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Kā Kōrero o Waikirikiri Selwyn Stories

Brookside

Description

NameBrooksideDescriptionPrior to 1860, the land north of the Irwell River (also known as Boundary Creek or Washbourn’s Creek)was initially leased by The Hon James Stuart-Wortley but after a year the lease was sold to Richard Harman & Cyrus Davie (Run 53).

To the south of the river, the land was leased by Henry Washbourn (Run 122) and William Birdling followed by Richard Taylor (Run 80).

The farmers came from all parts of the British Isles. The Boags, Stewarts, and Scotts came from Scotland. Many originated from the English counties – the Withells, Chamberlains and Moors from Yorkshire, the Brooks from Sussex, the Framptons from Somerset, the Watsons and Mawsons from Cumberland. The Beltons and Grahams came from Ireland and the two Stephens families from Pembrokeshire in Wales. They were from a farming background, often from families who owned land, but not enough to cater for all the sons, or their families were tenant farmers, or farm labourers. They wanted to own their own land as soon as possible. Most started with a small acreage and added to it later. They knew how to farm, quickly cleared and cultivated the land, planted grass, hedges, trees and crops, and established stud herds of cattle and sheep. They brought with them strong Christian values; soon establishing three churches – Presbyterian, Methodist and Anglican. They recognised the value of education, establishing a school very quickly. Above all, they were young and energetic, prepared to work hard to build a good life for their families and a strong community

A general store was established by Mr Kidd in a house on the corner of Brookside Burnham Road and Brookside Irwell Road in the late 1860s. Later it was taken over successively by Messrs Robb, Dyson and Belton. From 1870 until 1924 the Post Office was located in this store. Later the store was run by Fred Oliver. His daughter, Amy (later Mrs Swanson) ran the store with her brother Bill in 1900. It was then bought by Mr Ramsey for his son Foster Alexander Ramsey. About 1924 Bernard Brown, a direct importer of Leeston, bought and closed the store. He leased the house to Frederick James Bodger until about 1935. It remained empty until about 1939 when it was leased to Ernie Pycroft. In about 1946 it was bought by R Stevenson of Southbridge ,who demolished it.

A second store was opposite Thornycroft gateway on Brookside Burnham Road . This was owned by Mr Lohrey until 1889 when Mr Dyson took over. Carruthers Bros then ran it until the store was closed. The Post Office After the railway was built, the mail arrived at Brookside by carrier from the Irwell Station.

In 1870 a post office was opened in the school house by the headmaster James Boyce Ellman, then it was established in the store run by Mr Kidd. Other postmasters (and postmistresses) were John Baldwin, Matthew Grainger ( snr and jnr), Annie Oliver, Foster Ramsey and Mrs Eleanor Ramsey. In 1924 the post office was closed, but the telephone exchange remained in the blacksmith’s house and was run by Mrs Ramsey, and then Mrs King. This was closed in April 1940. The Blacksmith In 1872 George Kidd bought the section between the two stores from H J Washbourn. He sold it to Matthew Grainger who arrived in 1880. He married Olive Withell. He made many fine wrought iron gates which could be seen around the district. Foster Badham Ramsey was the smithy until 1939. His son-in-law Fred King and family occupied the house until the 1940s. After the house was demolished in 1946 the section was sold to John Bowden who built a house on it made of blocks he made himself, which is still occupied today.
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