Park History







Pre-European - Takata Whenua

The nearby Opawaho (Heathcote river) and surrounding marshland provided a rich source of food for Maori. This included tuna (eel), inanga (white bait), putangitangi (paradise shelduck) and kereru (New Zealand pigeon). Towering above Ferrymead is O-Kete-Upoko (Castle Rock) where Te Raiwhakaputa mounted baskets of heads from defeated Kati Momoe warriors. Port Hills Road follows the old Maori walking track from the caves around the Sumner area to the settlement at Rapaki, and led onto the major Pa at Kaiapohia, near modern day Woodend.

1850

Ferrymead, which means "The Meadow by the Ferry" is named after the ferry which began operating in the area in the 1850's and took Canterbury's early settlers across the Heathcote River during their travels between the port of Lyttelton and the new settlement of Christchurch. The name was given to land on the south bank of the Heathcote river adjacent to the Estuary, 6km east of Cathedral Square, Christchurch, New Zealand.

1863

New Zealand's first public railway line was opened from Ferrymead to Christchurch. Coastal ships would cross the Sumner Bar and make their way up the Estuary to a wharf at Ferrymead (the piles of which can still be seen today) before unloading their cargo for transportation to Christchurch by rail. Other wharves were located further up the river.

1864

The ferry ceased to operate in 1864 when a bridge was built across the river.

1867

The Lyttelton rail tunnel was opened and the Ferrymead branch line was immediately closed. Apart from the wharf piles, the only structure from this period to remain is Ferrymead House which is privately owned.

1964

The Heathcote County Council purchased the site for use as a park and asked the Junior Chamber of Commerce to make recommendations for the development of the six acre property. The publication of the Junior Chamber report then led to the formation of a steering committee comprising representatives of several technological and historical organisations.

1968

Messrs. G.L.Evans, S.H.Wood and W.P.Scowen successfully applied for incorporation of the steering committee as the Ferrymead Trust under the Charitable Trusts Act, 1957.