“THE OAKS”

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25916, 23 September 1949, Page 10

“THE OAKS”

Sir, —“The Oaks,” about which many citizens express interest, was built by Sir Michael le Fleming about 1865, on land purchased from his brother-in-law, Edmund S. Ensor, who had in 1862 purchased all the land between Ferry road and the Heathcote river. Ensors road running through the middle of it. Sir Michael built in imitation of a room at Ry dal Hall, his ancestral home in Cumberland. Also a cousin of Lady Elizabeth 1c Fleming lived there, the Rev. Robert Jackson. Subsequently the property was purchased by Mr Thomas Hassell and his family, who built on the -southern and largest wing. I can also remember Mr Talbot and his family living there in the early 1900’s. In 1908 the Board of Governors of the McLean Institute had thoughts of leasing “The Oaks” from Mr F. Egan as a home for gentlewomen. The gum trees were gifts to Sir Michael from his friend. Dr. J. S. Willis, of Hawford, Opawa, who grew a box of seedlings from seed from Australia. Sir Michael later purchased “Riverlaw” from Colonel Alexander Lean: and the big gum trees there were also presents as seedlings from Dr. J. S. Willis. I have often heard my mother talk of going over the Heathcote in their boat to help to plant the trees.—Yours, etc., VETERAN. September 21, 1949.