Feilding Attractions

20km northwest of Palmerston North is Feilding (pop. 13,500), founded in the 1870s as a 'special settlement' on land acquired by the Emigrants' and Colonists' Aid Corporation and divided into smallholdings for immigrants without the money to buy land. The site was found by William Feilding, after who the town is named. The first 250 settlers came here in 1874, cleared the forest and established farms and in due course a meat factory was built. In addition to stock farming (sheep, cattle) fruit and vegetables are now also grown. In spite of its nearness to Palmerston North Feilding has preserved its own character. There are a number of late 19th C. buildings.