Harry Ell – a Cantab lad, visionary and lover of the Port Hills – had visions of walkers and travellers enjoying a network of scenic reserves along the Port Hills connected by a road with rest-houses along the way – right through to Akaroa.He planned just under 20 rest-houses along what would start off as …
Harry Ell will always be remembered as a great lover of the Port Hills. Harry was born in Christchurch in 1862. He grew up on his parents’ farm in Halswell. From an early age, he became passionate about Christchurch’s natural heritage and its endangered species. It’s not hard to understand why his first job was …
The story of Sir John Cracroft Wilson and his Kashmir, whoops, Cashmere is very romantic to me as an historian. Cashmere is already such a pretty suburb that this story has just added so many new levels to a lovely part of Christchurch. To think of the original Cashmere Farm snug up against the Port …
On 16 December 1942, the Christchurch City Council took over the construction of the uncompleted Sign of the Takahe. Harry Ell (Christchurch City Coucillor 1903 & 1917 – 1919 and New Zealand Member of Parliament 1899 – 1919) had always been passionate about Christchurch’s natural heritage. He envisioned a network of scenic reserves across the …
