#westernsouthland — Public Fediverse posts

Manapōuri or Motu-rau (Lake Manapōuri) Natural Heritage - History & Photos

Manapōuri or Motu-rau (Lake Manapōuri) Natural Heritage - History & Photos:

Photos of the lake previously known to the Māori as Motu-rau, now known as Lake Manapōuri, within the Fiordland or Te Rua-o-Te-Moko National Park. One of many thousands of natural heritage sites within that, these beautiful vistas of the lake and the mountains surrounding it, one a reflection with fog lifting showing an ethereal 'Lord of the Rings' type view and two more, one morning and one evening, were taken by local Manapōuri resident Shirley Mouat during 2025. If anyone has more photos to add, please get in touch with us.

EARLY DISTRICT HISTORY:
This area is featured in Māori legend, with the name Manapōuri said to mean "lake of the sorrowing heart", which comes from the legend about two sisters whose tears formed the lake. Despite this sad tale, the lake is beautiful, the surrounding scenery stunning, but with changeable weather.

It is believed that Charles Nairn & WH Stephen, who were traveling with Commissioner Mantell when he looked over the district for the ensuing 'Murihiku Purchase', were the first Europeans to ever see Motu-rau or Lake Manapōuri, and Lake Te Anau. They certainly have proof that they saw it. In John Hall-Jones, 'Fiordland Explored', he explains how the party records their adventures, thus: "[We] struck across a large stony plain which reaches down to Lake Moturau in the west... to arrive at a very high bank", which was on the Wairoa (Waiau) River. Nairn described it as, "A broad stream flowing south from Lake Te Anau to Lake Moturau". Lake Te Anau is the true source of the Waiau River and this stretch is long and winding.

We know that Nairn viewed the lake, as in 1852 he made a sketch of what he called the Wairoa River (Waiau) from Horseshoe Bend, and in this, you can see Lake Moturau in the distance. Also recognizable are Leaning Peak and the Beehive. This sketch is in the Alexander Turnbull library and a copy can be seen in the book quoted. Interestingly, it is recorded that at the foot of the very high bank explained above, was a number of eel spears found in a cache there, which the men described as their first sign on any human habitation. It was believed by J H-J that the Māori were probably very well aware of this equipment, as Horseshoe bend had a reputation as a great eeling spot. In fact, the native guides accompanying the party, insisted on staying there and going eeling, which delayed the survey party in their quest to reach Te Anau, something that Nairn writes in frustration about.

EARLY RUNHOLDERS
In 1854 prospective runholders arrived in the area, these being Donald Hankinson and Freeman Jackson. Jackson decided to take up land near the recently famed Motu-rau or Lake Manapōuri, first creating a home at what he aptly called 'Home Creek' which is situated below where the Waiau exits Motu-rau or Lake Manapōuri, but later relocated to a homestead at Balloon Loop, situated on the upper Waiau River, around the halfway mark between the two lakes, and he settled here permanently, until leaving the district in 1867. The homestead eventually grew over with bluegums and disappeared, with the brick chimney's being the last to crumble. A painting by CD Barraud records a good size homestead up on the terrace at the Balloon Loop site and also a cottage alongside the river. While Hankinson was to settle at Te Anau Station in 1858, this history is in another entry.

The so-called 'Manapōuri Run' which is linked to McKay/MacKay brothers John and Donald, is a bit of a misnomer, as it is actually some distance from Lake Manapōuri and situated at the base of the adjacent Takitimu Mountain Range. So this too, will be left for yet another different entry.

EARLY SURVEYS
Chief Surveyor of Otago, JT Thomson was the first surveyor to see the above lakes, including Motu-rau or Lake Manapōuri. In writing about this, his grandson John Hall-Jones, comments that in JT Thomson's sketches from his 1857 journey up the Waiau Valley into the Takitimu's and further, he had marked on a map as North and South Te Anau. Wondering how he could have made such a mistake, Hall-Johns trekked to the same spot and indeed, both Lake Te Anau and Motu-rau or Lake Manapōuri could actually be seen from the place of his grandfathers sketch, and the South Te Anau Lake is actually Motu-rau or Lake Manapōuri.

Some five years later, JTT sent assistant James McKerrow to finish off a more detailed survey of his earlier work, and he ran into a few issues with heavy rain and drownings. Eventually, with his own assistants, McKerrow was to finally get his first look at Lake Te Anau and Motu-rau ...
Central and Western Murihiku Southland Archive via DigitalNZ

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/59280398/source

#Fiordland #WesternSouthland #GreatOutdoors #FiordlandNationalPark #OutdoorAdventure #MilfordRoad #Sports #KiwiHolidays #Tourism #Beaches #DigitalOnlyImageInArchive

Tūātapere & District History - Waiau A&P Association Event, c1960's

Tūātapere & District History - Waiau A&P Event, Pipe Band Parade, c1960's:

This photo shows the Tūātapere Pipe Band (which is no longer in existence) at a Waiau A&P Association event during the 1960's. This has been held yearly at the Tūātapere Domain, for nearly 100 years now! The photos were taken by David Erskine, of Westwood Farm, the grandson of the district's earliest European settler West of the Waiau, Hugh Erskine, and donated to the Community Archive by David's son, Quinton Erskine.

