July Feature: JR Annabell’s Surveying Diary

Join Sandi Black, Kaihāpai Taonga – Curator, Images and Manuscripts for the next Taonga o te Marama/Object of the Month talk.

Sandi will share gems from the journal of Joseph Robert (JR) Annabell, whose detailed diary entries provide a fascinating account of life as a surveyor, navigating the rugged landscapes of nineteenth-century Whanganui in the late 1870s and 1880s.

Annabell arrived in Whanganui in 1877 to work alongside his brother, a surveyor, before qualifying in the profession himself. Between 1878 and 1887, he kept comprehensive annual diaries that documented not only his work, but also the landscapes, wildlife, people and daily life of the district as European settlement expanded across the region.

Taonga o te Marama/Object of the Month is a free 15-minute lunchtime talk held on the third Friday of each month. Visitors meet in the Museum atrium for the talk, then view the featured object in the gallery.

Everyone is welcome. No need to book. Admission is free. Koha for the Museum is always appreciated.

Every month, discover a different object, meet the curators, and hear the stories that bring our collections to life!