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The blacksmith trade in Dunsandel
Description
TitleThe blacksmith trade in Dunsandel
DescriptionOne of the most useful trades in the mid-1800s was that of a blacksmith and Dunsandel had several over the years.
Wilson
David Wilson was the first blacksmith in the Dunsandel district and he served for many years. In 1866 his frame-constructed blacksmiths shop, with a sod house, on a leased ½ acre on part of RS9017, was opposite the Upper Selwyn School. His house was used as a meeting place before the school was built and his shop was used by the Rakaia Road Board, as a place to consult tender specifications.
David advertised for a general blacksmith in 1878.
He died in March 1904 aged 74, and was buried in the Presbyterian section of Dunsandel Cemetery with his wife Elizabeth who died September 1905, aged 73.
Walker
As mentioned in the first article, the Walkers were the first blacksmiths in the Dunsandel CBD. James Walker, Christchurch, bought the land and William joined him soon after as they are mentioned together in Wises’ Directory together from 1874 to 1880. In 1883 and later, only William appears.
James is a mystery. William had an older brother, James a blacksmith in Scotland, whom, it seems, never came to NZ. William had a son, James, who was a blacksmith in later years but would have been about 8 years old when the land was bought.
“J. Walker, senr., J. Walker, junr” are listed as members of the Dunsandel Chess and Draughts Club in 1878. William’s son, James, would have been 15 in 1878. (see Mackie 1979 p31 for more details).
Unwin
The Unwin Bros appeared in the Wises’ Directory 1883-84 and 1885-86. However in May 1884 a notice appeared in The Press stating that the partnership hitherto subsisting between Henry James and Morton George Unwin, Blacksmiths and Wheelwrights, at Killinchy and Dunsandel had been dissolved and the brothers continued their trade separately in Killinchy and Dunsandel.
In January of the following year, 1885, “in the township of Dunsandel, a good Blacksmith's business, a section of Land, and Shop erected thereon; also Plant. Owner leaving Colony”, was advertised. In Melbourne, 5 years later, Morton was killed in an accident.
Sheat
George Sheat, who was born in Nelson and came to Canterbury when he was 18 years old, arrived in Dunsandel about 1886 (maybe 1884 when he was 30 and his wife Ada 25.) (Mackie, 1979, p28 for further details of his life).
His blacksmith shop was on SH1 north of the Dunsandel Store. Did he buy Unwin’s blacksmith shop? He first appeared in Wises in the 1887-88 edition and continuously until 1927, a year after he died.
Cameron
Donald Philip Cameron had associations with the Selwyn District at least from 1885 when he married Jane Victoria McKee, first-year pupil in Killinchy School in 1871. Their second son, John was born in Dunsandel in 1890 and Wises Directory has Donald as a blacksmith in Dunsandel from 1890 to at least 1930. He died in Dunsandel in 1948 at 85 years old.
He was involved with the library and quoits club and very strongly with rugby.
Mysteries
Much remains to be discovered about the blacksmiths of Dunsandel. Who was James Walker? Who bought Unwin’s business? Where did Cameron work? etc
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date23 June 2022SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationDunsandel
DescriptionOne of the most useful trades in the mid-1800s was that of a blacksmith and Dunsandel had several over the years. Wilson
David Wilson was the first blacksmith in the Dunsandel district and he served for many years. In 1866 his frame-constructed blacksmiths shop, with a sod house, on a leased ½ acre on part of RS9017, was opposite the Upper Selwyn School. His house was used as a meeting place before the school was built and his shop was used by the Rakaia Road Board, as a place to consult tender specifications.
David advertised for a general blacksmith in 1878.
He died in March 1904 aged 74, and was buried in the Presbyterian section of Dunsandel Cemetery with his wife Elizabeth who died September 1905, aged 73.
Walker
As mentioned in the first article, the Walkers were the first blacksmiths in the Dunsandel CBD. James Walker, Christchurch, bought the land and William joined him soon after as they are mentioned together in Wises’ Directory together from 1874 to 1880. In 1883 and later, only William appears.
James is a mystery. William had an older brother, James a blacksmith in Scotland, whom, it seems, never came to NZ. William had a son, James, who was a blacksmith in later years but would have been about 8 years old when the land was bought.
“J. Walker, senr., J. Walker, junr” are listed as members of the Dunsandel Chess and Draughts Club in 1878. William’s son, James, would have been 15 in 1878. (see Mackie 1979 p31 for more details).
Unwin
The Unwin Bros appeared in the Wises’ Directory 1883-84 and 1885-86. However in May 1884 a notice appeared in The Press stating that the partnership hitherto subsisting between Henry James and Morton George Unwin, Blacksmiths and Wheelwrights, at Killinchy and Dunsandel had been dissolved and the brothers continued their trade separately in Killinchy and Dunsandel.
In January of the following year, 1885, “in the township of Dunsandel, a good Blacksmith's business, a section of Land, and Shop erected thereon; also Plant. Owner leaving Colony”, was advertised. In Melbourne, 5 years later, Morton was killed in an accident.
Sheat
George Sheat, who was born in Nelson and came to Canterbury when he was 18 years old, arrived in Dunsandel about 1886 (maybe 1884 when he was 30 and his wife Ada 25.) (Mackie, 1979, p28 for further details of his life).
His blacksmith shop was on SH1 north of the Dunsandel Store. Did he buy Unwin’s blacksmith shop? He first appeared in Wises in the 1887-88 edition and continuously until 1927, a year after he died.
Cameron
Donald Philip Cameron had associations with the Selwyn District at least from 1885 when he married Jane Victoria McKee, first-year pupil in Killinchy School in 1871. Their second son, John was born in Dunsandel in 1890 and Wises Directory has Donald as a blacksmith in Dunsandel from 1890 to at least 1930. He died in Dunsandel in 1948 at 85 years old.
He was involved with the library and quoits club and very strongly with rugby.
Mysteries
Much remains to be discovered about the blacksmiths of Dunsandel. Who was James Walker? Who bought Unwin’s business? Where did Cameron work? etc
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date23 June 2022SourceThe 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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The blacksmith trade in Dunsandel (23 June 2022). Selwyn Stories, accessed 09/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5233