WALKING COMPANION- My sister Rhia.
WEATHER- Sunny and cool.
1 1/4 HOUR WALK
BOOK 3.
Before I begin I want to warn you all I may get a little sentimental during this walk. I lived in Edwin St from the age of 5-16 in the 1980's and have very fond memories of this neighbourhood. We start at the corner of Embo and Murray St in Kew. Embo St was once part of John Sideys huge estate and was named after his wife Johannas childhood home village in Scotland. More on the Sideys later. Up Murray St till we get to Killiecrankie Pass.
What a great word!! Obviously Scottish, Killiecrankie is the name of a village in Perth and Kinross. In 1689 the Battle of Killiecrankie was fought on the northern side of the village. Down the sealed path ( I love discovering Dunedin's many hidden paths ) and just as we emerge we are told to look out for the fantastic view of Carisbrook, as we are all aware Carisbrook was demolished in 2013 but the view 20 years ago ( when this book was written ) would've been fantastic. Up the steps on Bangor Terrace and on to Skibo St for a stunning view of Forbury Park.
Across to Easther Crescent and on to the right side in to most likely Dunedin's deepest sunken footpaths. As we stroll down the hill we spot a brightly decorated gate which brightens our day and admire the lovely Tudor house with intricate chimneys.
When we emerge from the sunken footpath we cross to the other side of Easther Crescent and round to the path leading to St Andrews rest home, opened in 1993 after the Kew IHC Home and Training Centre was demolished. I remember the huge 2 storied house very well as I spent many hours playing at Kew Park as a child.
The Willows was built in 1876 for William Barron by architect David Ross. William Barron originally from St Andrews, Fifeshire, Scotland arrived in Dunedin in 1861 and headed to Gabriels Gully where he had a claim. He returned to Dunedin and became a successful storekeeper. He married Mary Campbell and had 11 children with her. He was a local MP for 12 years and a Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons. William died 16 June 1916 aged 78. In the 1920's The Willows became The Prince Edward Convalescent Home and then Kew IHC Home and Training Centre which it remained until the 1990's. Straight ahead is Kew Park.
This part has been standing for many years, the rest is more modern play equipment. Demolished years ago is the fantastic slide, wide enough for at least 4 kids and prone to burning the backs of your legs on a very hot day. Turning up the path to Rutherford St we find The Sara Cohen School for handicapped children. Opened in 1926 by Mark Cohen in memory of his late wife it's not far off it's 100th birthday. Mark Cohen was the editor of the Evening Star from 1893 to 1920, a city councillor, a member of countless boards and commissions, co-founder of Dunedin's first free kindergarten, campaigner for women's rights and established our free Public Library. After doing a fair bit of research I was so impressed by all that this man achieved in his life.
Next I'm expecting to see Richard Hudson Kindergarten, 3 of my children attended so I'm pretty sure it was where I left it but this is what we came across!!
Bit of a surprise. On to Thorn St then right on David St where we stop outside the old New Zealand Wax Vesta Company match factory. Built in 1902 it was in production until 1957. 3 generations of the Rutherford family ran the company including the first mayor of Caversham Robert Rutherford. Even though the factory was built to be as fireproof as possible fire destroyed it twice, first in 1913 then in 1922. I remember this as the Fisher and Paykel wire products factory which closed in the mid 1990's. I distinctly remember the smell.
Crossing the pedestrian crossing and stopping outside The Waterloo Hotel, here since 1883 and owned by many. George Searle even owned it twice, first from 1889-1892 when it was called Grosvenor's then from 1903-1905 when he called it Searle's Hotel. See the grass reserve across the road? Until 1914 a brick Methodist church stood there until it was shifted ( I'd imagine it would be rather tricky being brick ) to South Road where it still stands today. The large house on Forbury Road beside the grassy area was built in 1926 and growing up around here I knew it as Dr Scorgie's as he ran his practice there.
If you're feeling peckish I highly recommend a quick detour to Danish Delights on the corner of Hillside Road and Surrey St otherwise continue along Ruskin Terrace to the corner of Alfred St stopping outside another pub but not since 1888, opened in 1878 as the Darley Hotel. This township was called Darley by owner Henry Fredrick Hardy after his home town in Derbyshire. Born in 1831 he arrived in Dunedin in 1853 aboard the Rajah which had almost been shipwrecked after running into a hurricane. He was one of Dunedin's prominent (and very prolific) architects. He was married twice having 7 children all together. Alfred, Edwin and Josephine Streets were named after 3 of them.
Detouring a little bit from the walk we pop down Edwin St to have a look at my childhood home, my sister can't remember it as she was only young when we moved so I fill her in on a whole lot of memories. We toss around the idea of knocking on the door and politely asking for a look around but decide that would be nice to do with our Mum with us.
