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Monday 10am - 4pm Thursday 10am - 4pm Friday 10am - 4pm Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday 10am - 4pm

Firth Tower Reserve and Museum

Name: Firth Tower Reserve and Museum
Address: 266 Tower Road, Matamata, 3471, NZ
Telephone: +6478888369
Rating: 5

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Firth Tower Reserve and Museum

Motorhome stopover, wedding venue, group outings, reserve and museum. On the Hauraki Rail Trail.
(3)

10/12/2024

As part of our Christmas celebrations at Firth Tower, we’ve been debating our top ten favourite Christmas carols. Last week we gave you the first five on our list, now here are the final five. Are any of these your favourite?

5. The Little Drummer Boy
Popularised in the 50s by the Trapp Family Singers (who inspired The Sound of Music) and then performed by everyone from Justin Bieber and Busta Rhymes to Terry Wogan and Aled Jones, The Little Drummer Boy was written by American composer Katherine Kennicott Davis in 1941. Naturally, it has a fantastic beat, but it’s also quite a touching carol.

4. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen
“God rest you merry” is a Shakespearean phrase meaning “God grant you happiness” – and these days is performed with two verses removed (mostly about shepherds, so you’re not missing much). An early version of this carol was found in an anonymous manuscript, dating back to the 1650s. Whoever wrote it, God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen is a cheery tune that induces a warm glow for the festive season.

3. Ding D**g Merrily on High
This is a secular tune, from a 16th-century book of French dances by composer and writer Thoinot Arbeau. The English lyricist George Ratcliffe Woodward apparently “delighted in archaic poetry,” so once you get your head around the lyrics then may ye beautifully rime your evetime song, ye singers.

2. Away in a Manger
The origins of this carol are slightly mysterious. It is often associated with a traditional German tune and thought to be written in the nineteenth century by Martin Luther and published in the United States in the 1880s, with some sources suggesting it may have been written as early as 1882. Although the roots of this carol are debated by historians, it's an absolute must-have on your carol playlist.

1. Carol of the Bells
Best known today from the soundtrack of Home Alone and other good Christmas movies, Carol of the Bells actually hails from Ukraine. The song originally began as a folk chant called "Shchedryk," composed by Mykola Leontovych in 1914, and the English lyrics were written in 1936 by Peter Wilhousky. Nothing sounds more like Christmas to us than its aggressive four-note ostinato vocal.

Firth Tower will be lucky enough to host a 32-piece brass band as well as the Matamata Community Choir who will bring some of these carols to life on Saturday, 14 December. Gates will open at 5pm and the band will start at 5.30pm - you could even bike up via the cycle track. Bring along a picnic, a friend, or the whole family for a fun sing-a-long evening!

Do bring: warm clothes, mosquito repellent, camping chairs or a picnic blanket, and your best singing voice.

Don't bring: alcohol, smokes, vapes, cooking equipment, dogs, other pets, or any grinch energy.

We’re a small team and want to make this a fun event that’s easy for us to put on again next year, and easy for you to attend. So please bring along your own food and take everything away with you again when you leave to keep the grounds beautiful. This is a completely free event and we can’t wait to see you all there!

📅 Date: 14 December 2024
🕕 Time: 5.30pm–7pm (gates open at 5pm)
📍 Location: Firth Tower Reserve and Museum
💲 Admission: FREE

You'll find the full details here https://www.firthtower.co.nz/events-calendar/eventdetail/4654/-/christmas-at-firth-tower

09/12/2024

History is fun! 😍 Monday means it must be washday! Live like your ancestors. Book a group visit in the new year and learn how your great grandparents completed household chores in a time before modern machines took over the back breaking work. Our staff can take you back in time with facilitated, interactive activities such as Great ,Great Grandmas Washday, Bees and Candle making at Firth Tower and Butter Making! See our website for more detail and contact us for your group booking. https://www.firthtower.co.nz/

06/12/2024

Our cheeky elf is back 🤦‍♀️. He's decided to play hide and seek and is hiding somewhere within our museum! Come and help us find him! Visit our website for museum opening times and admission charges https://firthtower.co.nz/

04/12/2024

Top ten carols to get you singing this Christmas🎄🎶

While wrapping presents or decorating the tree this year, you might be tempted to crank up the Michael Bublé or Mariah Carey, but spare a thought for the traditional Christmas carols that started it all. We have chosen our top ten favourites here at Firth Tower, and you can see the first five here. Keep an eye out for the final five next week’s and see if your favourite made the cut!