In an interesting aside, there is a strong family link with the Erskine's to the Tūātapere Pipe Band, given that the earliest member of the family to have lived here, Hugh Erskine, had given the money to purchase the bands first uniform kilts for the original pipe band, as local legend goes and this was Erskine Tartan. He was also a great supporter of the Pipe Band all his life, often raising money for their cause and helping them out. More on this can be seen in these Community Archives under entry CWA.013.501.011

EARLY HISTORY:
Held on the second Saturday in February each year, the Waiau A & P show has grown from humble beginnings, through the hey-day years and is one of only a handful of original district A&P's to still be holding an annual show. This is only possible due to the hard working association behind this fabulous show. There is also a wonderful piece of history from the 50th Jubilee show in 1989, available in these Community Archives under CWA.003.089.126

The Tūātapere Pipe Band would perform at the New Year's Sports Day and the Waiau A&P Event for many decades. While they are sadly no longer in existence today, their practising members still attend the Waimatuku Pipe Band and still come to the Waiau A&P Event and the New Year's Sports.

Hopefully this entry will be added to as more information comes to hand. If you or anyone you know has any more information or photos to share or accounts of the Waiau A&P Association Events, over the years, please do share this with us in the comments section. You can do this by making a comment in the space provided under the image page. Or you can make contact with us as per the archive front page.
Central and Western Murihiku Southland Archive via DigitalNZ

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/55974953/source

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Waiau District Heritage - Waiau CWI or 'Country Womens' Institute' 35th Birthday, October 1994

Waiau District Heritage - Waiau CWI or 'Country Womens' Institute' 35th Birthday:

A group of Waiau women who were interested in forming a local CWI, met at the Tūātapere Plunket Rooms on 5th October 1959 (and this is where our community archives are now stored and available for research!) We have recently been donated all the archives for this group, so they can stay local.
In the photo albums donated, this 35th birthday was the first event shown in the first one we opened, so this is the first item we are featuring for the Waiau CWI. As we process more of the donated records and photos, they will be entered in here, so that anyone connected to them can enjoy them all.

In this collection is 4 photos on the group's 35th Birthday event in 1994, at Queens Gardens, Invercargill. The photos have been named as follows.

IMAGES
Photo 1 - 35th Birthday, 1994, Cutting the cake is Ngaire Marshall. On the left looking on, is Jean Erskine and in the middle is Moira Horrell.
Photo 2 - Gloria Herrick has her turn at cutting the cake (there is an entry on Gloria Herrick elsewhere in our community archives online).
Photo 3 - 35th Birthday 1994, Tea Kiosk at Queens Park. Members are enjoying their meals. The names that we do know so far are as below:
Front left ?, Back left ?, Back second from left, Back middle left is Moira Horrell, Back middle right? Very back middle right ?, Very back second from right ?, Very back at right ? Left front ?
Photo 4 - 35th Birthday 1994, Tea Kiosk at Queens Park. Members are enjoying their meals. The names that we do know so far are as below:
Back left is thought to be Alice Baxter, Very back left (unable to be seen), Very back third from left ?, Very back left fourth from left (unable to be seen), Back centre fourth from left ?, Back right second from right is Ngaire Marshall, Front at right we have been told is Nina Templeton.
Photo 5 - Back of one photo, which says: "35 Birthday Oct 94, Queen Park"

WAIAU CWI BRIEF HISTORY
The group was duly formed, and called the, "Waiau CWI". Voted into office were, Mrs WG Harpur as President, Mrs CA Diack as Secretary, and Mrs CG Curtis as Treasurer. The groups first official meeting was at the RSA Hall on 21 Oct 1959. Initial membership was around 50, but dwindled to the point that the group eventually closed (we haven't yet found an exact date yet, but have processed minute books up until 2009 which have been gifted to the CWArchive) meaning Waiau CWI was in existence for at least 50 years.

The Waiau CWI had a banner created, it was made of blue velvet, with a painting of a local scene, being the original 'grand' old bridge across the Waiau (replaced in 1970) the 'majestic' Takitimu Mountains as a backdrop, painted by Mrs Lil Dickson. We have this banner in our Archive Collection.

