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Ellesmere Domain Board
Description
TitleEllesmere Domain Board
DescriptionIn August 1878, Reserve 1630, 213 acres between Feredays and Domain Roads was gazetted as a recreation ground under the Public Domains Act.
The first meeting of the Ellesmere Domain Board was held on 2nd September 1878 with William Graham who owned “Drumroslyn” near Southbridge, as chairman.
The new Board soon set to work developing its asset. A portion of it was ploughed and fenced with a sod wall surmounted by gorse. A large-scale program of tree planting was undertaken.
It leased the 213 acres for grazing. In 1900 E. Galpin who had land at Bishops Corner obtained the lease. His son H. Galpin, W.J. (Billy) Montgomery, Ray Lowery and his sons, Malcolm and Colin were later leaseholders.
A race track was established by the Ellesmere Jockey Club. The 1878 meeting included athletic races and field events as well as the gallops and trots.
In the early 1900s the Club had its last meetings.
The Ellesmere Trotting Club was formed in 1895 and used the Domain when revived in 1920. It received good local support but was unable to gain a totalizator permit and did not continue after 1928.
In April 1889 the Board called tenders for a building for the use at the race meetings.
When the Ellesmere Golf Club was formed in the early 1900s it became the first golf clubhouse and after the opening of a new clubhouse in 1929 it became the greenkeeper’s shed.
Other recreation grounds that came under the administration of the Board were - Osborne Park, established in 1910; eight acres of “Homebrook” became the Southbridge Recreation Ground in 1913; the Dunsandel Domain was given financial assistance in 1914 and came under Board control in 1935.
When Thomas Evans Gamble died in 1921 he left his farm at Little Rakaia to the Board for recreational purposes. It has been leased for farming and the rental has been used for recreational development at its other properties.
DescriptionIn August 1878, Reserve 1630, 213 acres between Feredays and Domain Roads was gazetted as a recreation ground under the Public Domains Act. The first meeting of the Ellesmere Domain Board was held on 2nd September 1878 with William Graham who owned “Drumroslyn” near Southbridge, as chairman.
The new Board soon set to work developing its asset. A portion of it was ploughed and fenced with a sod wall surmounted by gorse. A large-scale program of tree planting was undertaken.
It leased the 213 acres for grazing. In 1900 E. Galpin who had land at Bishops Corner obtained the lease. His son H. Galpin, W.J. (Billy) Montgomery, Ray Lowery and his sons, Malcolm and Colin were later leaseholders.
A race track was established by the Ellesmere Jockey Club. The 1878 meeting included athletic races and field events as well as the gallops and trots.
In the early 1900s the Club had its last meetings.
The Ellesmere Trotting Club was formed in 1895 and used the Domain when revived in 1920. It received good local support but was unable to gain a totalizator permit and did not continue after 1928.
In April 1889 the Board called tenders for a building for the use at the race meetings.
When the Ellesmere Golf Club was formed in the early 1900s it became the first golf clubhouse and after the opening of a new clubhouse in 1929 it became the greenkeeper’s shed.
Other recreation grounds that came under the administration of the Board were - Osborne Park, established in 1910; eight acres of “Homebrook” became the Southbridge Recreation Ground in 1913; the Dunsandel Domain was given financial assistance in 1914 and came under Board control in 1935.
When Thomas Evans Gamble died in 1921 he left his farm at Little Rakaia to the Board for recreational purposes. It has been leased for farming and the rental has been used for recreational development at its other properties.
Ellesmere Historical Society.
Connections
CollectionCivic Pride and DutyOrganisationEllesmere Historical Society
OrganisationEllesmere Historical SocietyAttribution
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Ellesmere Domain Board. Selwyn Stories, accessed 28/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6236