10. We Three Kings
Hauntingly sombre and beautiful with a big old chorus, We Three Kings (formerly Three Kings of Orient) is a Christmas carol written by John Henry Hopkins Jr. in 1857. He was a rector of the Christ Episcopal Church at the time, and wrote the carol specifically for a Christmas pageant in New York. This one sounds better with a group, so gather up your friends to belt it out together.

9. Silent Night
Written in Germany, Silent Night (or Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht) was composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr. There is something beautiful about its tranquillity, especially knowing it was written in the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars. It is currently the most recorded Christmas song in the world, with more than 137,000 known recordings!

8. Joy to the World
Joy to the World was an English carol written by hymnist Isaac Watts in 1719, but it really took flight in the US and is now North America's most published carol and most published hymn. Unsurprisingly, the appeal lies in its infectiously full-on hands in the air optimism, so turn this one on when you want to get the party going!

7. The First Noel
Hailing from Cornwall in the sixteenth or seventeenth century, and quite possibly 300 years older than that, it was first published in 1823 in Carols Ancient and Modern. The First Noel is all about the slow build up; starting out quietly about the humility of the shepherds, and ending with all guns blazing - an irresistibly uplifting tune.

6. Deck the Halls
This traditional carol dates back to sixteenth century Wales, with the melody belonging to another carol Nos Galan, and English lyrics that were written by the Scottish musician Thomas Oliphant in 1862. Deck the Halls has a catchy "fa-la-la-la-la" chorus that makes it a staple of holiday celebrations for all ages.

Firth Tower will be hosting a 32-piece band, Matamata Brass and Matamata Community Choir who will be bringing some of these carols and more to life on Saturday, 14 December. Gates will open at 5pm and the band will start at 5.30pm - you could even bike up via the cycle track. Bring along a picnic, a friend, or the whole family for a fun sing-a-long evening!

Do bring: warm clothes, mosquito repellent, camping chairs or a picnic blanket, and your best singing voice.

Don't bring: alcohol, smokes, vapes, cooking equipment, dogs, other pets, or any grinch energy.

We’re a small team and want to make this a fun event that’s easy for us to put on again next year, and easy for you to attend. So please bring along your own food and take everything away with you again when you leave to keep the grounds beautiful. This is a completely free event and we can’t wait to see you all there!

📅 Date: 14 December 2024
🕕 Time: 5.30pm–7pm (gates open at 5pm)
📍 Location: Firth Tower Reserve and Museum
💲 Admission: FREE

You'll find the full details here https://www.firthtower.co.nz/events-calendar/eventdetail/4654/-/christmas-at-firth-tower

02/12/2024

Isaac Hopkins, known as the father of beekeeping in New Zealand. Bees were introduced to New Zealand in 1839 by Mary Brumby. By the 1860s Mr Hopkins observed that bee nests in the bush were plentiful and that Māori were selling considerable quantities of honey. They were the country's first commercial beekeepers. In 1882 Isaac Hopkins established the first commercial apiary right here on the Firth Estate. 🐝🍯🐝🍯🐝. You can read a more about Isaac Hopkins on our display board in the reserve, complete with two 'bee hives'.

28/11/2024

🎄 Celebrate Christmas with us at Firth Tower! 🎄

Join us for a magical evening of festive cheer at the Matamata historic reserve! Enjoy enchanting performances by the award winning Matamata Brass and sing-along with the Matamata Community Choir, all set against the backdrop of our beautifully decorated homestead.
We invite you to bring a picnic and make it a memorable night out with your loved ones at this family-friendly event.

