Large house or homestead on Kahautara Road, Featherston, on the property built for William Edward Bidwill (1858-1933) in 1893. In 1928 the two-storeyed wooden homestead burnt down. The owner W E Bidwill commissioned Stanley Walter Fearn (1887-1976) to replace it with a Georgian style homestead on the same site, completed in 1929. The homestead was made available to the Sir Karitane Hospital Wellington during the period of World War Two.
Rototawai Homestead (Featherston, N.Z.)
There are 5 related items to this topic
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Albums of photographs by R P Moore: "Social Aspects", and "Houses and Gardens"
Date: ca1922-ca1932
From: National Library Gallery: Albums of photographs by R P Moore
Reference: PA1-f-202
Description: Panoramas of New Zealand cities, towns, some factories, one shop interior, public parks, and many houses, gardens, and farms Quantity: 2 album(s).
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Photograph album relating to Plunket Society and Karitane nursing, and loose items form...
Date: 1926-1963
From: Woodhead, Jean Constance, 1901-1978:Photographs relating to Plunket Society and Karitane nursing
By: Ginders, C A, active 1940s; McCusker, Gordon John, 1892-1966; Otago daily times (Newspaper); Valerie Studios (Wellington, N.Z.)
Reference: PA1-o-1862
Description: Black photograph album relating to the nursing career of Jean Constance Woodhead as nurse, matron and nursing advisor in Karitane and Plunket hospitals in Dunedin, Wellington and Featherston. Photographic prints are taken by Otago Daily Times, Valerie Studios, Wellington, G McCusker, Blenheim, Ginders, Wellington, and other unidentified photographer(s) between 1934 and 1956. Some views are captioned; probably by Jean Constance Woodhead. Album contains loose prints, and newspaper clippings dated between 1926 and 1963. - Prints chiefly show Jean Constance Woodhead with other nurses, babies and children at Karitane-Harris Hospital in Dunedin, Karitane Hospital and Truby King house in Melrose, Wellington, and at Rototawai homestead, Featherston. -Views taken at Karitane-Harris Hospital, Dunedin, show nurses on the steps and in grounds of the hospital between 1940 and 1941; including Christmas Day 1939. -Views taken at Truby King House and the Karitane Hospital, Melrose, Wellington, chiefly show nurses in the grounds and views of Kilbirnie and Lyall Bay between 1940 and 1945. Also includes Jean Constance with officials on a visit to Truby King House in 1941 by Prime Minister Peter Fraser, Mrs Janet Fraser, Minister of Health Arnold Henry Nordmeyer, Lady Olive Tennyson Newall, Mrs Begg, Governor-General Sir Cyril Newall, Vida Jowett, President of the Plunket Society and others. Also includes scenes of a visit by Dutch nurses of the hospital ship 'Oranje'; a Christmas dinner in 1942; and a party in May 1945. -Views taken at Rototawai homestead, Featherston, circa 1940 to 1945 show views of Jean Constance and other nurses with babies and small children, nurses picnicing at a river, and a local lake. Also includes images of babies and children who were born with medical conditions or born prematurely; including Billy Myles, Diane and Elizabeth. -Loose prints include views of Rototawai homestead circa 1943, Jean Constance, fellow nurses, children including Rogan John Maxwell and Eddie. Also includes a group of Plunket Society head office staff with Muriel Helen Deem. Also includes views of a visit to the Helen Deem Memorial Centre kindergarten on 9 February 1956 by Lady Patricia Norrie, President Dunedin Kindergarten Association Mrs McCrostie, Dunedin Mayoress Cecil Mary Wright, Director Dunedin Kindergartens Miss Hamilton, Plunket Society official Mrs Ewing, and Margaret (?), Director of the Helen Deem Memorial Centre. -Loose newspaper clippings relate to Dunedin Hospital in 1926 and the opening of the new nurses home at 'Lady King Hospital', Melrose, Wellington, in 1963. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Small black album with gold lettering 'Photographs' on cover, 23.5 x 20cm
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Swan, John Sydney, 1874-1936 :Plan of additions to house at Featherston for W[illiam] E...
Date: 1906
By: Swan, John Sydney, 1874-1936; Swan, Francis Herbert, 1885-1958
Reference: Plans-80-0407
Description: Shows 2 side and the back elevations, 2 sections, the roof plan, the new front porch Inscriptions: Recto - centre right - John S Swan architect Wellington NZ May 19 1906 Quantity: 1 plan(s). Physical Description: Ink and watercolour Provenance: Donation: Mrs F H Swan, Wellington, 1958
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Rototawai, house of William E Bidwell, Featherston, Wairarapa
Date: 1923
From: Moore, Robert Percy, 1881-1948 :Panoramic photographs of New Zealand
By: Bidwill, William Edward, 1858-1933
Reference: Pan-0895
Description: Panoramic view of "Rototawai" homestead, taken in 1923 by Robert Percy Moore. Inscriptions: Photographer's title on negative - bottom centre - "Rototawai" 1923 Quantity: 1 b&w original negative(s). Physical Description: Panoramic negative 19.7 x 117.8 cm
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Swan, John S, 1874-1936 :Plan of additions to house at Featherston for W E Bidwill Esq....
Date: 1906
By: Swan, John Sydney, 1874-1936
Reference: Plans-80-0408
Description: Shows ground floor plan which includes: wash house, stores area, boots, golf, scullery, servants quarters, kitchen pantry, smoking room, dining room, hall, drawing room. Also has first floor plan showing two servants' bedrooms, six other bedrooms, two bathrooms, WC, light well dressing room, housemaid, sewing room, linen, and lumber room. Inscriptions: Recto - centre - John S Swan architect Wellington NZ May 19 1906 Quantity: 1 plan(s). Physical Description: Ink and watercolour Provenance: Donation: Mrs F H Swan, Wellington, 1958