“…the land commonly known as Hagley Park, shall be reserved for ever as a public park, and shall be open for the recreation and enjoyment of the public…” and boy, have we Cantabs expected this law passed by our Founding Fathers in 1855 to be upheld and respected today or WATCH OUT! From the beginning …
Over 700 settlers flooded into Lyttelton between the 16th and the 27th of December 1850 from our First Four Ships. Although many public works had occurred to get the port as ready as it could be, the new immigration barracks would in no way be able to house everybody. It was so bad, some took …
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 …
On the 16th December 1930, this stone memorial was built around a natural spring that the first settlers used for water – just a few metres from Settler’s Corner in Hagley Park. You can find it along the Kate Sheppard Memorial Walk in the Botanic Gardens. It acknowledges the 80th anniversary of the arrival of …
Settler’s Corner can be found in North Hagley Park, close to the Riccarton Ave car park and the tennis courts. Its so close to the border of the Botanic Gardens, you can hear the children playing in the paddling pool. In 1851, some of the families from the first four ships and those who came …
On 16 December 1908, on the 58th anniversary of the arrival of the First Four Ships, the Canterbury Old Colonists Association placed a marker to acknowledge Settler’s Corner. “Rode with Mr [John Robert] Godley over the hills to the Plains. Went first to Christchurch, where there are about 4 huts, 3 tents and a hovel …
