Ham Hannah’s bread basket
The museum is offered many interesting items for the collection over the course of the year. Often they are seemingly ordinary, everyday objects, but what makes each of them special and worthy of collecting is the wonderful stories they can tell us about our region’s history.
This wicker basket is certainly one such object.
This basket was used by William Hamilton (known as Ham) Hannah (b. 1920, d.1967) to deliver bread for Walter Findlay’s Bakery in the 1930s.
Ham would have delivered bread around Gisborne by horse and cart. A few people out there may remember having bread delivered by him, perhaps using this basket!
Ham served as a Driver in the Army Service Corps in the Second World War and continued to work as a driver when he returned to Gisborne after the war. In the 1960s, he was the Custodian at Churchill Park. He was married to Sarah (Sadie) and they had four children.
We would like to thank Julie Hannah for gifting her father-in-law’s breadbasket to the museum.
Bread Basket, Tairāwhiti Museum 2017-54-1a
Walter Findlay’s advert, The Gisborne Herald, 20 October 1941
Ham and two of his four children, Kevin (left) and Gareth (right), posing in the basket in the garden of the family’s home.
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 3
Tīheru/Tata bailer Matau fishhook
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 11
Kōauau flute Paepae hamuti latrine Turuturu weaving peg Waka huia treasure box
Aurei
Aurei cloak pin Rei-puta, muka harakeke Whalebone-tooth, flax fibre
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 2
Patu ōnewa weapon Wahaika weapon Patu Parāoa weapon Kotiate weapon
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 6
Kaitaka cloak
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 4
Pākē rain cape
Weight on the back of Te Kuri a Paoa by Peggy Ericson
The museum is offered many interesting items for the collection over the course of the year. Often they are seemingly ordinary, everyday objects, but what makes each of them special and worthy of collecting is the wonderful stories they can tell us about our region’s history. This wicker basket is certainly one such object. This basket was used by William Hamilton (known as Ham) Hannah (b. 1920, d.1967) to deliver bread for Walter Findlay’s Bakery in the 1930s. Ham would have delivered bread around Gisborne by horse and cart. A few people out there may remember having bread delivered by him, perhaps using this basket! Ham served as a Driver in the Army Service Corps in the Second World War and continued to work as a driver when he returned to Gisborne after the war. In the 1960s, he was the Custodian at Churchill Park. He was married to Sarah (Sadie) and they had four children. We would like to thank Julie Hannah for gifting her father-in-law’s breadbasket to the museum.
Ham and two of his four children, Kevin (left) and Gareth (right), posing in the basket in the garden of the family’s home.
Walter Findlay’s advert, The Gisborne Herald, 20 October 1941
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 12
Te Pou o Hinematioro
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 13
Patu Parāhe Brass patu
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 1
Pouwhenua weapon Tewhatewha weapon Taiaha weapon
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 9
Tātua belt Kahu kurī dog-skin cloak
Tū te Whaihanga Showcase 5 and 7
Hoe paddles
The museum’s collections are always growing and on this page we share some of the highlights. Our thanks to the donors for their support.
Donating to the collection
Visit our Donations page for more information.
Research and access
Researchers can view collections that are not on display by making an appointment with the Museum Collection Manager. Staff can also take small group tours through the collection storage facilities by appointment. Please note that staff are not always available immediately and it is advisable to make arrangements as far in advance as possible, particularly if you are only visiting Gisborne for a short period.
Researchers who are unable to visit in person can make their enquiry by email, letter or telephone