Round to Josephine St and up to Darley Pass, We are told to have a look for the old brick school sheds which were the caretakers sheds when I and my children attended Caversham School but with the change to Carisbrook School and all the new buildings being added they have been demolished. I think they were part of the 1927 two storied huge brick school which was demolished in 1961. We had a wonderful caretaker when I was school here, he had nicknames for us all. Onward's to Surrey St then right onto Thorn St stopping at the corner of Fitzroy St outside what I always thought was an old pub and stables but it turns out it was actually an 1880 shop with the "stables " being a bakery. On the opposite corner is a lovely heritage listed house which I tried to find out a bit more about but had no luck apart from an estimate on when it was built which is roughly 1890.
Up Fitzroy St we stop opposite number 29 otherwise known as Faringdon Villa. Built in 1882 by Richard Grimmett for his wife Charlotte and their 8 children. They obviously liked this neighbourhhod as they built their retirement home at number 27 and homes for at least 2 of their children at number 31 ( which I lived in briefly in my younger years ) and 35a. We attract the attention of a local resident who comes over to say hello before we make our way to South Road.
Straight ahead stands Lisburn House. James Fulton arrived in Dunedin along with his brother Robert in 1849 and quickly established himself as a sheep farmer in Outram. He married Catherine Valpy in 1852 and they had 8 children. Lisburn House was built in 1865 to be used when the family were in the city, they mainly lived in their home called Ravenscliffe ( demolished in the 1970's ) on their farm in Outram . James died in 1891 and Catherine rented Lisburn out to various tenants until 1903 when it was sold. Originally on 10 acres of land it was slowly subdivided over the years. Even though LIsburn is now surrounded by many houses she stands out amongst them all. Now run as a B&B it's on my list of places to stay for a night away.
Crossing at the lights at David St over to the carpark where the Commercial Hotel once stood running as a hotel from 1880 to at least 1894. I remember it as a antique shop when I was a child. Stop across from the red corrugated-iron shed, surviving for almost 140 years this is the original stables built in 1880 when horse drawn trams were used traveling up Hillside Road and also South Road.
Back up Thorn Street until we get to Caversham Presbyterian Church. Designed by architect Thomas Bedford Cameron and built in 1882 with Victorian Gothic features. Featuring a slate roof, bluestone (from the Water of Leith quarries) and Oamaru stone. Notable for its beautiful memorial windows. A 2 storied wooden manse once stood beside it until demolished and replaced with Sidey Hall. I attended Girls Brigade here as well as many other community events. I fondly remember a pre-Christmas dinner and carol singing night.
A quick detour to a house that has always intrigued me. As a child walking past here at night was terrifying, I always ran past. Built in 1878 it must of been a grand home but for roughly 40 years no one has lived here and it is sadly slowly decaying away.
Up Playfair St turning left onto Hazel Ave. An unusually wide street for Dunedin with plenty of parks, follow it around to Hazelhurst Pass and stop about halfway down. this was once the 12 acre estate of the Scoular family who built their large home Hazelhurst here in 1880. William Scoular was a successful merchant and lived here with his wife Fanny Mary and 9 children. Tragedy struck the Scoular family when William, his wife and 2 of his daughters were drowned after the Wairarapa was shipwrecked of Great Barrier Island. They were all buried together in the Southern Cemetery. Hazelhurst was demolished in 1976 but we are instructed to take a detour down to 61 Playfair St for a survivor of that demolition.
Back up to Murray St and a mini hike up to the car. For an extra add on we are told if we go to the end of Embo St we will see a different view of Corstophine House and the 9 acres of land it sits on. Unfortunately all we can see is bush. My sister asks "what's Corstophine House" so we go for a wee drive for a look, straight up the driveway and stop outside for a good nosy before I remember it's no longer a hotel (it hasn't been for about 10 years opps) so apologies to the owners. Corstophine House was built in 1863 for John Sidey and his family. John arrived in Dunedin in September 1848 and became a succesful storekeeper, in 1858 he bought a huge estate stretching from Lookout Point to Blackhead. After John died in 1915 Corstophine House remained in the family until 1957 when it was sold to the Presbyterian Social Services Association who used it as a home for intellectually handicapped women. I remember going for a school visit there when I was at primary school to sing Christmas carols to the residents and remembering how it was a lovely grand home with a lot of beautiful character details. It was then sold in the 1990's to Iriana and Nico Fracken who opened it as a boutique hotel, it closed as a hotel in 2009 and was sold to Paul Facoory who's restored it to a family home and occasional wedding venue. Would love to have to chance to get a look around one day, maybe it's time to renew my wedding vows !!
CONCLUSION- Really enjoyed this walk and not just for sentimental reasons. I learnt a lot about the family's that built their homes here and had a huge input into this city.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND PHOTO CREDIT-
Houses of Dunedin by Lois Galer
Heritage NZ
Hocken Library
Family History Group
Te Ara- The Encyclopedia of NZ
Papers Past
Built in Dunedin
www.cemeteries.org.nz
www.corstophinehouse.org.nz
Upright! Exploring Dunedin's Built Heritage.
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