Christmas shopping with a conscience means help for heritage

November 10, 2014

Christmas shopping with a conscience means help for heritage

A range of retro toys and games will be on sale for a very limited time at the 277 Newmarket shopping centre in mid-November – and money raised will go towards the maintenance and upkeep of Highwic, cared for by Heritage New Zealand.

The special collection of children’s merchandise – usually found only at Highwic, located across the road from the premium Auckland retail magnet – will be the star attraction of a pop-up shop that will be set up in the shopping centre over the weekend of November 15-16.

“What we’ll be offering will be very different from the usual range of merchandise that most shops have on sale. We stock a lot of wooden toys and retro games, and many of these provide fun for the entire family. Animal Grab is such a game. Players have to collect two animal cards of a kind and as part of the game make up the noise the animal is known for – which is hilarious and really good fun,” says Christiane Pracht of Highwic.

“Besides some amazing retro wind-up toys, we’ll also be selling a range of authentic games dating back to the 1920s, 30s and 40s – including a 1920s UK reproduction of ‘Pick up Stick’ and the ‘Tail-less Donkey’ game from the same era, also from the UK. And that’s just a small selection of what we’ll have available.”

Built in 1862, Highwic is the legacy of 'rags to riches' auctioneer Alfred Buckland – one of the first to settle with his business in Newmarket. A family home for over 100 years, Highwic today provides a glimpse into family life in the colonial ‘boom and bust’ period of Colonial Auckland.

“Alfred himself fathered 21 children so it is only appropriate that Highwic’s Toy Emporium has a strong focus on children’s toys and games,” according to Christiane who says the demand for authentic modern reproductions of original heritage toys and games is remarkable.

“Vintage toys are making a real comeback and it’s lovely to see that not everything is electronic or digital,” she says.

“Visitors to Highwic’s shop often spot a game or toy from their own childhood stirring up nostalgic childhood memories. Many people are blown away by the fact that the toys they enjoyed as kids – which were often passed down from their own parents or grandparents – are still available.”

Look out for Highwic’s impressive range of authentic reproduction toys and games at its pop-up shop at the 277 shopping centre on November 15 and 16 only, and support the upkeep and maintenance of Highwic.

ENDS

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