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Story: Workshop industries

Carpenter's home and workshop

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Carpenter's home and workshop

Mr T. Gormann of Nelson stands in the doorway of his modest carpenter's workshop in 1870s Nelson. His wife stands outside their equally snug house just next door. Many early workshops were sited alongside the owner's home, or were part of the same building. This arrangement kept set-up costs down and made it easier for family members to help out with the business.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Bloch Collection

Reference: PA1-q-035-28-1

by Theodor Bloch

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Ian Hunter, Workshop industries – A nation of workshops, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/26022/carpenters-home-and-workshop (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Ian Hunter, published 26 February 2010.