Following its success during last year’s Wellington Heritage Festival, “Upper Hutt: City of Industry” continues to shine a light on an iconic period in the city’s history. First hosted at the Upper Hutt Central Library, the exhibition recently set off on a tour of local secondary schools, inviting students to explore the manufacturers and trades which put the city on the map at the end of the twentieth century.

Heretaunga College has been first in line to display the interactive exhibition, which comes with a suite of information panels and large-scale photographs from Upper Hutt’s community archive as well as original artefacts and audio content.

“The exhibition features a specially programmed, original Telecom push-button phone, which essentially allows students to travel back in time. It plays oral histories from locals who spent much of their working lives contributing to this chapter in Upper Hutt’s history,” says Libraries Manager Denise Clarkson.

She adds that the community’s input into the exhibition was significant.

“Our heritage staff were thrilled to see the generosity of long-time residents, who donated or loaned us authentic items and photographs. It’s thanks to this active collaboration that ‘City of Industry’ was such a hit last year, and that our team were able to curate an engaging, multi-faceted exhibition.”

The roadshow also provides historical context to a current major Upper Hutt attraction. Students will be familiar with the family-friendly Brewtown precinct, now a popular entertainment and event venue, and previously the site of the city-defining Dunlop/South Pacific Tyres factory.

“Our city’s time as a manufacturing hub has a lasting impact on our community today,” says Mike Ryan, Upper Hutt City Council’s Group Manager Community Services.

“The industrial boom forged a strong sense of local identity and place here. Encouraging students to learn about this important period is an opportunity to spark creativity, inspiration, and innovation.”

Last week, staff involved in the curation and development of the exhibition led a talk at the National Digital Forum conference in Wellington, sharing their project with the wider culture, heritage, and arts sectors. “Upper Hutt: City of Industry” is next scheduled to be displayed at Hutt International Boys’ School.

© Scoop Media