Western News: January 12, 2023

8
Thursday January 12 2023
Author takes another deep dive
BANKS PENINSULA has a
unique history – and within the
area itself the small bays and
communities all have their own
individual stories to tell.
Le Bons Bay is one such
community and, over the past 45
years, Garry Brittenden has been
gathering and publishing the
history of the bay. After being
out of print for some time, a
revised and updated Le Bons Bay
the story of a settlement is now
available at bookshops.
The Le Bons Bay history book
was first published in 1978,
and has sold more than 2000
copies as interest in local history
continues to flourish. The latest
revision will be the seventh
printing of the now 200-page
book.
Brittenden says there is an
increasing interest in family
history and this has led to many
descendants of pioneer families
providing of photographs,
diaries and information to add
to the depth of the book.
“The digital age has
certainly provided wonderful
opportunities for history to
be sourced and shared. It has
enabled families to find their
personal histories without
leaving home and this has
resulted in a growing interest in
this area,” Brittenden said.
“I am constantly being
contacted by folk from all
over the world regarding their
historic connection with Le
Bons, either seeking information
or sharing their own research.”
This edition features a
chapter on the quite extensive
Scandinavian migration to New
Zealand that saw around 25
families settle at Le Bons in the
1870s.
“The New Zealand
Government actively recruited
immigrants from Scandinavia
at this time, and much has been
written about the settlements
of Dannevirke, Norsewood and
Ekatahuna in the North Island,”
said Brittenden.
“However, significant numbers
SETTLERS: The Condon family at their Le Bons Bay home
in the 1870s. Alfred Condon was the bays first mailman,
walking through the bush to Takamatua and back three
times a week to collect and deliver mail. Left – Garry
Brittenden has been gathering and publishing the history
of the bay for 45 years.
came to Lyttelton and ended
up in Robinsons Bay and then
on to Le Bons to work in the
sawmills, where they bought
land and settled. Denmark had
a disastrous war with Prussia
in the 1860s, and many Danes
lost land as a result. In Le Bons,
four Danes who served together
in the war came out with their
families and ended up with
adjoining farms in the bay.”
One of the Danish families,
the Hemmingsens, are holding
a family reunion at Le Bons
later this month. While there
is extensive evidence of Maori
occupation of the bay for
hundreds of years prior to
European settlement, no Maori
lived in the bay when John Cuff
brought his sawmill up the Le
Bons Bay stream in 1857 and
began the clearance of the dense
native forest.
The sawmills did not just bring
a steady stream of settlers to the
bay, the clearance of the forest
enabled dozens of small farms to
be established, accompanied by
thriving cocksfoot and cheesemaking
industries.
Our Tuam St site offers evening appointments from Monday
to Thursday and on-site parking for your convenience.
Book now to donate.
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