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Friends of Old Fairfield Inc. "To administer the Fairfield Reserve in order to retain and enhance its unique character, linking the past with the present and future community growth". Community involvement in Fairfield has enabled the restoration and development to date. FOOF manages this community resource on a self-funding basis. We rely on grants, events income, voluntary work and membership subscriptions to upkeep this wonderful, unique historic house and heritage woodland. Below, you will find details of our current development and maintenance projects.We are officially registered with the Charities Commission. Our official registration number is CC41609. To see our listing on the national register, please go to this URL: http://www.register.charities.govt.nz/CharitiesRegister/CharitySummary.aspx?id=b370a1e8-1343-dd11-84f2-0015c5f3da29 You will also find information about how you can become a FOOF member or renew your current membership. If you are interested in doing voluntary work with us, please contact us on 03 548 3640 or e mail us at fairfieldnelson@paradise.net.nz Current News: September 2011 New lease of life for iconic Nelson building
COLIN SMITH/The Nelson Mail RESTORATION: Fairfield House, built in 1849, is having many more years added to its future. Nelson's Fairfield House is undergoing its first major restoration since the early 1980s. Manager Catherine Brosnahan said $100,000 was being spent on
replacing the original roof, repairing French doors, replacing rotten
timbers, putting up a new verandah and repainting the building. "It will look fairly amazing at that point." An $80,000 grant from the Lotteries Environment and Heritage fund,
$15,000 from the Canterbury Community Trust and $12,000 from fundraising
by Fairfield had made the restoration project possible, she said. "This is really the first major repair work since 1981. It will really secure Fairfield's future." - The Nelson Mail, Monday 19 September______________________________________________________________________________________________ August 2011 Towering feat accomplishedSALLY KIDSON, Nelson Mail feature 1 August 2011 PATRICK HAMILTON/The Nelson Mail Friends of Old Fairfield are celebrating the re-opening of the historic home's wooden tower, after the rotting structure was pulled down piece by piece and rebuilt. Manager Catherine Brosnahan said the tower was
rebuilt in 1995 to 1996, but
was closed in November 2007 when it was found to be structurally
unsound.Some of the macrocarpa beams were rotting and the tower had its
problems
"a bit like a leaky house". Ms Brosnahan said it cost $36,000 to rebuild the tower and it was a cost
that the Friends of Old Fairfield had not expected. Raising funds to rebuild the tower had required a massive fundraising effort
by the friends, who had also secured a $17,000 grant from the Canterbury
Community Trust and a $2500 grant from Nelson City Council towards the rebuild. The tower was now open by request. Friends of Old Fairfield Inc. acknowledge the donations received from the following organisations and individuals Canterbury Community Trust Grant Nelson City Council Grant Bruce King Bequest and all the numerous volunteers who donated their time and expertise to help complete this project _____________________________________________________________________________________________ It is such fun and very interesting to host such lovely couples as we have over the years since Fairfield has been part of the Willing Wookers On Organic Farms, although we refer to them as Willing Workers Of Old Fairfield. Each bring their own style of humour and share many gifts with the Fairfield family. Our lives are all enriched by these sharing times. August 2011
Petr, from The Czech republic and Siggi, from USA, constructed this beautiful rock wall up the Fairfield driveway. A lasting memory to their time at Fairfield. September 2010 Another beautiful acquisition is this fine kitchen work table crafted by Stephen when he and Anett, both from Germany, were wwoofing here last year. It has been made from Fairfield elm, just as our fine banquet table is, from a very large tree that fell back in 1999. February 2010  Natalie from France, a fine art restorer, usually works in the old cathedrals of France is seen here sensitively restoring the Fairfield Jester door originally painted for us by Harriette Blount back in 1981 NeilAnn Orchard We are still planting more trees in our orchard, figs, fejoias, lemons, blackcurrents, gooseberries and pears join the apple,quince,citrus and nut trees planted last year. There is an ongoing struggle between the ground cover and weeds and patience and persistence is being called forth constantly. I often try to imagine how must it have been for Neil McVicar the orginal pioneer owner of the Fairfield property back in 1849, having recently arrived in New Zealand with his two young sons, after losing his wife and infant son on the voyage out, he set about planting 5oo fruit bearing trees and called his orchard the NeilAnn. Using a combination of their names he carried their dream on in this new country only to die himself within 4 years of arrival. Fairfield's community orchard today is carrying on the dream one hundred and sixty years later. ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Become a Member of FOOF (Friends of Old Fairfield) We would like
to invite you to begin or to renew your membership of Friends of Old Fairfield. The range of activities that happen here
include educational, spiritual, environmental and cultural
events as well as corporate. The beautiful grounds and reserve, open to the public, are cared
for by Friends of Old Fairfield. The house, lovingly restored, is available for hire by the wider community. Membership subscription and / or donation
Internet banking; your membership subscription of $25 can be paid directly, please put your name and 2010 Subs as reference for our records. Westpac Bank Would all new members please fill out the form below and email or post to Fairfield. MAY WE OFFER A HUGE THANK YOU IN ANTICIPATION OF YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF
FAIRFIELD HOUSE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO
SEEING YOU SOON!
I enclose a cheque for $25 for my 2010 Friends of Old Fairfield membership
subscription. And / or I enclose a cheque for a donation of $ ________ to Fairfield House. 
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