Sir Robert Heaton Rhodes (1861 – 1956)

Few New Zealanders have achieved such prominence or popularity, received such high honours, or been more sincerely admired and respected in their own lifetime than Heaton Rhodes. Blessed with intelligence, talent, good looks and wealth, he made the most of his advantages. He excelled at many things, and is remembered in Canterbury as the province’s …

SCARBOROUGH – The Rhodes Brothers

There is very little about the earliest days of Scarborough or who named it as such.  What follows is the puzzle I have put together with the few clues left me. George Rhodes arrived at Lyttelton Harbour in 1843 to become an overseer and partner of his elder brother – William Barnard Rhodes – who …

TAI TAPU – William Barnard Rhodes (1807 – 1878)

The view of Waitaha (Canterbury Plains) from the top of the Te Poho o Tamatea (Port Hills) in the late 1830’s wouldn’t be hard to imagine – swamp, grass, cabbage trees, flax and Toi Toi. Was it a place where a future could begin for someone not afraid of hard work? William Barnard Rhodes (pictured) …

Good Pioneer Friends

The names of Rhodes and Barker, for Canterbury historians and alike, represent a delicious smorgasbord of old photos, journals, homesteads, memorials and real-life colourful characters who made the swamps and Toi Toi of Canterbury their home. The Rhodes Brothers – William, George and Robert – had settled on Banks Peninsula – from Akaroa in the …

Jessie Cooper Rhodes

Jessie Cooper Rhodes nee Clark   1865 – 1929   Died of a Cerebal Haemorrhage  Died in Tai Tapu Married to Sir Heaton Rhodes Buried at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Papanui, Christchurch Read the story of Jessie Cooper Rhodes: http://www.peelingbackhistory.co.nz/jessie-cooper-rhodes-1865-1929/ *Photo taken by Annette Bulovic*

Jessie Cooper Rhodes (1865 – 1929)

Just had to share this photo of this beautiful lady, dressed in her best. Her name is Jessie Rhodes “the Lady of Otahuna” – of the Rhodes’ estate in Tai Tapu. From birth, Jessie Rhodes (nee Clark) had the world laid at her feet. Born into a wealthy family, she was destined to rub shoulders …