http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhJ6ujL-zHg

There are a number of other songs out there too about the earthquake.

Do you live in Hornby?  What were your experiences in the area?

http://canterburyearthquake.org.nz/

http://www.geonet.org.nz/earthquake/quakes/recent_quakes.html

http://www.theparentingplace.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=138&Itemid=236

I know there are lots more.  Feel free to add them if you think they are of help.

The area we now know as Hornby was from the mid 1860s simply considered an outlying part of Riccarton, and home to a number of great houses, the property of important landowners.It appears that Hornby was the second choice of name for this area, as the original railway station was known as Southbridge Junction. Subsequent postal confusion with the Township of Southbridge led to a new name being gazetted in September 1878 – Hornby Junction. Further confusion with the existing Horndon Junction disappeared when that area was re-named Darfield!

Hornby was different from other settlements of the time in that it had a name before any subdivision took place. There was an attempt at development in October 1878, but it did not eventuate and it was to be another 20 years before Hornby became more than a farming area with its few large houses and scattered cottages. One reason for this was that town workers did not want to live out in Hornby as it was a good three hours walk from town, and Riccarton road, the main route in, was still hardly fit for carts in some places. This made getting to and from town, and supplies out to Hornby residences quite difficult, more than the average worker could justify.

Samuel Smart and Sons established a stone breaking works in the area about 1884 in the site now known as Kyle Park. The demand for road metal, shingle and sand was significant and within five years the land had been excavated to a depth of some 30 feet. Before redevelopment in the early 1970′s  the area was known as Smarts Pit, and subsequently a road in the vicinity was named Smarts Road.

However Hornby came to be dominated by the early establishment of a large meat exporting industry. Opened in November 1869, and spread over 10 acres alongside the railway line, the Canterbury Meat Export Company had a chequered life. Initial success and the development of canned meat, was followed by the company’s collapse five years later; this was attributed to an over-supplied market and defective cans. For the next 13 years the plant was only worked at intervals, but the advent of refrigeration resulted in a change of fortune. The property was taken over by the newly formed Christchurch Meat Company, new freezing works buildings were constructed, and the area now known as Islington was born. The Township was very much a company affair and by 1896 the “Works” employed some 500 people.

A second freezing works was opened in 1896 adjacent to the Hornby Railway Station. This was an attempt by Nelson Bros., a big company in the British frozen meat trade, to enter the South Island. However instead of offering competition to the Christchurch Meat Company, Nelson preferred to negotiate. This arrangement was not to last very long, and by 1912 there was an agreement whereby the Meat Company leased the Nelson plant. Eight years later the Company, now known as New Zealand Refrigerating Company, bought the works, which survived until sold for demolition in 1936.

The growth of Hornby at the turn of the century was due almost entirely to the development and extension of the frozen meat industry. In 1896 the area known as Jersey Town (because of the dairy farm), was sold and subsequently divided into 82 sections. A year later more land was subdivided across the railway line by Carmen Road.

Hornby was also the site of one of the village settlements meant to provide allotments for town workmen, which were established by the Liberal Government of 1891-1912. In 1909 the Government bought 75 acres which was subdivided into 3 acre sections, and offered on 33 year leases. There was however no great demand for these.

Various institutions also became established at this time. The first Hornby school – Hornby Primary School -  opened in 1895; the Baptists were the first to establish their church in 1897 but were soon followed by the Roman Catholics and Anglicans. After much debate a recreation ground / domain was opened in 1910 and soon became the centre for a number of sports.

Compiled by Stephen P. from various sources including http://library.christchurch.org.nz/Heritage/LocalHistory/ (bibliography). Please contact the Hornby Online Team if you have more early history to add.

In the early history of Hornby there were four outstanding grand houses in the Hornby region.“Ablington” was the first of these houses, built in 1858 on what was known then as Shands Track. It was bought in 1866 by Canterbury businessman and farmer Richard M. Morten and renamed “Broadlands”. In 1874 it was sold and re-named “Oakhampton” by the new land owner Edmund Amyes. Later still in 1914 the land was acquired by T.W. Stephenson, and called  “Branston Farm”.

