Wild Things is our exhibition at Marlborough Museum that highlights Marlborough Natural History. The exhibition is set in a Victorian gentleman's study. Marlborough's most extraordinary naturalist was Sir David Monro who sent examples of our unique flora to Kew Gardens, in England. Eight special plants have been named after him. Sir David Monro (1813-1877). David Monro was born in Edinburgh on 27th March 1813. He was educated in Edinburgh, where his father was Professor of Anatomy, and studied general studies at the University. This included chemistry, geology, and later Latin, Greek, Algebra and the Logic of Aristotle. In 1832, he enrolled in the Edinburgh Medical School. Unfortunately he missed the botanical lectures due to being struck down by typhoid fever as a consequence of a puncture received during an autopsy. In 1841, Monro bought four allotments of land in Nelson. On 12th May he set sail, as surgeon, on board the Tasmania, bound for Victoria, Australia. He settled in Waimea West (Nelson) and was soon a leader in the settlement, becoming a J.P. in 1842 and two years later accompanying Frederick Tucker, the N.Z. Company's surveyor in a search for a suitable site for 'New Edinburgh' on the South Island. In the end Otago Harbour was chosen, soon to be called Dunedin. Sir David Monro's property in Marlborough was 'Bankhouse', now part of Ara Wines property. He was Speaker of the New Zealand house of Representatives from 1861-1870. In 1866, he was knighted for his services to the country as Speaker of the House.

Click on 'Start Exhibit' above to begin a guided tour, or click on an image to the left to go directly to that record, or click on 'Table of Contents' above for a list of all records in the exhibit.