Pioneer Homesteads—IV Inglewood, Ohoka

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31077, 4 June 1966, Page 13

Pioneer Homesteads—IV Inglewood, Ohoka

(Specially written for "The Press”

by

JOHN A. HENDRY.

F.N.Z.1.A.)

TN 1854 Philip C. Threlkeld migrated to New Zealand from A Milburn, Westmorland, where his father and grandfather, both clergymen, had held the living for close on 100 years, and took up station work, first at Easedale Nook and later as overseer at Purau, for Rhodes.

With this experience behind him in 1862, he took up land in what was to be the Ohoka - Flaxton district. He named his holding Inglewood.

As much of the land was knee-deep in water Threlkeld felt it was good only for cattle, but later, when the water had receded more or less permanently he began cropping. Three years after taking over the property he visited England, returning with some stud Leicesters, the nucleus of the flock for which he later became noted.

When he started cropping he became interested in milling and built the Inglewood Mill in the late 1880’s. It became known as Evans Mill. Irrigation became more essential in the ’eighties and in 1890 Threlkeld presented a petition, signed by 50 ratepayers, to the Eyreton Road Board asking for a water-race system. This request was

side-tracked and Dixon, of Eyrewell, began a private system. Educational matters also concerned Threlkeld and in January, 1868, a meeting of settlers held in his new home formed the education district of Flaxton and he was elected the first chairman of the school committee. By June, a school which cost £246, was opened and later a house for a teacher was built When Threlkeld died the holding was sold to K. Austin who started a racehorse stud and on Austin’s death it was taken over and maintained as such by Mr and Mrs R. Adair.

Royal Visitor The Queen Mother has twice visited the stud, once when Mr Austin owned it and again during her recent tour. The delightful homestead, breathes grace, charm and a youthful vigour which belies its 99 years. Perhaps this is where its main charm lies, yet it is hard to say, for the proportions are good while the complexity of gables and

roofs are offset by fairly broad areas of weatherboards. A calculated effect no doubt, but very well contrived. The strong lines of the roof are interestingly cut up by the gables to the semidormers, which in turn are accented by the delightful tracery to the barge-boards and elegant finials at each apex. The projecting wing again repeats this decoration, but where the dormers show sash windows, here we have a casement neatly centred over the pleasing bay window. To the left of the sketch is a detached building, probably the original daily, harmonising with the main house and helping with the great old trees, sweeping lawns and gravel drive to form a most attractive group. The front entrance is an enchanting panelled door into a small well-proportioned hall opposite the large room with the bay window showing in the sketch. Here the ceiling is formed of the dressed floor joists and timber flooring of the room above, originally no doubt varnished but now

painted. Here also the flresurround is original. To the right and opening to the veranda by means of a neatly panelled french door is the drawing room, long, wellproportioned and panelled with simply moulded vertical battens covering the joints. The original beamed ceiling has been covered, otherwise the room appears to be intact with a pleasant fire-surround flanked by well-proportioned and detailed cupboards set flush with the wall.

Busy Stable Branching left and right at its head, the simple staircase leads to two sets of bedrooms, which, as can be imagined, are interestingly shaped, of reasonable size, with deeplycoved ceilings and pleasant window treatments. Most are still scrimmed and papered, except one which has recently been plastered and which must be much warmer in winter. At the rear of the house is a stable-range built in 1901 by Threlkeld, and very much in use today. Built mainly of concrete it has timber partitions and half-walling to the front, with massive panelled doors opening to the yard. An unexpected but very gay note is the use of potted geraniums and fuchsias lining the half walls to the stable proper. All in all, this is a very trim and attractive property.