Hopefully this entry will be added to as more information comes to hand. If you or anyone you know has any more information or photos to share or accounts of the Waiau CWI, events and members or the group itself, during the years, please do share this with us in the comments section. You can do this by making a comment in the space provided under the image page. Or you can make contact with us as per the archive front page.

Note: these entries are compiled with information provided by donors with the records, from locally reported news, from national and occasionally international reports in publications, from personal records made by the people themselves - such as their electoral enrollments, wills, war records etc., also from government and council held records such as births, deaths and marriages or cemetery information, and lastly, from community memories, such as those passed on by friends, family and contemporaries. It is not always possible to verify memories from others, so please let us know if you believe we have any incorrect information. If you believe that any public or personal record information quoted is wrong, if you can provide proof of any alternative fact to us in a document showing evidence of the correct details, that would be very helpful to us. Thank you.
Central and Western Murihiku Southland Archive via DigitalNZ

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/59550022/source

#Women #CwiCountryWomen #Womens #WaiauDistrict #WesternSouthland #Clubs #DigitalImageInOnlineArchivePhysicalCopyInArchiveStore

Orepuki or Aropaki - Town & District Schools, Class Photos from 1920-1942

Orepuki or Aropaki - Town & District Schools, Class Photos from 1920-1942:

IMAGES
Photo 1 - Orepuki School class, taken c1939 to 1941; Sepia Tone Class Photo of 26 children. Known pupils are: Shirley Alison Lee, at left of front row; Elsbeth (Betty) May Macdonald in front row 2nd from right; Neil McAllister is fifth in from left in second row. And if you recognize anyone else from your family or if you have a named copy of this photo, please get in touch or pop the names in a comment

Photo 2 - Orepuki School pupils outside the School "War Memorial Gates", but no year; Sepia Tone Photo of school children with the school behind the gates. Known pupils are: Elsbeth (Betty) May Macdonald in second row from front and 4th from right. If you recognize anyone from your family or if you have a named copy of this photo, please get in touch or pop the names in a comment

Photo 3 - Orepuki School class, taken c1941-42; Black & White Photo of 28 children. Known pupils are: Elsbeth (Betty) May Macdonald later Higgins in the front row 6th from left or 4th from right and she was born March 1931. We have been told that its likely to be Shirley Lee in the second row first on the left, by her daughter (Shirley appears to have been born September 1930, so these names fit the date). If you recognize anyone from your family or if you have a named copy of this photo, please get in touch or comment with names.

Photo 4 - Orepuki School class, taken c1937; B & W Photo of 30 children. The known pupils are: Elsbeth (Betty) May Macdonald later Higgins in the back row first on left. If you recognize anyone else from your family or if you have a named copy of this photo, please get in touch or comment with the names.

Photo 5 - Orepuki School class, taken we think in the late 1930's; B & W Photo of 30 and 1/2 children (should be 31, but sadly 1 is half chopped off on right!)
It is thought that the girl in the striped jacket on the right in the back row may be Myra Hogg (she was born in 1931) & Raymond George Herrick (born 1928) is said to be in the front row third from left by his own daughter, so we will presume this is correct. These dates do fit presumed year for photo. If you recognize anyone else from your family or if you have a named copy of this photo, please do get in touch, or put the names in the comments section.

Photo 6 - Orepuki School Class, taken 1920; B & W Photo of 23 children; The known pupils are: Doris May Finn later Macdonald in the back row second from right. We have also been told that the child in the middle row on the far right is Bessie Butler later Lee. If you recognize anyone else from your family or if you have a named copy of this photo, please get in touch or comment.

The school at Orepuki (or originally Aropaki) has a varied and extremely interesting background, as does the township, more of which can be read in the early history written further below.

Formerly a large gold town, after that had dried up and coal mining was overtaken by the Nightcaps companies, along with the Shale Works closing in 1902, most of Orepuki ended up deserted. It became only the farming community that stayed on to support the township in its fight for survival.

Of course, the school was also affected, as it was downsized considerably. It somehow struggled on over the years though and stayed open. Over the 1-4 of Feburary 1934, is when the Orepuki School had its 50th year Diamond Jubilee. We would love some photos of this event, do you have any that you can contribute to our Community Archives of this event?

The newest Orepuki School was not built until 1968 and it was erected directly behind the old school that was moved there prior, then the old building was then taken down. From this point on, children in the Orepuki township and district could attend their local school only up until the old Standard Four, at which time they had to then bus to the Aparima College in Riverton, which had the old Forms 1-7. For many years the Orepuki School, which somehow managed to carry on, continued to contribute its students to Riverton’s new Aparima College. But in 2003 the school at Orepuki was finally closed.

