Early history

Press, 18 December 1986, Page 30

Early history

By

KATE MCDONALD,

the Mt Hutt Station Resort’s promotions co-ordinator

The nucleus of what we now know as Mt Hutt Station Resort, has been operational for over one hundred years. While the station has been farmed and stocked with sheep from as early as 1857, the homestead itself did not feature on its present site until late last century.

Purchased from the Hall brothers in 1855, the land was originally settled as a station by the Scotsman, Alexander Lean — an architect, musician and surveyor by trade. He was commissioned to design many public Canterbury landmarks, including the Supreme Court House in Christchurch; and most of the buildings he erected during the station’s development are still standing today. The homestead, however, was not built on the property until the 1880 s, during the reign of a sugar-plantation owner from Trinidad, Mr Mur-ray-Aynsley. In keeping with the colonial mode of the time, it was a grand affair.

Heavily draped, and lit by lamp and candlelight, the present-day homestead dining area once sported a king-size billiard table, and the recently refurbished accommodation upstairs was once reserved as the servants’ quarters.

At the turn of the century, the station changed hands, and under the auspices of the new owner, Hamish McLean, it was carrying 14,000 sheep, Berkshire and Tamworth pigs, draught horses and hacks.

Shearing, in those pioneer days, was not quite so sophisticated a procedure as it is today; then being carried out with the newly patented Fielder and Platt eight-

horse power oil engine.

Mt Hutt station was the last Canterbury run to discontinue the ancient practice of “sheep-wash-ing” (to improve the condition of the wool for sale) — and, more recently, has become known for the astonishing tallies set by its shearers — two world records at one point in its history. In the early 1900 s, dairying became the major farming activity; at its peak milking over 500 cows (a large amount considering old-fashioned methods) — reputably the biggest herd in the South Island. The churn and separator were housed in the dairy during this period; which now functions admirably as a games room.

In 1897, deer were introduced to the Rakaia river flats from Britain; and by the time the Richards family took over possession of the station in the 19205, they had strayed in all directions from their point of release — Mt Hutt being no exception. Thus, in 1924, Les Richards shot a magnificent, record trophy stag, on the front faces of Mt Hutt, not too far distant from the homestead — an 18 pointer. The present owners have stocked the property with a selection of deer, so hunters can still try their luck for “the big one” — even employing the modern convenience of a helicopter for excursions off the station.