📅 Date: 14 December
🕕 Time: 5.30pm –7pm (gates open at 5pm)
📍 Location: Firth Tower Museum, Tower Road, Matamata
FREE entry

We’re a small team so want to make this a fun, free event that’s easy for us to put on and easy for you to attend. So please bring along your own picnic, and take everything away with you again when you leave to keep the grounds beautiful.
Do bring:

- Warm clothes
- Mosquito repellant
- Picnic food and drinks
- Blanket or camping chairs
- Your best singing voice

Don’t bring:

- Alcoholic drinks
- Smokes or vapes
- Cooking equipment
- Dogs or other pets
- Grinch energy

Let's come together to celebrate the season in our vibrant community. We can’t wait to see you there!

26/11/2024

Wind Back Wednesday! Come and relive memories from the past! Take a look through Firth Tower Museum at the extensive collection of artifacts. How many can you remember from your childhood? Nana's kitchen? Warm with the sweet smell of homebaking. Grandad's workshop? Your first proper experience with a hand saw perhaps. Evoke those old memories with a trip back in time. Bring a group of 6 or more for discounted admission. Pre book your group if you'd like to enjoy some hands on fun with one of our facilitators, bringing history back to life! Pack a picnic and make a day of it. Firth Tower Reserve and Museum, Matamata. https://www.firthtower.co.nz/

25/11/2024

Planning your summer road trip? Looking for somewhere peaceful to park up in your camper? Stay with us! We welcome motorhomes and campervans here at Firth Tower Reserve and Museum 🚐. No bookings required. First in first served basis. We have plenty of space and you can enjoy our reserve too, at any time!
Full details can be found on our website https://www.firthtower.co.nz/motorhomes

21/11/2024

🎄 Celebrate Christmas with us at Firth Tower! 🎄

Join us for a magical evening of festive cheer at the Matamata historic reserve! Enjoy enchanting performances by the award winning Matamata Brass and sing-along with the Matamata Community Choir, all set against the backdrop of our beautiful homestead.
We invite you to bring a picnic and make it a memorable night out with your loved ones at this free family-friendly event. Tag your friends and whānau! All welcome!

📅 Date: 14 December 2024
🕕 Time: 5.30pm–7pm (gates open at 5pm)
📍 Location: Firth Tower Reserve and Museum
💲 Admission: FREE

Let's come together to celebrate the season in our vibrant community. We can’t wait to see you there!

You'll find the full details here https://www.firthtower.co.nz/events-calendar/eventdetail/4654/-/christmas-at-firth-tower

20/11/2024

We have some very unique 'homes on wheels' stay with us in our motorhome stopover area!
Want to join them? It's easy as! Rock up, park up, pay up aaaand relax! Find out more on our website https://firthtower.co.nz/motorhomes

See you soon 🚐

13/11/2024

When Mother Nature take over! This picture of Firth Tower was published in 1937 in a History of Piako Council publication.
📷 Matamata Historical Society.

08/11/2024

Did you know you can book our facility for any number of events? Weddings, funerals, school groups, family gatherings, social club meetups, motorhome rallies, retirement village outings etc. Talk to our team here at Firth Tower Reserve and Museum about your requirements. More details can be found on our website https://www.firthtower.co.nz

05/11/2024

Images of students at our very own Gordon / Selwyn School when it was in Te Poi in the 1950's. Beautiful images of times gone by. Kindly sent to us with permission to share by ex-teacher, Helen McInnes. She also sent some of her memories of her time at the school.

"My name is Helen McInnes and I taught at Selwyn in 1956, 1957, and part of 1958. In 1956 and 57 I was a Miss Anderson and then I married and was then Mrs McInnes. I was what was called in those days the Infant Mistress. The school had just two classrooms as two separate buildings. The main building was in the front and my classroom was behind. I think I had 12 to 14 children in this classroom during this time. The only names that come to mind are Lynette and Ken brother and sister, Heather, Stuart, Barry, Margaret and Pinto. I have found some photos of this time. The indoor photos show the children during what was called development when they chose what activities they wanted to do. We had painting, cutting out, puzzles, games, building blocks, story writing and drawing pictures, they usually wrote a story to go with their pictures. One of my vivid memories is the one and only time in my teaching career that I gave anyone the strap. The young boy I think his name was Barry, I took him to the little storeroom by the entrance to the classroom and guess what? I missed his hand! He was very good going back into the classroom licking his hand and rubbing it on his side as if he had really been strapped! From the pictures you get an idea of the classroom. The children's blackboards went right round three of the walls with a large blackboard at the front. The three infant tables went across the room and my desk was at the side by the old black cotton reel stove. On cold mornings the children would have their chairs round the fire. The photos outside show the children climbing on the jungle gym. I thought they would show my classroom, but it only shows the main building and just the corner of my classroom. These photos were taken in 1957. I really enjoyed my time here with such small numbers we felt more like a family than a class".

