An enthusiastic group met at the Ng King Brothers Chinese Market Garden Settlement in Ashburton today (Thursday 17 February), armed with paintbrushes and buckets of stain and whitewash.

The King Brothers market garden operated from the early 1920s until 1964. It quickly grew to be the largest Chinese market garden in the South Island. By the late 1940s there were about 12 houses in the settlement and at least 80 people living on site.

Now the Ng King families have handed over stewardship of the site to Ashburton District Council so it can become a community reserve.

Staff from Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga’s Christchurch office, members of Ng King families and council volunteers came together today to paint the newly repaired and partially rebuilt buildings on the site.

A generous donation of black stain, whitewash, and oil from Resene has provided the means for supporters of the site to start work painting and preserving the timber buildings.

HNZPT Conservation Advisor Francesca Bradley has been working with Resene representative Melanie Tracy to source the correct paint products.

“This is a complex site as we want to preserve the patina of this heritage site, but also conserve the timbers so the local community can enjoy this reserve for many years to come. Resene has been incredible with their sponsorship and we have really appreciated Melanie’s advice on sourcing the perfect products for the job.”

Melanie says Resene is always on the lookout for ways to “brighten and transform Kiwi communities.”

“We’re really proud of being 100% NZ-owned and operated and we love to help out in the local communities we are working in,” she says.

“Projects like Ng King are a great way for us to protect New Zealand’s heritage and help build community spirit and cohesion.”

Arlene Baird from Era Consulting co-ordinated the event.

“People really enjoyed the process of painting these historic buildings. It was a great chance to get up close and see the innovation and creativity the family displayed in their day to day lives. These buildings were just built over the years from whatever materials were available as they were needed.”

It’s all part of progressing the site to a stage where it can be opened to the Ashburton public. The fences will eventually be removed and people will be able to follow paths around the reserve and read the its history on interpretive panels.

Council’s Open Spaces team has given the site a good tidy up and the work repairing and stabilising the historic buildings by Joseph Builders Ltd is almost complete. The Ng King family members have all been meeting regularly to work on the panels that will tell the story of the site.