Hyde Park Te Horo was abuzz this weekend as they celebrated their new look with an outdoor market, outdoor music and crowds enjoying autumn sunshine on the decks.
The property, formerly Hyde Park Museum, with the Caravans on the corner, has undergone a transformation and tenancies are filling fast as shop owners move into Hyde Park Shopping Centre.
Situated on State Highway one between Waikanae and Ōtaki, Hyde Park is the perfect place to stop for a meal, an icecream or a browse. But today seemed to be all about kids as three local craftspeople, part of the Artscape Collective let the public have a hands on try at some of the most challenging crafts, pottery with a spinnning wheel, hot forging at the blacksmith’s and Oamaru Stone carving.
The Blacksmith, Warren Baillie, is usually found at his Forest Lakes property ‘Endangered Crafts’. Google him, he holds workshops, where anyone can try blacksmithing, wheel turning and other ancient crafts, yes even arc welding, my request. Children made use of the forge to toast marshmellows today, meanwhile the spinning wheel was in hot demand with Brodie Archibald turning some impressive pots that will be fired by Ōtaki Pottery club’s Rod Graeme. Brodie’s Mum is part of the Artscape Collective. Their retail outlet is open Wed Sun 10am-3.30pm. Here you will find patchwork, paintings, and sculpture as well as the blacksmith.
Other new retailers are Amy Anderson’s ‘CUTE’ where you will find everything gorgeous for girls or all ages. ‘Chalkboard’ with its useful range of near new baby and childswear, ‘Blueskies Art’, and ‘Pixies Barbers’. You may remember Barber, Gerard Beatson, from his years at Pixies in Kirkaldie and Stains. He and partner Kim have relocated to the Kāpiti Coast from Christchurch.
“The people are lovely and the weather has been way warmer than Christchurch,” said Kim, who works onsite keeping the shopping centre and gardens in tip top condition.
Hyde Park’s Cafe Te Horo is open 7 days and is a great place to meet for a meal, high tea, an icecream, or pick up forgotten milk and bread if you are a local, visit the garden centre, or get a haircut at the longest established business, Essensu Hair.
We can’t confirm what will happen with the old Museum space, but with Owner Selwyn Hydes’ recent passing, the family are emptying out the space and will soon be advertising to families who have donated items for the Museum over the years to come forward and claim their goods. The Hyde Park Manager was not available for comment today. But it is obvious he has been working hard to create a very attractive and vital shopping centre on the corner of Te Horo Beach Rd.