Thank you so much Helen and the Matamata Historical Society.

Do you remember your early school days at Te Poi school?

31/10/2024

Preserving history in a fun and interactive way 👏. If you are looking to book a school group in the new year, now is the time for planning! Check out our website, https://www.firthtower.co.nz/ for the details. If you are local, then pop along during our opening hours and talk with our friendly staff about our schools program. Suitable for primary and intermediate ages, children will step back in time and be immersed in Matamata life during the late 1800's.

29/10/2024

The very talented artist Jennifer Clark recently posted on her Instagram page her amazing painting of Firth Tower. Jennifer grew up not far from Firth Tower and remembers it fondly from her childhood. You can find more of Jennifer's work on her Instagram page - jennyartist_

Address

266 Tower Road
Matamata
3471

Opening Hours

Monday	10am - 4pm
Thursday	10am - 4pm
Friday	10am - 4pm
Saturday	10am - 4pm
Sunday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+6478888369

Website

https://www.firthtower.co.nz/

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Videos

Christmas at Firth Tower

🎄 Celebrate Christmas with us at Firth Tower! 🎄 Join us for a magical evening of festive cheer at the Matamata historic reserve! Enjoy enchanting performances by the award winning Matamata Brass and sing-along with the Matamata Community Choir, all set against the backdrop of our beautifully decorated homestead. We invite you to bring a picnic and make it a memorable night out with your loved ones at this family-friendly event. 📅 Date: 14 December 🕕 Time: 5.30pm –7pm (gates open at 5pm) 📍 Location: Firth Tower Museum, Tower Road, Matamata FREE entry We’re a small team so want to make this a fun, free event that’s easy for us to put on and easy for you to attend. So please bring along your own picnic, and take everything away with you again when you leave to keep the grounds beautiful. Do bring: - Warm clothes - Mosquito repellant - Picnic food and drinks - Blanket or camping chairs - Your best singing voice Don’t bring: - Alcoholic drinks - Smokes or vapes - Cooking equipment - Dogs or other pets - Grinch energy Let's come together to celebrate the season in our vibrant community. We can’t wait to see you there!

The kitchen garden. Thanks to the hard work of our heritage gardener, Emma, volunteers and staff, this once messy space is blossoming into a useful kitchen garden with an abundance of culinary plants, that can be used in a huge variety of recipes! Do you grow your own?

Fun Fact Friday! The blacksmith. Fixer of pots and pans. Maker of tools, nails, hinges, s hooks, horseshoes. Puller of teeth 😱. That's gota make you glad we have dentists to pull teeth now!

Our extra activities continue through till next Sunday for the school holidays. Come and make kites and paper planes. Collect acorns from around our reserve as a treat for our 'piggy' in the dairy shed. Have a giggle at the old time silent movies in out tiny picture theatre. Find the hidden bees around our gardens. Learn how the Victorians spent their spare time with games and activities from that era. Have fun in the dress up room plus more! All included in the normal admission price. We have concessions for family groups with school age children plus groups of 6 or more. Bring a picnic and make a day of it! Check our website for opeing times, building closures and admission fees. https://firthtower.co.nz/

Silent movies!

Silent movies playing all weekend in our tiny movie theatre here at Firth Tower Reserve and Museum!

Happy new year!

For those who missed the elf antics up on our stories this month! He's gone off to help Santa now. I wonder if he'll be back next year making mischief around the museum?