A bit of history - Mr John Currin and his wife Ann nee Twigdon and 5 children arrived in Nelson on the Prince of Wales on 31 Dec 1842 and soon settled in Wakefield.

Their oldest son John and his son Francis erected a four storied steam powered Flour Mill in Wakefield at the rear of a section opposite the current ‘Sweetbites’ store. In about 1883 William Painton purchased this mill as well as a two storied house in front of it, also thought to have been built by the Currin’s. William Painton is often incorrectly credited with the construction of these two buildings. William’s wife Ellen Painton operated a bric a brac and lolly shop from the front of the house. Son Edward (Ted) took over the flour mill from his father in 1892 and operated the mill office from the other front room of the house. After the death of Ellen Painton in 1904 Ted Painton, who remained unmarried, continued to live in the house until his death in 1943 when his nephew Maurice Wratt, son of his sister Eliza purchased it. Maurice, who had qualified in America as a Doctor in Chiropractic, operated his Chiropractic Business from here between 1945 and 1965. Most of William and Ellen’s furniture was donated to Broadgreen House.

The next owners were Betty (nee Stringer) and Maurice Earl. They operated the building as a museum and displayed in it William’s extensive collection of Maori artifacts and Ellen’s fine needlework as well as a popular photographic display.

The shop later became another chiropractic practice, a bicycle hire business and is now a private residence.

This information was shared on a historical walk (in October 2022) along Edwards Street, researched by Kathleen Dearnley, from the Waimea South Historical Society (Inc 2022).

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