Featherston

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Featherston is a town that lies in the Wairarapa region of the North Island, New Zealand, it is located 37 kilometres south-west of Masterton and 63 kilometres north-east of Wellington. The town was previously known as Burlings, after the owner of an early accommodation house in the area.

Featherston is close to Lake Wairarapa which is a great place to visit while in the area as it's the largest wetland area in the lower North Island and a important nesting ground for native and migratory birds. Nature lovers, photographers and bird watchers will love to visit this spot.

The town is full of some stunning antique shops and cafes but the town's key landmarks are the two museums: The Fell Engine Museum and the Featherston Heritage Museum.

The Fell Engine Museum carries the only Fell engine in the world, a survivor from the years of the Rimutaka Incline Railway. The museum also has an incline brake van and a heap of railway memorabilia. The Featherston Heritage Museum tells the story of the historic Featherston military base and its role as a prisoner of war camp in World War II.

Featherston History

The Featherston Military Training Camp was a major training camp in World War I. In World War II it became the Featherston prisoner of war camp. The town gained ill fame in 1943 when 122 Japanese Prisoners of War in the camp were shot after guards believed they were about to be attacked by the prisoners. Out of the 122 prisoners shot during the riot, 31 died on the day and 17 later. In addition a prison guard was killed.

Other Towns in the Wairarapa Region