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Welcome to Murchison's
150th Anniversary
Celebration
at sites all around the Murchison township in Tasman, New Zealand
Registrations are closed!
Registrations are closed!
But don't panic! There's plenty of ways to be part of the fun if you haven't registered.
Check out the 'Event Details' page...
Celebrate 150 years of Murchison with a nostalgic journey alongside family and friends - enjoy delicious food, fun family events, historic walking trails, guided drives, live music, and a cheerful community parade full of local flavour and shared memories.
Celebrate 150 years of Murchison with a nostalgic journey alongside family and friends - enjoy delicious food, fun family events, historic walking trails, guided drives, live music, and a cheerful community parade full of local flavour and shared memories.
Day 1
Day 1
Friday 3rd - 'Memory Lane'
Meet & Greet/ Mix & Mingle'Murch Memories' movie night, Hodgson's birthday celebration, 'Shining Through Time' light show.
Meet & Greet/ Mix & Mingle'Murch Memories' movie night, Hodgson's birthday celebration, 'Shining Through Time' light show.
Day 2
Day 2
Saturday 4th - 'Fun & Laughter'
Official Opening, Parade, 'The Great Murchison Muster' team challenge, Valley tours, Youth discos, Dinner.
Official Opening, Parade, 'The Great Murchison Muster' team challenge, Valley tours, Youth discos, Dinner.
Day 3
Day 3
Sunday 5th - 'As We Were'
Remembrance at the cemetery, Community Picnic, Carnival & Easter Egg Hunt, Valley tours, 'Jukebox Jam' at the Theatre.
Remembrance at the cemetery, Community Picnic, Carnival & Easter Egg Hunt, Valley tours, 'Jukebox Jam' at the Theatre.
Keep scrolling to see more details about the activities on offer!
Our Goal
Our Goal
To provide a weekend of fun, inclusive activities and entertainment that reconnects the members of present and past community, business and organisation. Taking all who attend on a diverse journey through 150 years of historic Murchison and its surrounds - the place we've all called home.
To share memories and knowledge while enjoying new experiences within environments that provide safe meeting and gathering points.
To present the rich history through static, visual, and interactive displays - telling the original stories, bringing back the founders voices, connecting people, connecting times.
To instil a feeling of pride and recreate a sense of belonging by involving the community in consultation stages, and encouraging contribution towards celebration ideas.
The Programme
The Programme
150 years since what?
150 years since what?
We know the Murchison area has been a 'rest and respite' spot for hundreds of years, so what event does our 150th commemorate? 2026 marks 150 years since the first use of the Hope Saddle route. From the 1976 Murchison Centennial booklet: "In the 1870's there were few inland roads - transport was mainly by coastal vessels but road access was vital to the inland goldmining areas. Once a dray road by the shorter Hope Saddle route was available the township of Hampden began to become a centre for the supply of goods to the goldfields. It is recorded that in 1876 Joseph Gibbs and a companion took horses through the new route."
This is reflected in our 150th logo, which was designed by Nathan Peacock, who grew up in Murchison. The logo shows the mountains that surround our area, the bright green of the farmlands, the rivers that flow through our valleys, and the Hope Saddle route that kick started the major growth of the settlement that became Murchison.
Our 150th is proudly sponsored and supported by:
Our 150th is proudly sponsored and supported by:
Club Murchison
Market Murchison
Murchison Women in Business
William Harris, Harcourts Rural Marlborough
Kiwi Park Motels & Holiday Park
Murchison Rural Women NZ
Murchison District Museum & Info Service
NBS Murchison
H.J. Hodgson & Co Ltd
Mobil Murchison
Rita Wright and D & J Bradley Family
Murchison Bin Hire
Bowater Toyota
Hodgson Family Film & Archives
Murchison Four Square
Tasman District Council
Pioneer Energy
Hampden Hotel
Riverside Holiday Park
Rivers Cafe
OsGro Seed Merchant
Little Wanganui Hotel - Karen & Kim Clayton
Beechwoods Cafe
Murchison Area School
Susie Hodson
Raelene Rainbird
All Good Electrical
Deliverance Ltd
Owen River Tavern
Somebody's Treasure
Coles Contracting and Ron Cole Family
Mike Harper Livestock Ltd
Trees & Bees (Tutaki Honey)
Dayboo Stud Clydesdale Team
The Cow Shed Restaurant
TME
Mirror Image Hair Design
The Laundrette
Maruia Retreat
Peter Whitnall
TDC Creative Communities NZ
Owen Valley Flowers
RSA Murchison
Farm Source Murchison
Delwyn Jope
Smoke'n and Spits
The Cow Shed, Murchison
We are grateful for their support!
We are grateful for their support!
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