The Junction, Cromwell

20/06/2026

Thank you Cromwell for supporting our Open Day, despite the rain! We are so delighted with the support and to raise money for such an incredible charity.
Congratulations to Rebecca for winning the hamper. Thank you to all the people from out of the region who travelled and shared their stories with us. And thanks to everyone who helped on the day. We are truly humbled.

19/06/2026

The Jolly Family 1893- 1950
This photograph was taken outside our cottage on the day Captain Jolly left Cromwell for WWI. The children were called home from school for the photo, the last time they would see their father, Captain William David Jolly, according to his son, Bill Jolly.
This poignant photo and others left to us by former owner Alastair Murray have guided our restoration of the verandah which gives one of the most stunning views of Cromwell.
Tomorrow we open the doors of The Junction for the first time.
We’d love you to come and discover the extraordinary stories that live within these walls and see the view from the verandah yourself.

We are proud to be supporting the Otago Southland Rescue Helicopter Trust. Every contribution makes a difference to the life-saving work they do across our region.
13 Inniscort Street, Cromwell. 10-4pm

16/06/2026

Did you know The Junction at 13 Inniscort Street was once known as The Printers Cottage? James Alexander Matthews, co-founder of The Cromwell Argus lived here from 1873- and the neighbourhood still carries his legacy today. Come and discover the full story at our community open day this Saturday. See flyer below.

13/06/2026

13/06/2026

Cromwell’s most decorated soldier- and almost no one knows his name.

Lieutenant Colonel James Waddell grew up here in Cromwell, attended Cromwell Primary School, and went on to earn the Croix de Guerre eight times with the French Foreign Legion at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. Arguably New Zealand’s most decorated soldier of the First World War.

His daughter Blanche was raised at 13 Inniscort Street — the schist cottage now known as The Junction — by her aunt Elizabeth Jolly, while both her father and Elizabeth’s husband fought on the same battlefields in the same war.

This is just one of the stories we’ve uncovered about the people who lived at this cottage. There are many more — from the gold rush days of 1868 right through to today.

See the flyer below for details of our upcoming Community Open Day — we’d love to see you there

31/05/2026

We are delighted to open our doors to show the restoration and raise money for a worthy cause.

30/01/2026

January 2026