The Redwood legacy – a pioneering family’s 180 years in Nelson

Pioneering family remember

The industrious Redwood family is marking 180 years in the top of the south this year. Peter Higginbottom explores the family’s varied farming, business and racing achievements.

It is 180 years since the Redwoods of Waimea, Nelson, and Marlborough arrived in New Zealand.

The George Fyfe departed Gravesend, England, in 1842 with Henry Redwood from Staffordshire, wife Mary and nine of their children – Henry Jr, Ann, Martha, Elizabeth, Mary, Charles, Thomas, Francis, and George. The journey was at times rough and sadly 4-month-old George died at sea. Accompanying the family was Joseph Ward, a surveyor who had recently married Martha.

Within the next three years or so, Mary married Joseph Greaves, a solicitor. Ann married Cyrus Goulter, a surveyor. Elizabeth married Edward Bolton, a farmer at Waimea West. Many of these families made their homes in Marlborough.

The New Zealand Company had organised a settlement at Wellington and was now establishing one at Nelson.

Henry bought a 1-acre town section and a 50-acre rural section for £300 before they left England. The 50 acres was on the Waimea Plain, west of the Waimea River.

When they arrived in December 1842, Henry, along with his older children and Joseph Ward, set about erecting a 60ft long tent from canvas and timber he bought from the George Fyfe’s captain. This was to be their home for six months while they built a peasey house out of shingle and clay. They called this home Stafford Place. It lasted 86 years, until succumbing to the rigours of the Murchison earthquake in 1929.

A new gable-styled home was built in 1866 which survives today.

As well as building their home, they developed their land from native bush into a cropping and pastoral farm. Henry built himself a small flour mill. He was well known in Nelson for his happy singing and whistling as he went about his deliveries of flour.

Along with Henry Jr, they set up a butchery on their town section, on the corner of Trafalgar and Bridge streets, supplying the market with beef, mutton and butter. This hard-working family were soon able to branch out with Charles and Thomas moving over to Marlborough. With their father, they established farming ventures at Riverlands, The Bluffs (later called The Vernon Run), the Wither Hills, Omaka and behind Woodbourne.

Henry Jr, with sons Joseph and Fred, took up land at Spring Creek, growing crops, mostly wheat, very successfully.

They set up a flour mill (Redwood Brothers) on the creek in 1870, shifted it to the paoa River in Blenheim in 1905, lasting until 1958. The Redwoods were innovative, being one of the first to introduce a roller system and other modern machinery to their flour mill. Their system was described as ‘‘could not be bettered in Europe’’. They were also the first to use a steam plough and a threshing machine.

Henry Jr was not only a hardworking farmer, butcher and miller, he introduced several thoroughbred mares and stallions to the area. He is known to this day as ‘‘Father of the New Zealand Turf’’. He set up horse training stables at Waimea West and then Riccarton in Christchurch, which he called Chokebore Lodge.

He was known for his sternness to his stable boys and his kindness to his horses.

He was also Australasian pigeon shooting champion. He was elected to both the Nelson and Marlborough Provincial Councils at various times.

Charles farmed at Riverlands near Blenheim, occupying a cob cottage, which is still there – with heritage status. He established a successful malthouse and tried his hand in several ventures, not all successful. Hewas one of those instrumental in establishing a copper mine on D’Urville Island and sending frozen meat to England, but neither venture lasted more than a few years.

He took his family to Queensland in 1896.

Thomas drove 2000 sheep over from Nelson via Top House, to stock the Redwood pastoral runs being established in Marlborough.

He managed large farms there along with his father’s Vernon Run. He then bought Burleigh, which he farmed for 20 years.

After being forced to retire after a serious accident, he served on provincial councils and in administration in racing. Hewas successful with his horses.

Martha’s husband, Joseph Ward, was a surveyor. They married just before departing England in 1842. Initially, he took up farming with his father-in-law at Waimea and did some surveying and tutoring of the younger Redwoods. Martha and Joseph had 12 children.

He and his brother-in-law, Cyrus Goulter, surveyed Picton, and he assisted in much of the survey of the Wairau.

He became a pastoralist, taking up extensive runs in the Clarence Valley which amounted to almost 80,000 acres of leasehold and 16,670 acres of freehold. However, he had serious problems with the horrible sheep disease called scab and lost the runs.

He, along with Martha, managed to retain the Brookby and Blythfield properties near Blenheim. He was active in the Nelson and Marlborough provincial councils, and for a short time represented Wairau in the House of Representatives.

He was forthright and somewhat rigid, conservative in his politics, a fluent orator and had a ready wit.

Ann’s husband, Cyrus Goulter, was a surveyor and did some early surveys at Nelson in 1841. Along with Joseph Ward and William Budge, he did much of the surveying of the Wairau Plain. He took up land in the Omaka Valley in 1848 and became well known for producing quality sheep and horses.

He and his descendants farmed the renowned Hawkesbury Merino Stud established with Tasmanian merino bloodlines.

Cyrus was active in politics being Speaker of the House,

Provincial Treasurer and Commissioner of Crown Lands.

Elizabeth’s husband, Edward Bolton, who was a farmer/grazier on the Waimea Plain, was a cheerful fellow who was supportive of the wider Redwood ventures. He farmed for Constantine Dillon.

Sadly, Mary and her 4-monthold daughter died the year after Mary and Joseph Greaves were married. Joseph went back to England soon after.

The most famous Redwood was the youngest son, Francis.

He trained to be a priest in France and after his ordination served in Ireland and France, returning to New Zealand in 1874. He became bishop for the Wellington diocese in 1874 and archbishop in 1895. Hewas the youngest bishop in the world at 34 years and became the oldest bishop in the world at 95 years, a formidable 61 years of being a very popular and constructive man.

During his time as bishop, the Catholic Church in New Zealand grew from a missionary church to an established institution.

He was highly respected by both Catholics and non-Catholics alike, for his balanced opinions and the way he conducted himself.

He was an eloquent speaker from the pulpit and the stage.

His popularity was shown at his 50th jubilee celebration which saw the largest religious parade ever seen through Wellington streets, with every vantage point occupied.

Such is the story of an industrious pioneering family who contributed wherever they went.

The family are having a reunion at Stafford Place, Waimea West, on the Saturday and Sunday of Labour weekend this October 2022, celebrating 180 years since the Redwoods arrived in New Zealand. All descendants are most welcome to attend. If interested, contact Tim Redwood at tim.redwood@slingshot.co.nz.