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Ferrymead - History
Pre-European - Takata Whenua
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The nearby Opawaho (Heathcote river) and surrounding marshland provided a
rich source of food for Maori. This included tuna (eel), inanga (white
bait), putangitangi (paradise shelduck) and kereru (New Zealand pigeon).
Towering above Ferrymead is O-Kete-Upoko (Castle Rock) where Te Raiwhakaputa
mounted baskets of heads from defeated Kati Momoe warriors. Port Hills Road
follows the old Maori walking track from the caves around the Sumner area to
the settlement at Rapaki, and led onto the major Pa at Kaiapohia, near
modern day Woodend.
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1850
Ferrymead, which means "The Meadow by the
Ferry" is named after the ferry which began operating in the area in the
1850's and took Canterbury's early settlers across the Heathcote River
during their travels between the port of Lyttelton and the new settlement of
Christchurch. The name was given to land on the south bank of the Heathcote
river adjacent to the Estuary, 6km east of Cathedral Square, Christchurch,
New Zealand. |
1863
New Zealand's first public railway line was
opened from Ferrymead to Christchurch. Coastal ships would cross the Sumner
Bar and make their way up the Estuary to a wharf at Ferrymead (the piles of
which can still be seen today) before unloading their cargo for
transportation to Christchurch by rail. Other wharves were located further
up the river. |
1864
The ferry ceased to operate in 1864 when a
bridge was built across the river. |
1867
The Lyttelton rail tunnel was opened and the
Ferrymead branch line was immediately closed. Apart from the wharf piles,
the only structure from this period to remain is Ferrymead House which is
privately owned. |
1964
The Heathcote County Council purchased the
site for use as a park and asked the Junior Chamber of Commerce to make
recommendations for the development of the six acre property. The
publication of the Junior Chamber report then led to the formation of a
steering committee comprising representatives of several technological and
historical organisations. |
1968
Messrs. G.L.Evans, S.H.Wood and W.P.Scowen
successfully applied for incorporation of the steering committee as the
Ferrymead Trust under the Charitable Trusts Act, 1957. |
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