Thomas Hanmer (1827 – 1892)

Thomas Hanmer (1827-1892) is mostly known as the man which Hanmer Springs is named after – even though he never settled there. He was the first to survey the area in 1852. Named “Te Whakatakaka O Te O Ahi Tamatea” by the Maori, to the Europeans it was a good route to drive their cattle …

Memories of Elizabeth Hawdon nee Barker

Elizabeth Barker was the eldest daughter of Dr. A.C. Baker and his wife Emma. The Barkers arrived in Canterbury aboard the ‘Charlotte Jane’ on the 16th December 1850. Emma was pregnant with Elizabeth during the voyage. The couple already had three boys. Elizabeth was born on the morning of the 15th March 1851 under a …

The Lyttelton (Moorhouse) Railway Tunnel

I get the feeling that William Sefton Moorhouse drew in very deep breaths and rolled his eyes more than once when it came to dealing with his government colleagues. The man never seemed to put his roots down for long, in fact he would drop everything to chase a dream or an idea. He seemed …

What An Event!!!!

I can never look at a view of our beautiful Lyttelton Harbour without looking for the ‘Charlotte Jane’ to come sailing around the corner of the heads – just like she would have done on the 16th December 1850, carrying the first of our Anglican settlers. So would have loved to have seen that historic …

ADDINGTON AND SUMNER – Dr. John Bird Sumner (1780 – 1863)

Addington in South London was an 18th century mansion that housed 7 Archbishops including Dr. John Bird Sumner.Born in Henilworth, he was educated at Eton College and King’s College. Ordained in 1802, he was consecrated as Bishop of Chester in 1828. In 1848, Sumner became the president of the Canterbury Association and the Archbishop of …

Catherine Wilson Lovell-Smith nee Malcolm – Kate Sheppard (1848- 1934)

Catherine Wilson Lovell-Smith nee Malcolm – Kate Sheppard (1848- 1934)       Died of old age    Place of Death: Christchurch World Famous Suffragette. Buried in Addington Cemetery, Christchurch The story of Kate Sheppard: http://www.peelingbackhistory.co.nz/catherine-wilson-lovell-smith-nee-malcolm-kate-sheppard-1847-1934/ Photo taken by Annette Bulovic

Catherine Wilson Lovell-Smith nee Malcolm – Kate Sheppard (1848- 1934)

For world famous suffragette, Kate Sheppard, the following comment did little to put her off her ambitions… “…recommended to go home, look after their children, cook their husbands’ dinners, empty the slobs and generally attend to domestic affairs for which nature designed them; they should stop meddling in masculine concerns at which they are profoundly …

Kate Sheppard’s Walk

What started as one hundred White Camellia’s being donated to Christchurch’s Botanical Gardens became the Kate Sheppard Memorial Walk in 1990. The White Camellia was the symbol of Woman’s Suffrage movement. To celebrate the 100 year anniversary of her successful campaign in 1993, a new White Camellia was created and named the ‘Kate Sheppard’. All …

Ballantyne’s Fire – 1947

The year (1947) of the Ballantyne’s fire, it was regarded as one of the worst disasters Christchurch and New Zealand had faced. This photo of some of the firefighters that day tells the story in itself. The fire started down stairs in the furniture area and quickly spread through the three story department building. As …

Orana Wildlife Park

This year, 2014, Orana Wildlife Park – a place very dear to my heart – turns 38 years old. New Zealand’s only Open Range Wildlife Park, an icon of Christchurch and much loved by New Zealanders all over. The dream began as far back as 1970. Neville Jemmett approached the Christchurch City Council about building …