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Dunsandel in 1873
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Title'Mushroom-like rapidity...' Dunsandel in 1873
DescriptionAnother correspondent, who passed through Dunsandel in January 1873, noted that
“Buildings are being rapidly erected…….. Mr Lawrence…….. has erected a very large hotel, containing twenty-four rooms, added to which Messrs Henry and Struthers, formerly of the Selwyn, have put up a general store …., and a house for themselves and men ……. Mr Chamberlain has also established, a grain store of large dimensions, and a butcher’s shop has been opened……..
The station buildings, parts of which have been removed from the Selwyn, are likewise in a forward state, and altogether the locality is rapidly assuming a very busy appearance”.
Before the end of January, the NZ Railways had advertised tenders for a Goods Shed (80ft x 40ft). At the same time “The men are now busy laying sidings and points. The platform and one large grain store are already erected, whilst the booking office, gate-keeper’s house, and other station buildings are in a very forward state”. By mid-February it was announced that the Dunsandel Station “is open for passenger and goods traffic”.
At the start of March, Dunsandel was described as follows “which is springing up with mushroom-like rapidity, the public-house, store, bakery, and blacksmith’s shop, which constitute the up-county township being already erected, together with one or two nice-looking residences”.
Before February had even ended there were two reports of crime in Dunsandel. James Morgan was drunk and had created a disturbance at the hotel and was fined 10s while Harry Tandy had assaulted a railway guard at the station and was fined 40s.
In an advertisement, the post-office announced that, “On and after March 10 all correspondence addressed to the Post-office, Selwyn, will be sent to the new office at Dunsandel”.
By April, Mr Milsom had established a “large aerated water manufactory” and B.W. Mountfort (the designer of the Provincial Chambers) was calling for tenders from carpenters to erect a house at Dunsandel.
NZ Railway planning however lacked foresight. The goods shed was built on the west side of the line (instead of in the reserve on the east side that later became the domain) and the 100 or so drays that lined up each day to discharge their loads were blocking the “public highway” to through traffic. Fortunately William Lawrence had advertised sections for sale in the triangle (SH1-Hororata Rd-Browns Rd) and by June, the Queen bought the front row and the road was moved westward. Also by June, a lady’s waiting-room at the station had been provided and William Lawrence was quitting the hotel business and the hotel was up for sale.
By July, the Dunsandel District library had spent £12 on books and a meeting had resulted in the formation of a committee to raise £100 to receive a matching government grant to erect a library to house the 100 volumes they possessed. By October, the committee was calling for tenders to erect the building. The first entertainment, a number of magic lantern views, occurred in August.
By December 1873, Dunsandel was on the tourist map when about 300 teachers and scholars from St Paul’s Presbyterian Sunday School travelled to Dunsandel for a picnic and sport’s day.
Newspaper reports from Papers Past.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date2022SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationDunsandel
DescriptionAnother correspondent, who passed through Dunsandel in January 1873, noted that “Buildings are being rapidly erected…….. Mr Lawrence…….. has erected a very large hotel, containing twenty-four rooms, added to which Messrs Henry and Struthers, formerly of the Selwyn, have put up a general store …., and a house for themselves and men ……. Mr Chamberlain has also established, a grain store of large dimensions, and a butcher’s shop has been opened……..
The station buildings, parts of which have been removed from the Selwyn, are likewise in a forward state, and altogether the locality is rapidly assuming a very busy appearance”.
Before the end of January, the NZ Railways had advertised tenders for a Goods Shed (80ft x 40ft). At the same time “The men are now busy laying sidings and points. The platform and one large grain store are already erected, whilst the booking office, gate-keeper’s house, and other station buildings are in a very forward state”. By mid-February it was announced that the Dunsandel Station “is open for passenger and goods traffic”.
At the start of March, Dunsandel was described as follows “which is springing up with mushroom-like rapidity, the public-house, store, bakery, and blacksmith’s shop, which constitute the up-county township being already erected, together with one or two nice-looking residences”.
Before February had even ended there were two reports of crime in Dunsandel. James Morgan was drunk and had created a disturbance at the hotel and was fined 10s while Harry Tandy had assaulted a railway guard at the station and was fined 40s.
In an advertisement, the post-office announced that, “On and after March 10 all correspondence addressed to the Post-office, Selwyn, will be sent to the new office at Dunsandel”.
By April, Mr Milsom had established a “large aerated water manufactory” and B.W. Mountfort (the designer of the Provincial Chambers) was calling for tenders from carpenters to erect a house at Dunsandel.
NZ Railway planning however lacked foresight. The goods shed was built on the west side of the line (instead of in the reserve on the east side that later became the domain) and the 100 or so drays that lined up each day to discharge their loads were blocking the “public highway” to through traffic. Fortunately William Lawrence had advertised sections for sale in the triangle (SH1-Hororata Rd-Browns Rd) and by June, the Queen bought the front row and the road was moved westward. Also by June, a lady’s waiting-room at the station had been provided and William Lawrence was quitting the hotel business and the hotel was up for sale.
By July, the Dunsandel District library had spent £12 on books and a meeting had resulted in the formation of a committee to raise £100 to receive a matching government grant to erect a library to house the 100 volumes they possessed. By October, the committee was calling for tenders to erect the building. The first entertainment, a number of magic lantern views, occurred in August.
By December 1873, Dunsandel was on the tourist map when about 300 teachers and scholars from St Paul’s Presbyterian Sunday School travelled to Dunsandel for a picnic and sport’s day.
Newspaper reports from Papers Past.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date2022SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationDunsandelConnections
CollectionHistory of DunsandelOrganisationDunsandel Historic Society
OrganisationDunsandel Historic SocietyAttribution
Researched ByMike NoonanWritten ByMike Noonan
Written ByMike NoonanClick on the image to add
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Dunsandel in 1873 (2022). Selwyn Stories, accessed 15/06/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5221