William, his wife Harriet and their four children arrived in Lyttelton in June 1851. Engineer by trade, William purchased 500 acres and called it Avonwood Farm. William discovered quite a few springs on his land that made the beginning of the Avon River so as it was the head of the Avon River, it was …
The news of finding coal at Homebush had been pretty exciting for the Deans and all concerned. James McIlraith – Jane Deans’ half brother and manager of Homebush – and Julius van Haast – the founder of the Canterbury Museum – had made the discovery in the late 1870’s. Just two years later, a coal …
James Archibald McIlraith (1834 – 1903) Died of old age Place of Death: Rakaia Janes Deans’ half brother, manager of Homebush, behind the naming of Glentunnel Buried in Addington Cemetery, Christchurch The story of the James McIlraith: http://www.peelingbackhistory.co.nz/glentunnel-james-mcilraith-1834-1903/ Photo taken by Annette Bulovic
James McIlraith was the half brother of Jane Deans. He came to New Zealand with two of his brothers, Hugh and George from Scotland, to help Jane after the death of her husband (John Deans I) in 1854. He went on to manage Homebush even after his nephew John Deans II came of age and …
