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1872 Dunsandel township is born
Description
Title1872 Dunsandel township is born
DescriptionWhile the Railway Reserve was designated on maps before Dunsandel started, it is not known when the public knew that a railway station would be set up on the site.
Just as Joseph Doyle had seen the advantage of setting up his store on a road junction at Doyleston, the site where roads from Southbridge and Hawkins crossed the railway line was an obvious place to site a station and town. Three groups/people took advantage by the close of 1872.
The Honourable Robert Daly sold three rural sections and part of another (between SH1, Yankee Crossing Road and the road to Hororata) to James Walker, blacksmith, on the 4th October 1871. Before September 1872, a blacksmith’s shop and a house had been established. Secondly, Joseph Broadley, a baker from Christchurch, had also built premises in Dunsandel before May 1872. Thirdly, there was William Lawrence and his hotel.
The first reference in the newspapers to what was to become Dunsandel, concerned a liquor licence. On the 8th May 1872, it was reported that there was competition for a liquor licence at the junction of the roads to Killinchy and Hawkins and the railway line which was being constructed towards the Rakaia River. The site was known as “Killinchy” and “Killinchy Crossing”. Lawrence’s lawyer stated that “from the plans submitted that the hotel would be a very fine one indeed, providing no less than twenty rooms”. His Worship wanted Lawrence to apply at the next quarterly meeting of the Bench but the lawyer asked if the Bench would rather adjourn the decision to protect any money Mr Lawrence would spend on the building before July. Broadley applied for a “wine and beer” license for the same locality. Broadley said that his premises were already erected, and that a wine and beer license was much required in the locality. His Worship adjourned both applications until the 9th July, to see what buildings were erected, and which would meet the wants of the public best.
At the July meeting, because of the increased cost of building material, Lawrence had not commenced building. There was no doubt but that a good hotel was required at “Killinchy”; but as Lawrence had not built, it was impossible to grant him a license. As Broadly’s house had insufficient accommodation, both applications were refused.
So by the 14th of September 1872, a correspondent reported that “everything is in readiness for rails and sleepers between Selwyn station and the Rakaia”. At the crossing he found “the nucleus of what, at no distant date, will be a numerous collection of buildings. Within a very short time a blacksmith's shop and house; have gone up, and there is also a large bakery and general store, having two floors, just put up by Broadley, whilst close at hand are a number of piles, intended as the foundation of a large hotel…. which Lawrence, is on the point of erecting”.
In December, the hotel was constructed, George McBean was granted a lease and a liquor licence for the Hotel at “Killinchy” and in December the Government voted £100 for a police station at “Killinchy Crossing”.
To clinch the 1872 date for the birth of Dunsandel, the Railways noted on December 14th 1872, that they had received a letter from Hon John Hall stating that the name of the new station was to be “Dunsandel”.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date19 January 2022SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationDunsandel
DescriptionWhile the Railway Reserve was designated on maps before Dunsandel started, it is not known when the public knew that a railway station would be set up on the site. Just as Joseph Doyle had seen the advantage of setting up his store on a road junction at Doyleston, the site where roads from Southbridge and Hawkins crossed the railway line was an obvious place to site a station and town. Three groups/people took advantage by the close of 1872.
The Honourable Robert Daly sold three rural sections and part of another (between SH1, Yankee Crossing Road and the road to Hororata) to James Walker, blacksmith, on the 4th October 1871. Before September 1872, a blacksmith’s shop and a house had been established. Secondly, Joseph Broadley, a baker from Christchurch, had also built premises in Dunsandel before May 1872. Thirdly, there was William Lawrence and his hotel.
The first reference in the newspapers to what was to become Dunsandel, concerned a liquor licence. On the 8th May 1872, it was reported that there was competition for a liquor licence at the junction of the roads to Killinchy and Hawkins and the railway line which was being constructed towards the Rakaia River. The site was known as “Killinchy” and “Killinchy Crossing”. Lawrence’s lawyer stated that “from the plans submitted that the hotel would be a very fine one indeed, providing no less than twenty rooms”. His Worship wanted Lawrence to apply at the next quarterly meeting of the Bench but the lawyer asked if the Bench would rather adjourn the decision to protect any money Mr Lawrence would spend on the building before July. Broadley applied for a “wine and beer” license for the same locality. Broadley said that his premises were already erected, and that a wine and beer license was much required in the locality. His Worship adjourned both applications until the 9th July, to see what buildings were erected, and which would meet the wants of the public best.
At the July meeting, because of the increased cost of building material, Lawrence had not commenced building. There was no doubt but that a good hotel was required at “Killinchy”; but as Lawrence had not built, it was impossible to grant him a license. As Broadly’s house had insufficient accommodation, both applications were refused.
So by the 14th of September 1872, a correspondent reported that “everything is in readiness for rails and sleepers between Selwyn station and the Rakaia”. At the crossing he found “the nucleus of what, at no distant date, will be a numerous collection of buildings. Within a very short time a blacksmith's shop and house; have gone up, and there is also a large bakery and general store, having two floors, just put up by Broadley, whilst close at hand are a number of piles, intended as the foundation of a large hotel…. which Lawrence, is on the point of erecting”.
In December, the hotel was constructed, George McBean was granted a lease and a liquor licence for the Hotel at “Killinchy” and in December the Government voted £100 for a police station at “Killinchy Crossing”.
To clinch the 1872 date for the birth of Dunsandel, the Railways noted on December 14th 1872, that they had received a letter from Hon John Hall stating that the name of the new station was to be “Dunsandel”.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date19 January 2022SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationDunsandelConnections
CollectionHistory of DunsandelOrganisationDunsandel Historic Society
OrganisationDunsandel Historic SocietyAttribution
Researched ByMike NoonanWritten ByMike Noonan
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Mike Noonan, 1872 Dunsandel township is born (19 January 2022). Selwyn Stories, accessed 15/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5219