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Town of Selwyn established in 1862
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TitleTown of Selwyn established in 1862
DescriptionWhile Dunsandel was established in 1872, the nearby Town of Selwyn started in 1862, the same year that sections were offered in Prebble’s Town (now Prebbleton).
This early start means that Selwyn is celebrating its 160th in 2022 and this makes the Town of Selwyn the oldest in Ellesmere by 2 years (Leeston - 1864).
It is interesting to speculate about the site.
The first land buyers tended to select land close to running water and while the Town of Selwyn straddled the railway reserve and was on the south bank of the Selwyn River, surface water certainly does not flow constantly these days.
The town could have been sited up river where the Great South Road crossed, but alongside a railway reserve may have been a greater attraction, even if the railway did not reach Selwyn Town until 1867.
Towns also tended to be sited where farming land had been sold so that blacksmiths etc could rely on work, however very little land had been sold for farms nearby by 1862, although by 1863 a large amount had been sold on both sides of the river especially downstream.
There had been early activity on the banks of the Selwyn River, however a little further upstream.
In 1852, Alfred Lake leased the run “Milton” from the Crown and established wheel tracks to his home near the Selwyn River. This became the Great South Road.
In 1856, George Parlby established the “Woolpack” to accommodate 30 visitors and his hotel became the post office.
By 1857 he gained a conditional alcohol licence and by 1861 the hotel was sold to George Giggs and the building renamed “Selwyn Hotel”
Albert Beetham, a surveyor, was the developer of the
Town of Selwyn and he advertised quarter-acre sections (approx. 1000 m2) for £12.10.0 each.
The subdivision covered at least part of 6 rural sections purchased from the Crown not long before the subdivision started.
The advert contained the promise that “Selwyn at no distant period will become the residence of merchants and traders of Christchurch and the Sanitarium of the city”
The first phase was 167 sections.
14 sections were sold in 1862 to 9 buyers and by 1863 an additional 40 to an additional 15 buyers.
By 1865 the second stage was released with good sales spreading from the centre.
Beetham moved to Auckland and sections started to be sold in groups at lower prices in 1867 and 1870 and 1878.
Google maps was still showing all the gazetted streets in Selwyn in 2016 even though by this time they were not distinguishable from paddocks.
The Dunsandel Historic Society organised two events to celebrate the 150th in 2012.
The first was for residents (see the photo) and explored the history of the town but also concentrated on family trees.
The second event was held a month later and went into the history in a deeper way and also included a bus trip to both sides of the Selwyn River where the Great South Road had crossed and Selwyn School was built.
Unfortunately, there was no building big enough in Selwyn Village for the celebration so the Trinity Church Hall in Dunsandel was used on both occasions.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date15 December 2022SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationSelwyn Village
DescriptionWhile Dunsandel was established in 1872, the nearby Town of Selwyn started in 1862, the same year that sections were offered in Prebble’s Town (now Prebbleton). This early start means that Selwyn is celebrating its 160th in 2022 and this makes the Town of Selwyn the oldest in Ellesmere by 2 years (Leeston - 1864).
It is interesting to speculate about the site.
The first land buyers tended to select land close to running water and while the Town of Selwyn straddled the railway reserve and was on the south bank of the Selwyn River, surface water certainly does not flow constantly these days.
The town could have been sited up river where the Great South Road crossed, but alongside a railway reserve may have been a greater attraction, even if the railway did not reach Selwyn Town until 1867.
Towns also tended to be sited where farming land had been sold so that blacksmiths etc could rely on work, however very little land had been sold for farms nearby by 1862, although by 1863 a large amount had been sold on both sides of the river especially downstream.
There had been early activity on the banks of the Selwyn River, however a little further upstream.
In 1852, Alfred Lake leased the run “Milton” from the Crown and established wheel tracks to his home near the Selwyn River. This became the Great South Road.
In 1856, George Parlby established the “Woolpack” to accommodate 30 visitors and his hotel became the post office.
By 1857 he gained a conditional alcohol licence and by 1861 the hotel was sold to George Giggs and the building renamed “Selwyn Hotel”
Albert Beetham, a surveyor, was the developer of the
Town of Selwyn and he advertised quarter-acre sections (approx. 1000 m2) for £12.10.0 each.
The subdivision covered at least part of 6 rural sections purchased from the Crown not long before the subdivision started.
The advert contained the promise that “Selwyn at no distant period will become the residence of merchants and traders of Christchurch and the Sanitarium of the city”
The first phase was 167 sections.
14 sections were sold in 1862 to 9 buyers and by 1863 an additional 40 to an additional 15 buyers.
By 1865 the second stage was released with good sales spreading from the centre.
Beetham moved to Auckland and sections started to be sold in groups at lower prices in 1867 and 1870 and 1878.
Google maps was still showing all the gazetted streets in Selwyn in 2016 even though by this time they were not distinguishable from paddocks.
The Dunsandel Historic Society organised two events to celebrate the 150th in 2012.
The first was for residents (see the photo) and explored the history of the town but also concentrated on family trees.
The second event was held a month later and went into the history in a deeper way and also included a bus trip to both sides of the Selwyn River where the Great South Road had crossed and Selwyn School was built.
Unfortunately, there was no building big enough in Selwyn Village for the celebration so the Trinity Church Hall in Dunsandel was used on both occasions.
Mike Noonan
Dunsandel Historic Society
Date15 December 2022SourceThe Ellesmere EchoLocationSelwyn VillageClick on the image to add
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Town of Selwyn established in 1862 (15 December 2022). Selwyn Stories, accessed 15/02/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5372
