Up to 32 whalers lived there with their families throughout each winter whaling season. In 1911, “inspired” by an encounter with two humpback whales in the Cook Straight channel, Joe Perano established an operation on Arapawa Island, on the northeastern tip of the South Island. All non-text content is subject to specific conditions. This site is item number 79 on the History of New Zealand in 100 Places list. Mt Tapuae-o-Uenuku, New Zealand's largest peak outside the Southern Alps, is the sacred mountain of local Marlborough Maori iwi and a visible symbol of the rich tapestry of Marlborough's culture. Alexander Turnbull Library References: 1/2-C-21773-F, PAColl-8880 (photographed by Wellington Harbour Board) and PAColl-8163-38 (photographed by Dr W Arriens)Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Matauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any reuse of their images. Woven throughout our history are many intriguing stories of those who lived in times gone by and created Marlborough as we know it today. . History of New Zealand in 100 Places list, DOC’s Archaeology of NZ Shore Whaling (PDF). In Cook Strait and around the East Coast the ‘robber economy’ lingered on well into the 20th century. Joe Perano's Fishing Bay whaling station became a small community in its own right. Not all comments posted. The last whale was processed at the historic Perano whaling station, near the entrance to Tory Channel, in 1964. Marlborough has a wealth of arts and culture, from art galleries to museums through to concerts and theatre productions. Perhaps you have a related experience you would like to share? The beauty of this region is amazing and nowhere else in the world have I seen such stunning scenery.". Te Rua (Yellerton) was found to … Those stories are all here, waiting to be discovered all over again. Whaling in the Marlborough Sounds began when John Guard established the first land-based whaling station, Te Awaiti, next to Fisherman's Bay, in 1827. This was thrown into a digester, which processed 25 tonnes of whale at a time, releasing the lucrative oil which was skimmed off the top. Perano Whaling Station, Picton, New Zealand. The blubber was boiled down and usually produced about 36 44-gallon drums of oil, which was exported to Australia for use in tanning. The last outpost of the whaling … Sound file from Radio New Zealand Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero. In 1911 at nearby Fisherman’s Bay the Perano family, Genoese-New Zealand fishermen who drifted into whaling just after the turn of the century, started killing humpbacks. Perano Whaling Station (1911) Last gasp of the ‘robber economy’? Comments will be reviewed prior to posting. The station is being resurrected. To book phone Brayshaw Park Museum 5781712 (payment on booking). The digester is one of the remaining features at the station today and also includes a steam boiler, bone saws, whale oil processing tanks and a theatre/hall. Here, at Fishing Bay, the Perano family began a career in whaling that would last from 1911 until 1964, when gunner Trevor Norton shot the last whale in New Zealand waters. That legacy continues strongly today, with the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre at its heart. From Rai Valley to Ward, each Marlborough settlement had its own fascinating and unique beginnings. Can you tell us more about the information on this page? Think Ship Cove, the site of Captain James Cook’s frequent Marlborough visits; the remains of the Perano Whaling Station; the ancient fortified pa of Karaka Point; the wooden immigrant ship Edwin Fox. Foreign whaling was always the problem, he told Radio New Zealand. Copyright 2019 Destination Marlborough Trust. 1.4K likes. Sound file from Radio New Zealand Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero. This question is for testing whether you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. The image from June 1952 shows workers at the Perano station cutting up a whale after it has been caught and brought to the factory. Whaling in the Marlborough Sounds began when John Guard … The day after the Perano whaling station closed in 1964, New Zealand banned all whaling. The Huntley whanau have been a true backbone to the legacy of this group, and it saddens me very deeply to … And as for the whalers? Perano Whale Station is New Zealand’s only restored Whale Station (1920-1967 ) from the whaling era which spanned 170 years, closing in 1967. Marlborough is home to a host of artisans, public art, galleries, musicians and theatre performances. The Perano family operated from three different whaling stations in Tory Channel (Te Rua, Tipi Bay and Fisherman's Bay) until December 22, 1964. Please contact Marlborough businesses directly for their opening hours and days. The blubber was boiled down and usually produced about 36 44-gallon drums of oil, which was exported to Australia for use in tanning. This site is produced by the History Group of the New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. The station is being resurrected. Perano Whaling Station, Picton, New Zealand. For nearly 140 years, whales on their annual migration were spotted by whalers from various hilltop lookouts. Whalers initially used rowboats and hand-held lances and harpoons, but the innovative, forward-thinking Peranos soon improved on that.