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The Irvine family of Dunsandel
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TitleThe Irvine family of Dunsandel
DescriptionMany Dunsandel families could have featured in this article. The Irvine family was chosen because they preceded the town and contributed to Dunsandel for many years.
The Irvine family arrived in New Zealand December 1863, from Scotland. William Irvine (46yo) and his wife Joan (Grace) (34yo) with their surviving children, Anne (12yo), Alexander (8yo), Margaret (Maggie) (5yo) & Robert Francis (Frank) (2yo) sailed on the “Brothers Pride” as Government Assisted Immigrants. The voyage from England to New Zealand was long and miserable. Disease was rife and 46 passengers died before they reached Lyttelton. The family was extended with the birth of John (Jack) (1865), Margery (May) (1867), Thomas (1870) and Peter Henry (Harry) (1875).
William was a farmer and spent the first six years working throughout the east coast of Canterbury. During this time, he leased land at “Otahuna” at Tai Tapu from R. H. Rhodes.
William’s dream of owning land became a reality in April 1870 when he purchased 200 acres (Rural Sections 9475 & 9476) bordering the southern railway reserve, Dunsandel, from George Billings for £500, borrowing funds from Rhodes.
In September 1877, William bought 190 acres nearby (RS9505 and RS9513) from J. A. Pannett. Land prices had risen, and he paid £1520. William named his sheep farm “Scatsta” after his beloved homeland in the Shetlands.
William was active in the community and his family was well respected. He served on the Selwyn School Committee and assisted with the Domain from its inception. The first Presbyterian service in the district was held in his house. In 1879 he was appointed trustee for the Dunsandel Cemetery.
Except for Robert who moved to Sydney in 1888, the family spent their lives in New Zealand.
The elder children Margaret, Robert and Jack attended Selwyn School and the youngsters, Thomas, May and Harry went to Dunsandel School following it’s opening in 1879.
Thomas was a pupil teacher and later became the second headmaster of the Dunsandel School (1898-1912) and was possibly the first ex pupil to attend Canterbury College from which he graduated as Master of Arts.
Joan died at “Scatsta in January 1885 and was buried at Brookside Presbyterian Cemetery. May, Jack and Harry remained on the farm with William until he died, in February 1901, at 81, when Jack managed the property until it was sold to Tom Johnson in 1903. After the sale, Jack, a successful breeder of draught horses and fat lambs, bought a larger farm at Westerfield.
The Irvine children, especially Thomas, were an integral part of the Dunsandel community. In March 1874, Anne, Alexander & Margaret were members at the opening of the Dunsandel Branch of the IOGT lodge.
The boys loved sport and sport administration, especially cricket and football & joined the girls playing tennis. May was a Sunday School organist and singer, and Thomas and his sister debated. Alexander was on the Domain Board and Thomas on the Hall Committee.
Thomas’s appointment to Fendalton School in 1912 ended the Irvine’s association with Dunsandel although Irvines Road is a reminder of the family.
(Material from Alexander Sandison & PapersPast)
Christie Irvine & Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date17 March 2022SourceThe Ellesmere Echo LocationDunsandel
DescriptionMany Dunsandel families could have featured in this article. The Irvine family was chosen because they preceded the town and contributed to Dunsandel for many years. The Irvine family arrived in New Zealand December 1863, from Scotland. William Irvine (46yo) and his wife Joan (Grace) (34yo) with their surviving children, Anne (12yo), Alexander (8yo), Margaret (Maggie) (5yo) & Robert Francis (Frank) (2yo) sailed on the “Brothers Pride” as Government Assisted Immigrants. The voyage from England to New Zealand was long and miserable. Disease was rife and 46 passengers died before they reached Lyttelton. The family was extended with the birth of John (Jack) (1865), Margery (May) (1867), Thomas (1870) and Peter Henry (Harry) (1875).
William was a farmer and spent the first six years working throughout the east coast of Canterbury. During this time, he leased land at “Otahuna” at Tai Tapu from R. H. Rhodes.
William’s dream of owning land became a reality in April 1870 when he purchased 200 acres (Rural Sections 9475 & 9476) bordering the southern railway reserve, Dunsandel, from George Billings for £500, borrowing funds from Rhodes.
In September 1877, William bought 190 acres nearby (RS9505 and RS9513) from J. A. Pannett. Land prices had risen, and he paid £1520. William named his sheep farm “Scatsta” after his beloved homeland in the Shetlands.
William was active in the community and his family was well respected. He served on the Selwyn School Committee and assisted with the Domain from its inception. The first Presbyterian service in the district was held in his house. In 1879 he was appointed trustee for the Dunsandel Cemetery.
Except for Robert who moved to Sydney in 1888, the family spent their lives in New Zealand.
The elder children Margaret, Robert and Jack attended Selwyn School and the youngsters, Thomas, May and Harry went to Dunsandel School following it’s opening in 1879.
Thomas was a pupil teacher and later became the second headmaster of the Dunsandel School (1898-1912) and was possibly the first ex pupil to attend Canterbury College from which he graduated as Master of Arts.
Joan died at “Scatsta in January 1885 and was buried at Brookside Presbyterian Cemetery. May, Jack and Harry remained on the farm with William until he died, in February 1901, at 81, when Jack managed the property until it was sold to Tom Johnson in 1903. After the sale, Jack, a successful breeder of draught horses and fat lambs, bought a larger farm at Westerfield.
The Irvine children, especially Thomas, were an integral part of the Dunsandel community. In March 1874, Anne, Alexander & Margaret were members at the opening of the Dunsandel Branch of the IOGT lodge.
The boys loved sport and sport administration, especially cricket and football & joined the girls playing tennis. May was a Sunday School organist and singer, and Thomas and his sister debated. Alexander was on the Domain Board and Thomas on the Hall Committee.
Thomas’s appointment to Fendalton School in 1912 ended the Irvine’s association with Dunsandel although Irvines Road is a reminder of the family.
(Material from Alexander Sandison & PapersPast)
Christie Irvine & Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date17 March 2022SourceThe Ellesmere Echo LocationDunsandelClick on the image to add
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The Irvine family of Dunsandel (17 March 2022). Selwyn Stories, accessed 26/07/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5224