Stoneycroft” was a 13 bedroom mansion built in 1863 by one George A.E. Ross and used as a base for his considerable farming interests. His success however was short-lived for in 1867 he was declared bankrupt and sold the house to Richard Morten. Arthur R.V. Morten who inherited “Stoneycroft” on the death of his father in 1909 dismantled the house and built a new one alongside. This new building was acquired by the government in 1919 and used by out-patients from Sunnyside Hospital. It was later re-named “Hornby Lodge”. It is now occupied by the Morley Lodge Restaurant.    

The third and arguably most impressive of these large houses was “Woodcote”. Built in 1866 by Strickland Field, it was situated on 26 acres next to the great south road. After financial difficulties it was sold to C.F. Barker, and then to Hodgeson Steele. It was bought in 1878 by Sarah Bassett, and subsequently greatly expanded and surrounded by extensive gardens. However as was often the case in these times, the family’s circumstances were to change and the splendour of “Woodcote” disappeared; the family was forced to move, but were unable to sell the house. The building survived into the early years of the twentieth century, but the end came when it burned down. All that remains of this property is a small portion of the original garden/trees in the Woodcote reserve on Woodcote Avenue.

Another early house was “Crisies Lodge”, on the site of what is now Hornby Mall. Built in 1875 by Robert Reay, a prominent figure in racing circles, it was sold to Dr. Henry H. Prins in 1880 who continued to use it to breed and train racehorses until his death in 1896. The new owner, George Hamill, subdivided it into 50 sections, and around 1900 the house itself was moved to a site on Shands Road where it stood until demolished in 1963.  

Compiled by Stephen P. from various sources. Please contact the Hornby Online Team if you have more early history to add.

This plaque in the car park marks the site of Manhire’s original store.

The retail history of Hornby

Although served by a post office from the 1870s, business in Hornby did not develop until the end of the century and even then it seems that one name was to dominate the scene.In 1897 Alfred Manhire opened his general store on the site now occupied by Dressmart. His brother William took over the business in 1898. It served as the modern day department store; as well as the departments which faced on to the street – groceries, drapery and boots – other goods were sold at the rear of the shop – animal foods, wood and coal. In addition the store acted as agent for the Liverpool, London and Globe Insurance Company, plus other agencies.

In 1908 when the post office was moved from the railway station a small addition was made to Manhire’s store to accommodate it. In 1920 the store was bought by Archibald Still and he and his family maintained the business until 1964. Woolworths then bought the site for £35,000 and demolished the original buildings to make way for their supermarket.

in 1998 Woolworths was replaced by the Dressmart shopping complex, a wholesale shopping mall intended for discount stores stocking end of lines etc.

The Hornby Mall, which is the social and commercial focus of the community was opened in 1977. It has gone through various redevelopment stages with the latest upgrading it to hold rooftop carparking and numerous new shops. The growth of the retail industry in the 90′s has been sparked by recent redevelopments in Rolleston and Templeton which has increased the population in these areas

And for those of you who thought that Cinema 3 was Hornby’s first such movie theatre, think again. In 1949 it was known as the “Kosy” and housed in the Orange Hall, on Smarts road with sessions every Wednesday and Saturday.

Compiled by Stephen P. from various sources. Please contact the Hornby Online Team if you have more early history to add.

When the 1974 Commonwealth games came to Christchurch, a cycling velodrome was needed to host the cyclists competing in the games. Denton Park, in Hornby was suggested as a likely venue, as it was close to rail, and road transport, and there was plenty of room to build and accommodate for the expected number of patrons. This idea was accepted and the building of the velodrome began.

Security was high, since at the 1972 Munich Olympics seven of the Israeli team were massacred, no one wanted a repeat of it here!

Compiled by Stephen P. from various sources. Please contact the Hornby Online Team if you have more early history to add.

Hornby has many interesting monuments around the place. Some are new, some are old, but all have their own purpose.Probably the most recent is a local piece of artwork gifted to the community called Pathways Home, which is situated in Denton Park, next to the Rotary Club Map.Every Anzac day a crowd gathers at the Hornby Primary Schools memorial water tower to honour the brave men who fought for their country from Hornby. This water tower is a landmark of Hornby, and a reminder of how strong our community is.

Another historical landmark in Hornby is the plaque marking the site of the first shop, situated just outside of the current Dressmart building. To find out more read the retailers section.