But this did not end the controversy over getting children from Orepuki to school safely. In 2017 it was reported that plans to move the school bus stop had been withdrawn, after Aparima College, Riverton ...
Central and Western Murihiku Southland Archive via DigitalNZ

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/59454316/source

#Settlers #Murihiku #Pioneers #Southland #Farming #EarlyTravel #School #Education #OrepukiOrAropaki #GarfieldAnd #Gold #Mining #Railways #ShaleWorks #OtagoEducationBoard #SouthlandEducationBoard #Nightcaps #Aparima #Churches #TownHalls #TimberMilling #SchoolBuses #Waiau #MacdonaldFamily #Orepuki #OrepukiSchool #ClassPhotos #WesternSouthland #LongwoodsDistrict #Goldfields #Classmates #DigitalOnlyImageInArchive #CentralAndWesternMurihikuSouthlandArchive

Tūātapere Community Icons - Malcolm Garrett, School Teacher for 40 years, 1959-2020

Tūātapere Community Icons - Malcolm Garrett, School Teacher for 40 years:

Historical photos & news articles shown in images above, kindly donated by our Patron, Margaret Thomas, part of the Waiau School Records collection.
IMAGES:
1 - Malcolm Garrett's funeral notice from Joan Edgerton's School page site.
2 - Malcolm Garrett in his first year teaching at Waiau District High School, 1959
3 - Malcolm Garrett overview of teaching at Waiau, by G Bradley, School BOT (this school magazine article is also available in .pdf under photos)

MALCOLM GARRETT
In 1998, the then Waiau College wrote what could be considered, an ‘ode’ to Malcom Garrett, one of their own. It goes like this, (quoted):

-------------------------------

“Forty years ago in 1958, Malcolm Garrett started his teaching career and has been going strong ever since. In 1959 Malcolm started teaching at Waiau District High School, where he met Betty, whom he later married. After the birth of their twins, the family moved to the Lewis Pass area, where he became the Principal and bus driver for four years.

In 1968, an opening for a teacher at Clifden Primary School became available, so the family moved back home. In 1977, Waiau District High School became Waiau College and Malcolm became Dean for Forms 1 & 2.

Over his years at Waiau College, Malcolm has seen many changes in the school. He has seen old buildings be replaced with new buildings, such as the library, gymnasium and administration block, and then of course there has been the changes in discipline procedures. Malcolm has had many enjoyable times at Waiau College and he has especially enjoyed the school productions, camps, sports days and all the other annual events, such as the Ironman.

After his retirement at the end of this year, he and Better are planning a trip around the world with their close friends, the Burts, where they plan to stay with various friends and relatives. “After that who knows what. I’ll probably wander around like a lost sheep”, Malcolm said. But he will still have his house and the poultry to look after and he is still a vital member of the Waiau Community Theatre Group and a newly elected member of the Community Board.

Quote from a letter to Malcolm:
“Your long service both to the District High and to the College mean that we are losing an invaluable link with the past. One of the most striking things about your service at the College has been your leading the march into Information Technology. This indicates the vitality, vision and drive that you possess. Your input over a great number of years into the cultural life of the College, has also been enormous.

Records show a long and distinguished time with the Waiau District High and then with Waiau College. The first stint was from 1959 til 1964 as Assistant and then First Assistant. The next ten years were spent in Primary Schools in the district as Principal. A return to Waiau College happened in 1977 and you have remained until 1998. During that period you served as Junior Dean, ran productions, coached gymnastics, swimming, camps, organized the School of Music Classes and have finally moved into the computing field.

This is a distinguished record with this school and others of the district. The present Board of Trustees can only extend its grateful thanks on behalf of past and present parents to you. Your service with us has been exemplary and a proud achievement. We are delighted that these years of service and dedication have been given here.

We wish you well in the future and hope that we may still avail ourselves of your services for relief and other duties.” G Bradley, on behalf of Waiau College BOT.”

---------------------------------

Others have informed us that Malcolm Garrett was a huge part of the Community Theatre, we are hoping to get some photos of him in that to add to this entry. He was also an avid historian according to our Patron, Margaret Thomas, who has bought in a lot of his written works on the district, these are available to view and use for research.

