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The Early Years

From Port to Christchurch

From the 1850's timber, luggage and goods were shipped from the Lyttelton port around to the Heathcote river. Several wharves were built along the Heathcote; Montgomery's wharf, Heatchcote wharf, Aikmans wharf, Landowns wharf and Miltons wharf with adjoining Thackers Jetty. A road was built all the way to the Ferry and what is now known as Ferrymead, which connected up with goods being unloaded at the various wharves and carry on to Christchurch or other destinations. This became known as Ferry Road.

When the Christchurch-Lyttelton railway opened in 1865 the boats on the river and at the wharves slowed and then stopped. The boats, whether they were steam or sail, had always been dependent on the ability to cross the Sumner bar, sometimes having to wait weeks for appropriate conditions, so the train became the reliable and regular mode of transport. Tram lines reached Woolston from Christchurch City by 1882 and by 1887 this had been extended to Sumner.

Development

Whalebone Cottage
Whalebone Cottage. Photographer (pht): Victor Wu. In copyright

When the boats stopped, it was still a farming district with Industry along the river. Industry continued to grow over time, particular those that could make use of the river. In 1873 there were 7 woolscouring works and 5 tanneries in the area. This also increased the population of the area as people moved there to live near work. Whale Bone cottage, a two storey wooden cottage built in 1866, is an example of one of these houses that can still be seen on Ferry Road. In May 1883 the Woolston Brass Band was formed, continuing the English working-class tradition of band music.

 


 

Woolston borough plaque
Woolston borough plaque. © Christchurch Star

At this time, the area was known as Lower Heathcote. In 1865 the first school was built due to the demand outgrowing the private house that had been used until then. This eventually became known as Woolston School. By 1875, there was a population of 20,000. In 1887 the term 'Woolston' began being used in conjunction with the Post Office on Ferry Road and on the 27th July 1893 Woolston was proclaimed a Borough with it's own meeting hall, library and plaque.

An example of this development was a rural section on Ferry Road that was owned by Charles Robert Blakiston. Having owned the land since the 1850s he sold the Ferry Road frontage in sections, and he subdivided the remainder during the 1880s. For a time this area was known as Ashbourne and the section of Ferry Road from Ensors Road/Aldwin Road to Radley Street was known as Ashbourne Street from 1896 to 1922.

 

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Plan of Town of Ashbourne. ca. 1883.