00pm.

           06 Jun

1.30-4.00pm.

           11 Jul

1.30-4.00pm.

           26 Sep

1.30-4.00pm.

           24 Oct

1.30-4.00pm.

NEW ZEALAND’S ORIGINAL STEAM HERITAGE ATTRACTION

Early days at Tokomaru Station. Green flax is readied for loading. c1916.

It is fitting that steam should be responsible for putting the one-time boom town of Tokomaru back on the map. Back in

the town’s heyday, during the first two decades of the 20th century, steam played a vital part in making Tokomaru boom. Within a radius of a few miles, there were seven flax mills, the area’s major industry, all driven by steam. A steam dredge dug the main drain through the Makerua swamp in the

Digging the Main Drain through the Makerua swamp. The drain runs from Linton, through Tokomaru to Shannon. c1925.

1920s, and was responsible for opening up the rich land in the area for farming. The three hectares of land that the museum stands on, along with hundreds of other hectares, were mole-drained by a  local contractor,  Mr  Hewitson, using a 6 hp McLaren traction engine, which also operated a range of other agricultural equipment. And in those days, when there was only one kind of road—bad—the railway was Tokomaru’s most important link with other centres.

George Stevenson senior, Tokomaru, taking a load of milk to the local dairy factory. Grandson George Stevenson enjoys the ride. c1934.

Nowadays, the Steam Engine Museum is the most striking feature of the village. Industrial progress in the area continues with Stevenson’s Structural

Early days in Tokomaru.  This view is of Tokomaru Road looking towards the Tararua ranges c1910.

Steel, the district’s biggest employer. Nearby is the popular river reserve and picnic spot, Horseshoe Bend.

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