Malcolm’s ancestors came from the district from records we have. The fourth child and third son born to Robert (Bert) Harold and Mildred (née Spence) Garrett, of Merrivale. The family settled at Fenham Road in 1929. Another son and daughter followed later. Bert, or ‘Red’ as he was called, was to die young from a cerebral tumour, leaving his wife Mildred with 5 children and another on the way. She sold up and the family moved to the outskirts of Christchurch, where Malcolm grew up, returning to Tūātapere to teach. In his time here, he was not only involved in Community Theatre, but also editing the Western Wanderer, doing computer ...
Central and Western Murihiku Southland Archive via DigitalNZ

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/57191433/source

#DistrictHistory #WaiauDistrict #Central #WaiauDistrictHighSchool #CommunityTheatre #WesternSouthland

Orepuki or Aropaki, Business & Industry - Orepuki Railway & Station Buildings, early 1900s

Orepuki or Aropaki, Business & Industry - Orepuki Railway and Station:

Black and White image of the Orepuki Railway, Post Office and Goods Shed, along with passengers who appear to be disembarking the train at this once upon a time major outpost in the Longwoods District. A group of unidentified shops (can anyone help with this?) sits to the far left of the photo, and it is likely this photograph was taken from the Water Tower. On the far right at the back is the now Orepuki Cafe building. The scene shown here is thought to be from the early 1900's. This image is in the Public Domain and was donated by a descendant of the original owner of the photo, the Brownridge Family.

OREPUKI RAILWAY & STATION MILESTONES:
Orepuki line and 'Fourth Class' Station opened 5th May 1885

Next major milestone in the railways branch line to Tūātapere, was opened on 23rd September 1909

FIRE… in 1941 the Station was badly damaged, rebuilt and upgraded

31 March 1942 - Station changed from officered to flag station (caretaker)

On 24 November 1951, Railways Department attempted to re-establish the station as Aropaki, the original name for Orepuki, but locals refused this

1954 - all passenger services ceased altogether through Orepuki (Tūātapere Branch line)

1960 - with the Post Office moving to its new site (now closed), the station was sold for dismantling. The Fire Brigade asked to retain the office portion

31 July 1976 line from Riverton to Orepuki & Tūātapere was closed down

The Water Tower was removed from the original site & rebuilt where it sits today (2025), it is in the process of once again being restored, thanks to funds from the Tūātapere Te Waewae Community Board being granted.

OREPUKI RAILWAY EARLIER HISTORY
According to 'From Goldfield to Fields of Green', by Marjory Smith, on 13 May 1872 it was confirmed "the construction of a tramway or light railway, from Riverton to the Orepuki Goldfield, would open up a large area of good agricultural land, and render the same available for settlement," forthwith.

But not everyone was happy, gold miners who relied on the land being available for diggings, saw the incoming influx of settlers and farmers as a threat to their livelihoods, as the land they were working would need to be given up to them. The 16 miles between the two settlements was set aside for a railway and sections of land on each side of this, was procured for the railway, before the workings commenced. The Southland Waste Lands Act of 1865 allowed for this. There was great excitement at the coming of the railway to what was then pretty much the wild west of Murihiku Southland.

There had been many claims of necessity made by those with interests in agriculture, shopkeeping, timber mills and even some championing the goldfields and the as yet untapped coal mining were clamouring for the railway to be constructed. Some of their claims were that this area of the southwest could easily provide all the timber needed for the whole of the Otago region, if only if could be easily transported after extraction, claims were made that there was 40-50,000 pounds of timber in the bush there. It was also claimed, the area was one of the richest goldfields in the whole country, and easily able to support 3-4,000 workers! Then the land itself, with a claim of there being 8-10,000 acres of land between The Waiau and Orepuki which could be used immediately for agricultural purposes. It was further claimed that the land would double in price when the rail arrived.

By 1873 it was reported that the railway workings had been put through the bush 2 1/2 miles from the Jacobs River Bridge at this point, so it is thought that construction had begun immediately upon the contract being secured. By 1874, there is news that part of the Orepuki Railway contract was awarded to a very familiar name in Railway history of the South Island, David Proudfoot. This part of the project was at a cost of 28,397 pounds.

The railway works proceeded every slowly onwards, through back-breaking bush and sinking swamps, creating many challenges for the builders. Along the way various other stations were opened up as the railway reached those settlements. Progress continued northwards and eventually by 1885, the line arrived at Orepuki.

On the 5th May 1885 the Orepuki section of the line was officially opened. It is noted that the Railway buildings at Orepuki included a goods shed and engine shed, a loading bank, crane and water tank. The wood and iron station was built with entrances which separated out the railway and post departments, there was a waiting room for the ladies, a public ticket lobby, a workroom for th...
Central and Western Murihiku Southland Archive via DigitalNZ

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/59743468/source

#OrepukiOrAropaki #WesternSouthland #Murihiku #Business #Railways #RailwayBuildings #Railroads #Mail #RailwayStations #GarfieldAnd #Black

Borland Lodge Pottery School - Wynnis & Judith, "Besties", various years

Photos of Borland Lodge area, taken by tutors & students at classes:

Image 1 - Judith Day at the front is showing how to put on a very ‘proper’ look, all while making pottery! (We are unsure of the other person, can you help?) Borland Lodge Pottery School, 1980
Image 2 - Wynnis helping out a fellow pottery student in the class. Borland Lodge Pottery School, 1985
Image 3 - Judith Day (left) and Wynnis Wesney (right) in the Borland Lodge Pottery School kitchen, 1991

Judith Day and Wynnis Wesney, both of the OPC or Ōtautau Potters Club were well remembered by all the still living tutors as marvellous hosts and cooks. Zola Ayson, another OPC member and one-time Secretary, recalls how herself plus Judith and Wynnis used to run the kitchen at the Pottery Schools.

