Pioneer Homesteads—X Broomfield, Amberley

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31113, 16 July 1966, Page 13

Pioneer Homesteads—X Broomfield, Amberley

(Specially written for "The Press" by

JOHN A. HENDRY)

T> ROOMFIELD, of 22,000 acres, which included Mount Grey, was created by George Douglas, an Irishman from Baltinglas, County Wicklow. He came to New Zealand by way of Australia in 1849, with Captain W. M. Mitchell in the Lady Nugent, arriving in Canterbury about the middle of 1850.

At first Douglas managed Mount Grey station tor Mitchell and on the latter’s death in India he took up Run 71 of 6000 acres in 1852. To this , ~ ,t» no he added Kun 28 which he bought from Donaid Hankinson and later Run 257, which included Mount Grey. The first homestead called Broomfield was built at Dalbeg on the south bank of the Kowal, but when it was burnt down in 1857 he built the

present homestead on a differhe but by 185 S a]so had 460 0 sheep, His “GD” was the second brand registered in CanterbU itouglas was very interested in the formation of the Northern Agricultural and Pastoral Association and in 1866 was a member of the first managing committee. He was also on managing committee of the Saltwater Creek and Kaiapoi Coasting Steam Navigation Company which was formed in 1861 to the provttle better access to tne markets. Since his death in 1873,

Broomfield has been carried on by trustees—who lost the leasehold country in 1889— so this is also a station which has never changed hands except by inheritance.

Serenity, Grace The sketch shows the homestead as it was some years ago, for now it is unoccupied, and much overgrown with jasmine and other creepers and slowly disintegrating. Yet this was one of the larger country homes, and even in its decay breathes a serenity and grace not often encountered.

Douglas built the centre portion first, which was completed in 1858, and is typical of the period with the two steeply-pitched dormers symmetrically placed over the lower casement windows and a central door, now another window. This portion was partly built of cob with all the timber pit sawn on the site.

In 1866, new kitchen and dairy blocks were built in dressed limestone—as was a Targe woodshed—by David Cox, and separated from the main house by a yard. This was remedied in 1867, when the north wing, containing a new hall, drawing-room, mas-

ter bedroom, dressing-room, schoolroom and office was added. Further additions included a bedroom, storerooms, passages and a back entrance. The new wing is distinguished as much by the handsome bay window with its vertical panelling as by the charming veranda with its coupled posts and interesting tracery and the small conservatory, the lower third of which is panelled using simple standard mouldings to the panels. Opening on the veranda are two pairs of french windows, very high, quite wide, siurprisingly light in construction and complete wtth their original furniture. All the roofs are shingled except for one or two portions such as the kitchen. Unnsual Ceiling On entering the large fourpanelled main door we come into a long, wide hall with an unusual ceiling treatment which allows direct light into the hail. The drawing room on the right, very large, nearly square has a high ceiling curved from each wall, making a very attractive shape. Opposite the bay window is the fireplace which had a simple White marble sur-

round to the black register grate while to the side are french doors affording an attractive view. The main bedroom beyond, also large, and with a similar ceiling, has a simple timber fire-surround to a charming cast-iron register grate and also opens to the veranda with french doors to the left of the hall and one step down in the dining-room in the 1858 wing. Both this room and the bedroom beyond have beamed ceilings, being the dressed and moulded floorjoists of the first-floor rooms. Huge Kitchens The huge old kitchen is still complete with its bread oven and later coal range, but little else. Here, too, the ceiling is high, and it is black with age. Rising out of the back hall is a narrow, steep stair with an odd kink near the top, which alters the angle of the going to avoid the steeplysloping ceiling. A simple round handrail and neat square balusters complete the unit. Two bedrooms and two deep cupboards all with steeplysloping ceilings occupy this floor with very neat double casements to each room. It is impossible not to feel sad that this beautiful old house has been allowed to go to ruin, for, in itself, it personifies the spirit of the period—good design and proportion—the effective use of stock windows, doors and mouldings—and good workmanship.