Category: Lee
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The mysterious appearance of bras on a fence
Very few people who have driven through the Cardrona Valley during the last quarter century could have missed the collection of bras on a fence near the distillery. The “bra fence” at is is affectionately known has an interesting history, and an unknown beginning. John Scurr tells the story of spending the night of 31st…
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Gallery: farming in the Cardrona Valley
After the early gold rush years, farming was the key economic activity in the valley, and there are still many high country farms in the Cardrona Valley today. Below is a selection of photos depicting life on the farm for Cardrona people.
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The birth of a ski area on a high country farm at Cardrona
Today, Cardrona Ski Area (simply “Cardrona” or affectionately known as “Cardies”) is well known – around New Zealand and internationally – as a respected, busy and much loved skifield operation. It is also now home base for some of the world’s most accomplished snow sports athletes, including many successful winter Olympians from the Upper Clutha…
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Hope, hardship and hotels
Cardrona cannot boast of a dastardly figure such as Bully Hayes in its past but, like all mining districts, attracted its share of vagabonds and “ne’er do wells”. Charles Colclough was the patron of the Royal Mail Hotel and Post Office Store. He was also a joint leaseholder with James Gibson and together they ran…
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The early farming years, and rabbits: 1911 – 1949
The second economic stage was a mixture of small, uneconomic farms with farmers supplementing their farm income with a mixture of gold mining and the sale of rabbit skins. Twenty-eight men joined the army during the First World War, having a big impact on the valley’s economy. The effect of the Great War on Cardrona…
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Cardrona Families
A brief introduction to families who lived in the valley and influenced the history of Cardrona. Anderson Eric Anderson from the Mt Barker family of Daniel Thomas (Tom) and Jean Elizabeth Anderson, had a Cardrona connection back through to pioneers John and Rebecca Pearce. He reinstated this connection by marrying Cardrona girl Jean Waters, daughter…
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A little history of “Waiorau” – one of Cardrona’s long standing farms
In the late 1800’s early settlers to New Zealand purchased large areas of land which were later divided into ‘stations’ – large farming properties. After the 1st World War a number of these large ‘stations’ were divided into ‘runs’ and offered by ballot to returned servicemen. In 1924 Robert (Bob) Joseph Lee purchased one of…
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Padlocks and bolt cutters: The heated story of the Crown Range Road
The Crown Range road – the highest public road in New Zealand – was the subject of quite some controversy in the early 1980’s. Just as Cardrona Ski Field was being launched, the local council decided that the road should be closed completely for part of winter. Then fireworks flew … The Crown Range Road…