Compiled by Stephen P. from various sources. Please contact the Hornby Online Team if you have more early history to add.

Smart's Pit rubbish dump

Kyle park today, with stormwater development on the right, bmx track central, and in the distance cricket and rugby fields.Smart’s Pit was operated by descendants of the original firm until 1968 when the 7 hectares of land was bought by the Paparua County Council for use as a centrally located rubbish tip. In the early 1970s it was proposed to rehabilitate the pit into a sports amphitheatre, laid out with terraces descending to fields three or four metres below the level of Waterloo Road. The park was named Kyle Park after Paparua County Councillor Colin W A Kyle who was chairman of the Reserves and Recreation Committee for many years.

An adjacent block (1.7 ha) was bought by the Council in 1974 to add to the Park. However difficulties were foreseen in maintaining the terraces using gang mowers, with stormwater drainage, disposal of sewage from pavilions, and the prohibitive cost of earthworks needed to achieve a satisfactory surface. Instead it was decided that a more feasible alternative was to fill the pit to roughly the same level as the adjoining road and level it for sportsfields.

But because residents were likely to strenuously object to reopening the tip for household refuse, and there was no obvious source of cheap fill available in the quantity required, this option too became impractical.

The future of Smart’s Pit became so problematical that at one point in 1977 the Council considered selling the property altogether. But even this option was rejected because the value of the land was limited by its unsuitability for building (the land will continue to settle for years after the dump is sealed as organic material below decays).

The Council therefore had little choice but resolve to develop the area to sportsfields and passive recreation, but since little money could be spared, development was seen as ‘long term’. Although dumping of household refuse ceased officially in the 1970s, intermittent dumping of both hardfill and household refuse continued until 1981 when the earthmoving contract was let to level and shape the landform to its existing contours. A useful quantity of silty water race spoil was spread over part of the reserve to improve growing conditions.

Hockey field

The sunken hockey field at the eastern end of Kyle Park was developed as early as 1973 and is now irrigated. A row of eucalypts planted along the eastern boundary now form an effective screen, obscuring a cluttered warehouse yard on the adjacent property.

Junior rugby fields

One junior rugby field was in use by 1981 and the second, which was sown with a special drought resistant turf, was developed in 1989. These are positioned in the central area of the park

Cricket oval

An artificial cricket wicket was laid down in 1989 for the Hornby Cricket Club. The full sized cricket oval shares the turf with the junior rugby fields.

BMX track

Approval was given in 1980 for the development of a BMX (Bicycle Moto Cross)
Track. This was constructed for the Christchurch City BMX Club by volunteers which included members of the Hornby Rotary Club who followed up in 1982 with tree planting in the western end of the reserve. The club hosted their first New Zealand Grand Final BMX Championship at Easter 1985. At big events like this several hundred cars may be parked on the grass in Kyle Park itself. A toilet block near the BMX track is unlocked for use during club events. The track was relocated in 2001 due to a stormwater holding pond development. The track was moved from the westernmost area of the western hollow to the eastern half of the same hollow.

Off-road model cars

Council approval was granted to the Christchurch Off-Road Model Car Club in 1986 to build a small track and stand in the sheltered hollow next to the BMX track. Their facilities were completed by 1989, however the Club is now defunct and the track has been removed from the area.

Compiled by Stephen P. from various sources. Please contact the Hornby Online Team if you have more early history to add.

Pathways Home was unveiled in a public ceremony in June. Local artist Judith Streat designed the sculpture, and constructed it with the help of local children and youth. The young people each painted their own designs onto rocks, hundreds of which form par t of the sculpture.

The rocks reflect the historical geographic nature of Hornby. They are stored within a gabion basket, so their unique designs are visible through the baskets and easy to touch.

The sculpture also incorporates the street pattern of Hornby, with the railway line and industrial areas made of steel framing and overlaid on the rocks and concrete foundation.

Jacqui Leask, City Council community recreation adviser, says that the unveiling was an exciting opportunity for the young people, who contributed to the artwork, to see the end result of their hard work.

Pathways Home was funded by the Riccarton/Wigram Community Board and several sponsors including Resene Paints, Firth Industries, Winstone Aggregates and Steel and Tube.

Compiled by Stephen P. from various sources. Please contact the Hornby Online Team if you have more early history to add.