In fact, several of the old Pottery School tutors remarked on the hospitality shown to them by Wynnis, who would put the tutors up at her house, both before and after the week long school. Steve Fullmer recalls bunking in a cosy room with fellow tutor David Griffith and enjoying the quaint town of Otautau, a far cry from the bustling America Steve had left. Darryl Robertson also recalls being cared for extremely well and bunking up with fellow Tutor, Ross Richards at Wynnis Wesney's in her spare room and you can read more below and in the 1988 year entry, the year Darryl tutored at the school.

Interestingly, both Wynnis and Judith's daughters spoke of growing up next door to each other, with their mum's being best friends and the children also having a lot to do with each other. There was apparently a gate through the garden from one property to the other, and if 'mum' was not at home, she could always be found at her next door best friends!

Best friends, next-door neighbours, and pottery club pals – Judith Day and Wynnis Wesney - These two would feed the crowd and joyfully join in the fun and feels. All part of the beauty of the Borland experience. Pot and RIP Judith and Wynnis, you lovely ladies, you are very much missed, by your pottery mates and especially your families. We hope you are both honoured by this commemoration done in your names.

Also on the same street at one time, was another past Secretary of the OPC, Jan Lowrey. The 'girls' (Wynnis & Judith's daughters) remember the Ōtautau Potters Club Christmas hi-jinks taking place here some years. We are hoping to still get photos of this too, they could be very interesting!

CLASS ATTENDEE CONTRIBUTIONS:
"The meals are my drawcard!" announced previous Invercargill potter Frank Checkets, who in 1986, had attended 5 of the 8 Borland Lodge Pottery Schools so far. This was proof that not all the students only came for the potting. NOTE: Frank was also a willing carpenter, ready to lend a hand to built shelters for the many kilns erected over the years, often to keep the sun out, not the rain as once might suspect.

"I am not sure about all the people who were involved with setting up the Borland Pottery School but I do remember Wynnis [Wesney] and Judith Day. They also visited me in Tasman some years ago. The huge organisation and initiative it takes to create a legend like the Borland Lodge Pottery School is amazing and I am grateful to have been a small part of it. So many of my friends and colleagues in NZ pottery have also shared the experience.” Steven Fullmer - Borland Pottery School Tutor

“A small crew of about 6 core people as I recall who put it the massive planning together, did a stellar job. Wynnis Wesney’s place where we stayed and Judith Day next door are two who spring to mind, with Peter Johnson. But there were others… who worked hard and organised so much in order for these events to happen. The kiln building and firings by the awesome Peter Johnson always on hand.

At the end of the school Wynnis took us back to her place and Ross and I had a bit of a rest, then we went on tour in the car. It was such lovely end to the week, a quiet restful drive right though Tuatapere and around the centre bush a wonderful loop. Those who needed the real rest were those Otautau wonder people who made something special happen in those years." Darryl Robertson – Borland Pottery School Tutor

MID-WEEK DAY OFF:
One of the highlights of the week long Borland Lodge School Pottery Classes was the Wednesday ‘Day off’, where they students could do whatever they wanted. Many went off to explore the surrounding wilderness, hiking up trails to lakes and rivers or mountain peaks. Others would sit quietly at the Lodge and ...
Central and Western Murihiku Southland Archive via DigitalNZ

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/52946257/source

#BorlandLodge #BorlandPotterySchool #BorlandBush #WesternSouthland #Arts #NativeBush #NatureWalks #NatureActivities #Social #JudithDay #WynnisWesney #PotterySchool #AotearoaNzPotters #Central #PotteryClubs #WaiauDistrict #Pottery #Nature #KilnBuilding #Ceramics #DigitalOnlyImageInArchive #DigitalNZ

Papatotara Early Farm Properties - Ward Family, Thomas and Catherine, 1922

Papatotara Early Farm Properties - Ward Family, Thomas and Catherine:

Rosalie Bennett née Ward, has donated these photo's and information on her grandparents, Thomas & Catherine Ward who had 8 sons, 7 of them are in the photo here. They had one more son after this, his name was Frank. Rosalie says, they lived in Papatotara and Tūātapere and her granddad was a Manager at Kilkelly's sawmill, they lived in a Kilkellys house at Papatotara. Her father was Eric, who is also shown in the family photo above.

