About & Visit Marlborough Museum

Marlborough Museum & Provincial Archives anchors Brayshaw Heritage Park at 26 Arthur Baker Place in Blenheim. Operated by the Marlborough Historical Society, the museum preserves the material culture, personal narratives, and technological history of the wider Marlborough region.

During the 1960s, local historian Norman 'Norm' Brayshaw recognised that early farm machinery and rural pioneer artefacts were disappearing across the region. Brayshaw used his private car to collect discarded equipment from farm paddocks, rallying community volunteers to establish the Marlborough Vintage Farm Machinery Society in 1965.

In November 1968, a formal lease was established with the Marlborough Catchment Board to turn an old rubbish dump and council gravel pit into a heritage precinct. Opened to the public on 25 September 1971, Brayshaw Heritage Park now accommodates independent societies caring for historic machinery, woodworking, geology, and narrow-gauge rail transport alongside the museum collections.

The Marlborough Archives form a core research facility within the museum complex, safeguarding historic photographs, genealogy information, maps, and council records.

Staffed by volunteers, the archives research room assists families, authors, and local historians tracing regional genealogy and land settlement records.

The research room opens Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Visitors planning detailed research are asked to contact the team in advance to arrange collection access.

Email: send an archival research enquiry