Akaroa Historical Overview - Christchurch City Council

Early plantings occurred to the rear of L'Aube Hill in connection with the development of
the power house reservoir site in 1912. The grounds of the power house are thought to
have been developed between 1912 and 1916. Remnant plantings of Rhopalostylis
sapida (nikau palm), Alectryon excelsis (titoki), Pseudopanax crassifolium (lancewood),
Phoenix canariensis (Canary Island date palm) and two Trachycarpus fortunei (Chusan
palm), together with an unusual fountain dated 1916, are still a feature of these grounds
(refer figure 6.31).
Figure 6.31. Still in working order this unusual fountain in the grounds of the Orion
Powerhouse Museum is dated 1916 on the exterior of its bowl.
The 1912 Arbor Day plantings were concentrated around the reservoir and native
veronicas, (hebe) ngaios, and other native shrubs were planted. A number of these Ngaio
are still evident around the old reservoir. Two years later two hundred and thirty trees,
including pines, were planted over the greater site by school children. 79
School grounds were also the focus on Arbor Day commemorations and it is likely that
the large cedar, gum and spruce trees removed from the Akaroa Area School in the
1940s were markers of early Arbor Day observances. Other Arbor Day plantings by the
Women's Institute occurred in the War Memorial grounds, where four roses were
planted, in Selwyn Avenue and the Britomart Reserve in 1936 and in Jubilee Park in
1939. 80
In addition to Arbor Day, school children were active with other planting campaigns
across the town. The most significant of these occurred in 1907 when rows of ngaio trees
were planted in Bruce Terrace and along the waterfront, to commemorate the founding
of the Dominion. 81
79 Akaroa Borough Council Minutes 1914-1916
80 Akaroa Mail in Centennial clipping file, ATL, undated clipping
81 Burstall, Forest Mensuration Report No 22, p. 7
AKAROA HERITAGE OVERVIEW : SECTION 6 YEARS OF STABILITY 1900 TO 1950 PAGE 117