Story: Housing

Settlers under canvas

Settlers under canvas

The first European settlers often lived under canvas while awaiting the erection of whare-style or European housing. This painting of Nelson shows the tents erected for the New Zealand Company officials and mechanics who arrived in November 1841 to survey and build accommodation for the early settlers. Prefabricated immigration barracks are visible to the left. Anchored in the harbour are the Will Watch, Whitby and Arrow, on which the group had travelled from Britain.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: C-025-015
Watercolour by Charles Heaphy

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Ben Schrader, 'Housing - The first houses', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/38624/settlers-under-canvas (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Ben Schrader, published 5 Sep 2013