Next year marks 150 years since the first wagon was hauled over the Hope Saddle and the beginnings of a settlement was created at Murchison.
Planning is already underway to celebrate the birth of the community, drawing people from far and wide back to the town for three days full of activities and chin wagging about the old days.
Sarah Peacock is on the organising committee that has created a Facebook page and is working on the programme for Easter 2026, beginning on the Friday with a good old-fashioned smoko put on by the local Rural Women’s group.
She says Murchison has been a rest and respite location for hundreds of years, but once a route had been created over the Hope Saddle, people began to settle in the area and grow a community, not just in the town, but in the numerous valleys that surround it.
“The population doubles when you include the valleys. People driving through just see the town, but those of us who live here know it as a big area and every valley has its own community.”
She anticipates a huge get together at the anniversary celebrations as people return to Murchison to share memories and catch up with others in the community.
“People have classic Kiwi upbringing memories and are keen to come back. It will be a great occasion to bring everyone together and also the current people of Murchison who have stories to weave into the town now.”
In the programme so far is a grand parade with community floats, displays of Murchison’s olden days, top team events with teams from the valleys and town, a remembrance ceremony at the cemetery and old-time movies in the treasured old theatre. Bus trips will head up valleys for the community past and present to check out old haunts and a trail map will guide people on a history walk of the town. Added into the mix will be scavenger hunts for kids and a carnival with stalls and entertainment.
It’s not just about a full programme of events though, as Sarah says the committee wants to ensure there’s plenty of time for people to catch up with others in the community. More is on the Murchison NZ 150th Celebration Facebook page.
