| Address | Homebush, RD1 Darfield Mid Canterbury. Homebush is located 56 km's or 45 minutes west of Christchurch. From Christchurch State Highway 73 takes the visitor along the main west road through the small Canterbury towns of West Melton, Kirwee and Darfield. At the end of Darfield turn left onto State Highway 72/77, the Inland Scenic Route. Homebush is 8 km's from Darfield and is well sign-posted. From Arthur's Pass Take State High 73 until pass through Waddington. Take the first road on the right, Deans Road turning right on to Homebush Road. Homebush is sign posted on the right approx 1 km. |
| Region | Canterbury |
| Email | |
| Phone | 03 318 2785 Cell phone: 027 2709055 |
| Fax | 03 318 1671 |
| Contact Person | Louise Deans |
| Website | www.homebushstables.co.nz |
| Hours | We take group bookings by arrangement. It is essential to book before you come. |
| Entrance Fee | $10 per person. Children free. |
| Brochure Available? | Yes we are happy to mail that out to you. |
| Parking | Off street parking for buses coaches and cars |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Food Available | The Swingletree Cafe has great character with high beams and polished kauri floor and brick walls and antique tables and chairs. The caterers, “Country Feasts”, provide positively scrumptious morning or afternoon tea and lunch for guests. We can provide morning and afternoon tea for 10 - 300 visitors and a spit roast or barbeque lunch for up to 85 people. |
| Cafe/Restaurant available? | No |
| Seating | There are many areas around the grounds to sit and enjoy. |
| Picnics | Yes we are happy for you to bring your own picnic. |
| Wheelchair Access | Yes we are wheelchair friendly. |
| Dogs Allowed | No dogs thank you, please leave them in the car. |
| Children Allowed | Yes but adults please supervise. |
| Accommodation | No, however we are happy to recommend accommodation in the area. |
| Sales/Shop | The Homebush shop is located in the old farm workshop. Chris, who runs the shop, brings in top quality knitwear, sheepskins, crafts and souvenirs. She also knits many of the jerseys herself using the antique method. Of special interest are garments made in the new wool fibre called Possum Merino which is extremely light and warm. There are gifts to take home with you. A postal service is available. |
| Other Facilities | We also have our garden open to visitors, it has been developed by the Deans family since 1850. It is a heritage garden full of magnificent specimen trees planted from the early 1850’s with rhododendrons planted underneath. It is about 8 acres in area with sweeping lawns and featuring a circular orchard planted with old roses, an orchard of old fruit trees and a cathedral of trees.
The garden can be viewed on www.gardenstovisit.co.nz |
Map
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About our AttractionHomebush is a unique tourist destination in Canterbury New Zealand for visitors wanting to experience New Zealand history and culture on many levels.
The museum is housed in different areas of the beautiful brick stables building. There is plenty to interest everyone since the displays cover the full spectrum of country life from early horse drawn machinery, early petrol-driven engines, light industrial, military, sporting and domestic artifacts. Of special interest is the 4 tonne Ruston motor which was used in the coal mine in the hills and the 1905 Originals All Blacks memorabilia of Bob Deans who lived and worked at Homebush.
Also of great interest is the unique water turbine, still in working order, with a patent date of 1863 made in Dayton Ohio and installed at Homebush in 1879..
The farm buildings were built from the 1850's onwards. The woolshed which is visible from the road, the stables, the pigsties, the house and the apple house built out of bricks made at the Homebush Pottery and Tile Works. They are a magnificent legacy to pioneering rural life and are classified in Category One by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. |