Located in Oturehua, the Heritage New Zealand site is a snapshot of life in early rural New Zealand, and it’s here that you can discover the inventions that made the Hayes family famous and helped shape the rural New Zealand of today.
At the time of Ernest’s inventing, large landholdings were being fenced off into smaller farms, and single farm-owners and -operators were desperate to save time wherever they could. So Ernest began inventing time-saving devices; his most well known being the smooth-grip chain-grab wirestrainer, used to create tension on wire fences.
But being inventive isn’t everything, and with sales of his first invention waning, Ernest’s wife Hannah stepped up and showed her true strength. Hannah took a sample and a salesbook and hopped on her bike, travelling down one valley and up the next, stopping in at every farmhouse to make a sale.
These days, many visitors to Hayes arrive by bike, having enjoyed their time on the rail trail with all the joys of modern athletic wear. But it was not so for Hannah, with her long skirts and rudimentary bike seat. However, the end goal was achieved and the sales meant that Ernest could go on to develop more tools and build Hayes Engineering Works.
These works still remain and the a highlight of a visit today. Barely changed since their construction, they are actually turned on during operating days, with live demonstrations of the machines that were used by Ernest.
To witness the web of belts and pulleys come to life inside the Hayes workshop, turn up at one of the following operating days over summer: January 5, February 2, March 1, and April 5, 2020.
Tour times on the hour from 10.30am-3.30pm. Cost $20pp, children under 15 and Heritage New Zealand members $10.
