Para Rubber

What do Para (Brazil) and the Canterbury Horticultural Society have in common? George Waldemar Skjellerup. George Skjellerup was born in Cobden, Victoria, Australia in 1881 and was the youngest of 13 children. In 1902, just before his 21st birthday, he arrived in New Zealand and began working in Dunedin at a bicycle shop. Within a …

Canterbury Horticultural Society Was Formed – 10th December 1861

On 26th December 1862, the newly formed Christchurch Agriculture, Botanical and Horticultural Society put on their first horticultural exhibition. Gardeners and florists were encouraged to bring in samples of their plants and produce with prizes on offer. About 2000 people attended, mostly made up of ladies. This took place in Cathedral Square, opposite the western …