Pavitt Cottage Open Day
Pavitt Cottage, home of the first sawmillers on Banks Peninsula, will be open for visitors to look around on a self-guided tour.
Enjoy a leisurely visit to one of Canterbury's oldest buildings, the charming Pavitt Cottage in Robinsons Bay. Delightfully restored and full of character, a visit to the cottage is a step back in time. The Category II heritage cottage is now owned by a locally run Charitable Trust. Trustees and neighbours from Robinsons Bay will be there to give you a warm country welcome to this special place at the heart of our community.
Pavitt Cottage is significant to the history of Canterbury as the Pavitt family, in conjunction with architect Samuel Farr, designed and constructed the first powered sawmill in the province. The Cottage stands as a symbol of pioneering culture and a stark reminder that the industrial scale deforestation of Banks Peninsula began here. Many Canterbury families trace their identity back to this site as the mill attracted many workers to the area.
Today Robinsons Bay is a place of peace and beauty. It has a strong community proud of its heritage, with the Pavitt Cottage as its focal point. The community will be welcoming visitors to relax after their look around the cottage with a cup of tea or coffee and home baking.
Tour information includes a printed tour booklet and an opportunity to chat with the Trustees and community members. A beautiful painting of the cottage and surrounding mill site recently donated by a descendant of the Williams family (later owners of the mill and cottage) brings the history to life.
Enjoy a leisurely visit to one of Canterbury's oldest buildings, the charming Pavitt Cottage in Robinsons Bay. Delightfully restored and full of character, a visit to the cottage is a step back in time. The Category II heritage cottage is now owned by a locally run Charitable Trust. Trustees and neighbours from Robinsons Bay will be there to give you a warm country welcome to this special place at the heart of our community.
Pavitt Cottage is significant to the history of Canterbury as the Pavitt family, in conjunction with architect Samuel Farr, designed and constructed the first powered sawmill in the province. The Cottage stands as a symbol of pioneering culture and a stark reminder that the industrial scale deforestation of Banks Peninsula began here. Many Canterbury families trace their identity back to this site as the mill attracted many workers to the area.
Today Robinsons Bay is a place of peace and beauty. It has a strong community proud of its heritage, with the Pavitt Cottage as its focal point. The community will be welcoming visitors to relax after their look around the cottage with a cup of tea or coffee and home baking.
Tour information includes a printed tour booklet and an opportunity to chat with the Trustees and community members. A beautiful painting of the cottage and surrounding mill site recently donated by a descendant of the Williams family (later owners of the mill and cottage) brings the history to life.
Pavitt Cottage, 5 Sawmill Road, Robinsons Bay
Event contact
Robinsons Bay Community Heritage Trust, Suky ThompsonOther events you may be interested in
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