Category: Farming
-
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.
-
Jack Scurr’s warning to farmers: we could be defeated by rabbits
Cardrona farmer J.R. (“Jack”) Scurr (1300ha Spotts Creek Station) had a lifetime’s experience of rabbits. He had to spend two years clearing his farm of them when he bought it – as it had been decimated by the thriving rabbit population. Jack was asked to present a paper about rabbits to an audience of farmers…
-
On National Radio: Cardrona hits the big time
In a 25 minute segment on National Radio, interviews with three Cardrona personalities are shared with listeners. Tim Scurr, talking about life in the valley. Jim Patterson (via an archived interview with him), long time publican at the Cardrona Hotel. And Roger Gordon who was one of many to put energy into restoring the hotel.…
-
The early Cardrona village
Like most mining camps the initial town was built of calico or canvas. A favoured method of construction, this allowed buildings to be both erected and dismantled quickly; the material also being comparatively light and cost effective. In most early mining settlements the initial inhabitants were young, single and high-spirited. A ‘work hard – play…
-
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…
-
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…
-
Early European explorers arrive at Cardrona Valley
In the Scottish Borderlands on the banks of the River Tweed lies a small estate called Cardrona. Picturesque and pretty this Scottish vale, three miles from Peebles, is the namesake of the somewhat more dramatic Cardrona Valley in New Zealand’s stunning Lakes District. A wild and mountainous landscape liberally endowed with majestic ranges and deep,…
-
Gallery: Cardrona’s buildings
Some of Cardrona’s buildings date back to the time of early settlers arriving in the valley, and many of them have outlasted two generations of Cardrona residents. Below is a selection of photos featuring Cardrona buildings.
-
An interview with George Scurr
George Scurr shares his memories of life in the Cardrona Valley – from his school days working on the farm right through to working as an adult maintaining the Crown Range once he was no longer farming.