THE CLEAR, MIDLOTHIAN AND ST LEONARDS ON THE HILL.

WALKING COMPANION- My sister Rhia.

WEATHER- Cool but sunny.

1 1/2 HOUR WALK.

BOOK 3

We easily find a park on Stonelaw Terrace and head down the lovely but steep path the comes out on to Queens Drive. I love that all we are surrounded by is nature and yet the middle of our city is a mere 5 minutes drive away. As instructed we find the spot where a large slip occurred years ago, a lot of growth has grown in the 20 years since this walk was first written as you can no longer see Larnachs tomb or the sextons cottage in the historic Northern Cemetery. Thankfully Castlemore ( or Woodside as the property was originally called ) is still clearly visible through the Town Belt.

Built in the mid 1870s for Judge Henry Chapman , it was the creation of Francis W Petre also known as Lord Concrete and is thought to be the first poured concrete house constructed in the Southern Hemisphere . Judge Henry Chapman only got to enjoy his grand estate for a short period of time before passing away in 1881 aged 78, leaving his estate to his 2 sons whom by 1905 had sold it all. It is now known as Lovelock House and is used as upmarket rental accommodation. We head up View Park Lane which is both tranquil and unique with Como St letterboxes on the left and Chamberlain St ones on the right. Round to Falkland St and we stop admire the very attractive Como St named after Lake Como in Northern Italy. This got me intrigued...Italian names in our Scottish Dunedin? Ambrogio ( Ambrose ) Chiaroni came from Germasino, Northern Italy to Dunedin in the 1870s and quickly established a successful business dealing in fine arts, marble importation and picture framing. His nephew Ambrose Chiaroni junior joined the business and in 1911 when Ambrogio passed away took over the Dunedin business. In 1914 Ambrose junior bought the property ( roughly 9 acres stretching from Pollock down to Falkland and Como St"s ) of Judge Dudley Ward who had recently passed away. In 1917 he subdivided and sold around 7 1/2 acres which became the Township of Cosydell. He continued to live in his Pollock St home and died in 1924 aged 49. Onwards to Drivers Road named after Henry Driver, he was born in 1831 in Delaware, USA and arrived in Dunedin in the 1860s gold rush. He had his family home built at 26 Drivers Rd ( designed by William Mason before Mason and Wales were formed ) and lived there with his wife and 8 children until he died in 1893.

The majority of the very large home was still standing 20 years ago but alas all we can see as we peer down the driveway are very modern homes. Down to Wharekoa the Johnstone property on the corner of Drivers Rd and Tolcarne Ave, if it's Autumn or Winter you will be able to see the 1930s Oamaru stone house.

Turning up Tolcarne you will see 3 large oak trees on your right, they were planted by Jack Johnstone in 1912 for his 3 daughters Ethel, Mary and Winifred. We stop at the 'Pew with a view' for morning tea and take in the amazing view.

Up to Tolcarne... St Hildas hostel. All remaining of the original Tolcarne estate ( 15 acres of land including 2 1/2 acres of lawn to mow and a 2 storied plastered brick house ) once belonging to the Duncan family is the pillars, gates and driveway.

The Duncans and Sargood ( of Marinoto in Newington Ave ) families were renown for there grand combined garden partys, their properties were linked by paths through the bush. I'm sure much mischief took place thanks to these pathways. Now for an added addition of my own, 21 Tolcarne Ave. Built in 1929 designed by Mandeno and Fraser it was home to James and Alma Patrick, a very accomplished and social couple, and their children Errol and Lorna. Sadly Lorna died aged just one day after recieving her degree in dental surgery. Errol was a well respected and slightly eccentric teacher at Kaikorai Valley High School. He became a bit of a recluse in the years after he retired and lived in the family home until he passed away aged 90 in 2018. The house was put up for sale, in much need of a facelift but still full of character features, Melanie Kerr and her husband had recently moved to Dunedin and after viewing at the open home fell in love and bought it. They are now working on bringing it back to its former splendor.

Sad note to the story...Errol filled the home with many belongings but left Lornas room exactly as it was. We continue up Tolcarne and on to Grendon St admiring many impressive homes. Make sure you stop at Magnolia House ( No 18 ) for at look at the beautiful garden. If you're curious, like I was about what once stood in the empty section on the corner of Grendon and Highgate, it was a large wooden 2 storied house demolished in 2010.

Along to the once thriving shopping center of Maori Hill stopping at the 1920s Presbyterian church which as we speak is under the threat of demolition, hopefully all that can be will be done to prevent this from happening. Across to Balmacewen Rd stopping for a coffee at Copper or No7 Balmac if you need a caffeine fix. Past Maori Hill school and stop opposite No 30 named The Chimneys ( see how many you can count ), unfortunately you won't see much of this Georgian home which boasts a beautiful formal garden, it was once home to lawyer James Munro and his wife Mary (nee Johnstone ) one of the daughters of Wharekoa.

We stop outside Balmacewen House at John Mcglashan College, the original Balmacewen House donated to the school by John Mcglashans daughters after his death was demolished in the 1950s to make way for the schools memorial chapel.

We got a bit confused trying to find the plaque mentioned in the book, turned out it was hiding behind a large bush.We head on to Cannington Road and have the option to turn left for a detour. No stopping me as the house we're about to see has been of interest to me since I was 7 years old when I saw it in Lois Galers Houses and Homes book. I called it the Play School house as it had all the different shapes on it. 138A Cannington Rd was built in the late 70s by Ron and Liz Anderson. Ron designed then built it himself over a period of 3 years and dealt with many challenges including a tiny steep section and having to carve doorways by hand through a 10cm thick concrete pipe.Worth it all in the end!!

Back along to Cairnhill St, down the path then steps till you come out on Braeview Crescent. My first instinct ( being deathly afraid of heights ) is to head straight back up the steps but after looking around and starting to walk down what seems like a country lane I could appreciate it. The view over Leith Valley is lovely and I find many berry brambles along the way, yummy.

We end up at Prospect Park or The Clear as it was known in 1862 when Charles Brown started clearing the land for cultivation, big no no this is part of the Town Belt and off limits to any destruction since 1848! Back to the car with time to spare.

CONCLUSION- A nice walk, not too strenuous. Discovered a lot about the founders of Maori Hill and plenty of beautiful and interesting homes to look at.

BIBLIOGRAPHY AND PHOTO CREDITS-

Above the Belt by Jane Smallfield and Brian Heenan

Houses and Homes series by Lois Galer

Even More Intriguing Dunedin Street Walks by Paul Hayward

Otago Cavalcade

Built in Dunedin ( Blog/ website )

Upright! Exploring Dunedins Built Heritage ( Facebook )

Cemeteies Conservation Trust of NZ