Featherston

The 'town under the hill', Featherston, is getting a Town Square. This typical Wairarapa town, the southernmost on State Highway Two, just north of the steep Rimutaka Hill Road, and the first town out of the rail tunnel in the Wairarapa, is gently growing in popularity as a commuter dormitory for Wellington workers.

The South Wairarapa District Council is considering moving a popular kinetic sculpture in the main street ('Wind Grass by Kon Dimopoulos) as part of the creation of the new town square. The new proposal includes an ambitious war memorial project by acclaimed sculptor Paul Dibble, commemorating the loss of 49 Japanese Prisoners of War during an uprising at nearby Featherston Camp in 1943.

The Information Centre is in the Old Court House, which dates back to 1860, the museum is in the 1916 Waiorongomai School Hall.

Image with thanks to Te Papa:

The Crossroads, Featherston, New Zealand, 1904-1910, Featherston, by Muir & Moodie studio. Purchased 1998 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa (PS.000994)