George Pain left Martinborough something special. Let's look after it.
The Pain Estate belongs to our community, now and for generations to come. Join the Friends to learn about George, his generous bequest to our community, and how you can help preserve his wishes.
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George Pain’s Homestead, Ferry Road Martinborough
The man behind the name
George Pain (Jnr) was 19 when he made a three-day trek to the Wairarapa in 1865.
He became one of Martinborough’s pioneering entrepreneurs. He farmed across the South Wairarapa and opened his first retail store in 1872; today his name appears prominently on the Pain & Kershaw building in the Square.
George is one of Martinborough’s main benefactors. He donated many sites across the town to the community. He was also a civic leader and helped form what we would now call “The Council.”
George Pain, approximately 1910 outside his shop
A gift to the whole town
George cared deeply for the people of Martinborough. They were viewed as his family.
Having no children of his own, his 87 acre farm was bequeathed to the (then) Martinborough Council in 1932 for the people of Martinborough. George wanted it to be used for community recreation facilities for residents.
The farm sits 2.4km south of Martinborough at 277 Lake Ferry Road. Today it comprises:
The original homestead
Leased farmland
South Wairarapa District Council’s Martinborough Transfer Station
This link takes you to South Wairarapa District Council’s publicly released information on the Pain Farm Estate.
Waihenga Playground, Martinborough - funded by the Pain Estate. Image Credit: Dan de Boer
Pain Farm Homestead entrance, Martinborough
A valuable community asset
Each year, community members can apply to the estate for funding to improve our recreational facilities.
That means everyone who calls Martinborough home benefits, whether you're a long-time local, a newcomer, a family with young kids or a weekender.
Behind the Estate sits a Trust - a group of people entrusted to look after it on our behalf. South Wairarapa District Council administer the Trust.
This link takes you to the South Wairarapa District Council grants page.
Here’s what we’re up to
Engage our community with George Pain’s legacy by telling his story
Our first step is to build this website as a resource on George Pain and his inspiring, pioneering story.
Explain the Pain Farm Estate and what it means for Martinborough
We will gather various sources of information to build a complete picture of the Pain Estate, how it works and the benefits it brings to Martinborough in simple terms, that are easy to understand.
Track that the estate is being administered for the benefit of our community
We have recently raised questions with South Wairarapa Council and the Mayor about the Trust’s administration.
Advocate for transparency, good governance and community consultation
As a small group of committed volunteers, we will continue to advocate for adherence to the Trust Deed and Memorandum of Agreement. We will make updates on our interactions with the council and other bodies publicly available on this website as we push for strong governance and transparency with the people of Martinborough.
Our goal
Honour George Pain's legacy, for the benefit of the community.
Honour George Pain's legacy, for the benefit of the community.
Be part of the story
Martinborough's next generation will inherit the outcome of the actions taken today.
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