MRC was established in 1984 to support the need for locally based scientific research to grow the regional economy.

The Marlborough Research Centre (MRC) is the legal entity. The Trust owns and manages MRC properties in Blenheim and Grovetown and MRC works closely with the Marlborough District Council, Crown Research Institutes and other key sector governmental groups and organisations. The main office for MRC is located at 85 Budge Street.

MRC’s main campus is at 85 Budge Street, Blenheim. The Budge Street campus has offices, laboratories, teaching winery and a lecture theatre. This campus is shared with Plant & Food Research, NZ Wine, Wine Marlborough and NZ Dryland Forests Initiative.

MRC’s Grovetown Park campus is 2km away, on State Highway 1. This is a commercial campus with tenants ranging from the Ministry for Primary Industries, Hill Laboratories and commercial businesses. The adjacent 10-hectare Rowley Vineyard at Grovetown is the site for research trials and a sauvignon blanc vineyard.