IMAGES:
Photo 1 - Back Row, L-R: sons Thomas 1906 & Eric 1907 with Cecil 1909
Front Row, L-R: sons Ray 1911, Mum (Catherine) with baby Dallas 1921, Bert (Albert) 1916 & Dad (Thomas) with Bill (William) 1914
Born after this photo was taken, was baby Frank (Francis) 1923
Photo 2 - Thomas & Catherine's headstone at Tūātapere Cemetary

SOME FAMILY HISTORY:
Further to the above, Rosalie has sent in the following history on the family:
(Tom WARD family of Papatotara – as recounted below by Bert, a grandson)
“[Thomas snr.] he was a great man with the traction engines, with his sons he was contracting all the farmers crops. I can remember my father [Tom jnr.] saying it was very heavy and dusty work filling bags with chaff, going along narrow roads with their big machines.

My Grandfather also had a farm at Papatotara, out from Tuatapere. My brothers and myself went to Papatotara School. A man by the name of Jack Baker bought Grandad’s farm in later years. He lived with his daughter Alice in Kennington later, they were farmers.

Grandad used to come and stay with my Dad now and then at Tuatapere, where my father was manager of a big timber mill for Kilkelly Bros. Grandad was very keen on gardening. I remember Grandad thought he would enlarge Dad’s garden. There was a lot of very high dry fern around where the married houses were, anyway, Grandad decided to have a burn off, anyway it got away on him and by the time the fire hoses were got out, three houses burned down. It was not Grandad’s day. He always kept very good health."

In Allan Templeton’s ‘Southwest Sawmills’ book, it has the following information on the Ward’s at Papatotara; “During the locy days a fire got away and burnt about 50 acres of bush, fortunately, not of very good quality. It has since been known as Kilkelly’s Clearing… Later, a rail tractor was brought in to use as a safety measure against fire, and it worked on a Maori block that is now part of Bill Caulfield’s farm.

Over a time the mill’s six houses and two or three huts were occupied by several of the following workers:
Phil Kilkelly, Gus Morton, Jim Jacobson, Charlie Donaldson, George Cook, Mick Dowling and his son Bob, Mathew and George White, Dave Rogers, Bill Barnett, Fred Fluerty, Jim Spain, Tom Boyle and his son Ray, Jim Johnson and his sons Mac and Phil and his daughter Violet (a box factory worker), Dan Ogilvy, Snow Egerton, a Mr Cahil, Bert Ackers the sawyer, Jim Stuck the head yardman, Tom Ward the manger and his son Eric, and Tommy Laurie a lorry driver. The mill also had a smith and smithy. The plant closed down for several years and Ned Cockburn, a relation of Kilkelly’s stayed as caretaker until it re-opened in 1942, after Kilkelly’s Otahu mill was burnt down. In its second life, the Terrace Road Mill cur only pinus for boxes. Logs were carted from as far as Spar Bush on a Rio Speedwagon driven by Micky Maloney, Tommy Laurie was also a lorry driver, while Jack King, a local carrier, carted the box timber to rail.”

Above info from Rosalie Bennett. The Southwest Sawmill’s extract - and whole book on the district is available to view at CWArchive Heritage Hub.

Just to make things confusing, Thomas (Tom) jnr., shown here with his family, also had a father Thomas (Tom) snr., who had married Margaret. They had at least 7 children, between the years of 1880 and 1889. Thomas James whose family is shown here, was their second child, and he was born in 1881. Then Thomas jnr. also had a son called Thomas, born in 1906, and he is shown here as well, being the eldest of this families children. It is of note that these parents of John James WARD, John & Margaret, were buried at Aparima Riverton Cemetery. Margaret was to die very young, at only 36 or 38, depending on if you believe cemetery records or her grave.

Hopefully this entry will be added to as more information comes to hand. If you or anyone you know has any more information or photos to share or accounts of the WARD family of Papatotara during the years, please do share this with us in the comments section. You can do t...
Central and Western Murihiku Southland Archive via DigitalNZ

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/57191435/source

#Papatotara #WestOfTheWaiau #WesternSouthland #Kilkelly #Sawmilling #Farming #WardFamily #Ward #Bennett #Timber #Bush #Waiau #Southwest #Fire #Bushmen #DigitalImageInArchivePaperCopyPrintedOnFile #DigitalNZ

Orepuki or Aropaki History - Map & Index Key of the town's properties (1930s)

Orepuki or Aropaki History - Map and Index Key of the town's properties:

Black and White images, with a map and list of names (index) of Families & Businesses in the Orpepuki Residential Area, 1936-1939. The map was compiled in 1994 by the following ex-residents:
- Ferguson, John of Christchurch
- Fraser, Evan of Auckland
- Heath, Lloyd of Christchurch
- McQueen Alma (Ferguson) of Taupo
- Smith, Stan of Invercargill

