Wilson Homestead

These pioneering families worked hard to clear land and introduce stock and crops. Transporting stock by river or over land presented many challenges and once arrived in the valley the stock of various landowners free-ranged together, with one local farmer noting “the free range of the bush, the choice of differing kinds of bush feed contributed to the health of the beasts and gave a better flavour to their meat when killed.” (John Dow, 1892).

Diary entries record the frustrations of chases for cattle and attacks by wild pigs. Eventually fencing and restricting to paddocks became necessary.

“You started from zero, felling your own trees, hauling them, and day after day cutting rails, splitting and mortising posts, boring holes with a fencing auger.” (VB, p. 62).

Here stands the farmhouse of James Wilson, who had immigrated to New Zealand from Scotland aged just 20. In 1855, with his river-edge property under development he had employed a local Maori man to first build him a 16 x 14 ft home of “fern trees and ‘niko’ roof”, the inside of which he plastered. (diary entry, 30 July).

James later found a wife here in the Wairoa Valley; Ann Matheson lived across the river with her family, who in the years prior had also emigrated from Scotland. James and Ann were the first to be married in the brand new Presbyterian Church in 1859 and the couple went on to have seven children.

Though no definitive record exists, it is believed that the house was built in the late 1850s or early 1860s, making it one of the oldest buildings in the area, alongside All Souls Church and McNicol Homestead.

Over the years at least five different families have lived in this farmhouse. Today it stands as part of the Metlifecare Otau Ridge retirement village, with the homestead set for restoration.