New Zealand's colonial past is evident in many things: buildings that combine different styles, history museums, monuments… However, the best way to get acquainted with the past is to visit the house of that era.

The Golder Colonial Cottage preserves the memory of the Golder family for almost two centuries. This is one of the few original historical mansions that "survived" to the beginning of the twenty-first century. The house was a gift from John Golder to his fiancee, Jane Martin. It was built in 1876 and named "Straven Cottage". However, the house has changed over time. Extensions to the cottage were first made in the late 1880s. Later in the 1900s and 1920s, more rooms and workrooms were added. Therefore, the original style of the building has not been preserved.

Golder's cottage became a historical museum in 1990. Now there are several interesting exhibits. Many of them have no analogs in the world.

One of the most interesting and valuable things are five small books with notes - the diaries of John Golder. Golder kept them from 1873 to 1902. He describes in detail his life in the province, tells about its inhabitants, the structure and features of the city.

Almost all the furniture in the cottage has been there since the time of construction. Many of the original models were created from sketches by John Golder himself. There are also costumes from the beginning of this century. They were presented by a local historian, Stanley Northcote-Bade. Jewelry, tableware, candlesticks, tablecloths, and other household items perfectly convey the spirit of the late 19th century.

The Museum has an extensive collection of photographs. They depict the landscapes of Upper Hutt and surrounding areas. The collection also includes pictures of the Golder family. Photos, clippings from newspaper publications related to the early upper Hutt, General information about all organizations in the area are stored in the museum.

The house has a small garden with flowers and shrubs. The garden organically repeats the atmosphere of the late 19th century.