NOTE: High Resolution Copies of this map are available by contacting us via this website as a comment, or email: [email protected]

There was also a list of businesses written by an early resident, which were there from when the Railway opened, written from their memory, entitled,
"Orepuki as I knew it" (but no author recorded), the list states there were:

3 Hotels:
- D'Arcy's Railway Hotel
- De Clifford's Masonic Hotel
- Wilson's Family Hotel

3 General Stores:
- Meredith's
- Garden's
- another of unknown name

2 Drapery Shops:
- Adamson's
- McGruer & Taylor

1 Millinery and Knick Knacks:
- Moncur & Stevenson

1 Newspaper, twice weekly:
- Orepuki Advocate

1 Chemist:
- Hutchinson

2 Butchers:
- McPherson
- Tielle

1 Cycle Shop:
- Shields

1 Boot/Shoe Shop:
- Cross

1 Bakery:
- Pope

1 Toys/Stationery/Jewellery Shop:
- Booth

1 Tearooms:
- Booth

2 Blacksmiths:
- Batchelor
- another of unknown name

3 Churches:
- Roman Catholic
- Presbyterian
- Anglican

1 Cheese Factory:

1 Sweets/Fruit Shop:
- Mrs Murray

1 Men's Hairdresser (open Evenings and Saturdays)
- Mr Booth

1 Bank Agency (open certain hours and days)
- National Bank Agency, operated out of Riverton Branch

We were very privileged to have Marjory Smith, author of 'From Goldfield to Fields of Green', deliver a wonderful donation of materials from her book to us. This consisted of the above map and key, along with many other maps of the earlier Orepuki town site, followed by Hirstfield, then Garfield and also maps of the surrounding areas of the district as well. If you are researching the area, be sure to call in to our Heritage Hub to see these, or contact us.

UPCOMING HISTORY:
We would also like to note here, that for our 3rd birthday of the Heritage Hub in October 2026, we are undertaking to create a display of early Orepuki - all 3 townships, and their varied histories, so if you can help with this by donating material, information, photos or other ephemera items, or most importantly if you can donate some time to voluntarily helping us put this display together, we would be very grateful. We are expecting this to be a permanent fixture and we will need people who can research, identify people and places there.

We would also like to thank and acknowledge Marjory A Smith, author of 'From Goldfield to Fields of Green', the Orepuki Story, which she kindly donated to our history library. The items shown here are also in that.

Hopefully this entry will be added to as more information comes to hand. If you or anyone you know has any more information or photos to share or accounts of the various Orepuki townships during the years, please do share this with us in the comments section. You can do this by making a comment in the space provided under the image page. Or you can make contact with us as per the archive front page.

Note: these entries are compiled with information provided by donors with the records, from locally reported news, from national and occasionally international reports in publications, from personal records made by the people themselves - such as their electoral enrollments, wills, war records etc., also from government and council held records such as births, deaths and marriages or cemetery information, and lastly, from community memories, such as those passed on by friends, family and contemporaries. It is not always possible to verify memories from others, so please let us know if you believe we have any incorrect information. If you believe that any public or personal record information quoted is wrong, if you can provide proof of any alternative fact to us in a document showing evidence of the correct details, that would be very helpful to us. Thank you.
Central and Western Murihiku Southland Archive via DigitalNZ

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/61452574/source

#OrepukiOrAropaki #WesternSouthland #Murihiku #Business #GarfieldAnd #Black

Today's post is on John Fisher.

Some of the previous posts have been about various aspects of John Fisher's life in Ōtautau, so here is a brief history. He did more than this too, such as sit on the local and Southland Dairy Board, School Board and give support to many other local and regional and community groups. But this is just a summary!
#SharingCommunityHeritage
#LocalKnowledge
#EarlyDistrictHistory
#Ōtautau
#Otautau
#Clifden
#WesternSouthland
#NewspaperOwners
#FisherFamily
#Aldersyde

Some of you may remember how I was contacting a magazine to see if they would allow our preservation copy of an old article on our community which is still under #Copyright, to be put in the public archive and astonishingly they agreed, so here it is (the indexing alone took me nearly a whole day!)

#CentralAndWesternArchive
#Highway99 #Aotearoa #NZTwits
#Heritage #SmallTownCulture
#SocioEconomics #Murihiku
#Southland #WesternSouthland
#Tūātapere #WaiauDistrict #NZ
https://ehive.com/collections/202139/objects/1610322/tuatapere-history-a-journey-to-the-end-of-highway-99-magazine-article?fbclid=IwAR3MJ6HSL1H6FtOKZZeYxLfqwWmo0ZXL-4hN1o1OY5OtJbuyVDSdKZng5gY