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COROMANDEL LIFE LATE SUMMER / EASTER 2017
George Vesey Stewart – flax mill owner,
immigration entrepreneur, and pioneer settler
– was founder and organizer of Ulster-Scots
settlements in the ‘Katikati block’.
Stewart continued to arrange this mass
immigration, and over 45 years, it is
estimated he brought over more than
4,000 new settlers.
The pioneer life of
HUGH & ADELA STEWART
Much of this article was taken from Beryl
Hughes’ excellent biography of Adela Stewart
for the TeAra.gov Encyclopedia of NZ website.
Read full biography here:
Hugh and Adela B. Stewart with their son
Mervyn – arriving on the Lady Jocelynon
George Vesey Stewart’s second boatload of
settlers in 1878 – purchased 300 acres of the
Katikati block which they named ‘Athenree’
after their village in Ireland.
Initially they stayed at ‘Tinpot Castle’, a nearby
trading post and boarding house, while they
cleared their own land of manuka and fern,
building their homestead in stages. And
throughout it all, Adela kept a colourful diary.
A sizable stable was built first where they lived
temporarily. This structure was later moved on
rollers to enlarge the more recent building to
form their permanent home. Over the years,
their homestead continued to grow with the
addition of a kitchen, storeroom, stairs to an
upstairs loft and sash windows – “One being
a large bay commanding a fine ocean view”,
writes Adela in her diary. (See photo next page.)
Farm outbuildings eventually included a large
stable, pig pen, slaughter house, poultry house,
smithy, cowshed, well and a wash house.
Itinerant workers and tramps were employed
for the labour force. The sons of friends or
other young men emigrating from Ireland as
cadets initially worked for room and board, the
experience, and a horse of their own.
THE STEWARTS:
well educated and well off
Although coming from a ‘comfortable’
background (Adela was partly educated in
Paris), the Stewarts adapted better than most
to the rough pioneer life. Having lived in other
overseas countries such as Bermuda and the
West Indies helped them adjust to the early
muddy, primitive conditions.
One of the many joys of producing Coromandel Life is uncovering the fascinating
histories of people and places on and around the peninsula. Insights into both were
gained through our research into Athenree. In our last issue we wrote about the
restoration of this historic house, and honoured the many volunteers (some descendents of the
pioneers) who made it happen. The Athenree homestead was an important piece of history to
preserve. While all the other pioneer buildings fell to floods, fires or decay – Athenree is now
the only home still standing from the original settlement.
Here we offer the engaging tale of Hugh and Adela Stewart who emigrated from Ireland to the
NZ wilderness around the Bay of Plenty. However the man who established these Ulster-Scot
pioneer settlements was George Vesey Stewart, from the northern province of Ireland.
of ATHEnREE
Adela Stewart’s diary
provides a unique insight
into pioneer life, from a
woman’s perspective
GEoRGE VESEy STEWART:
Founder of the Katikati settlements
George Vesey Stewart purchased the
‘Katikati block’, some 10,000 acres near
Tauranga. Then, he returned to Ireland to
recruit his Protestant countrymen to settle
in New Zealand.
In 1875, Stewart’s first shipload with 27
families (including wife Margaret, and
their 9 children) left Belfast for a 3-month
journey to their new home. Vesey’s
second party of 378 settlers landed
in 1878. Family members this voyage
included his parents (Captain Mervyn
Stewart and Frances), and his brother
Hugh Stewart, his wife Adela, and their
son Mervyn.
VISIT ATHEnREE
or book an event, wedding or special tour
oPEn DAyS
Homestead & Station Refreshment Rooms
Open Jan – Mar every Sunday Noon – 3.00
Fee for Homestead Tour – $5 per person
Group Tours or Special Events:
We also offer for groups on request a
garden tour, or a combination of house
and garden tours and an Athenree Tea
package. Confirm details when making a
group booking.
Contact Val
or 07 863 4673.
Dating from 1878, this charming destination is a ‘must stop’ – enjoy the restored buildings,
extensive gardens, orchard trees, a railroad station cafe, and stunning ocean views.
However plan ahead! The Homestead and the Athenree Railway Station Refreshment Rooms,
offering an afternoon tea, are open to the public only on Sundays, January through March;
off season just the first Sunday of each month.
Historic Athenree Homestead is located midway between Waihi and Katikati
off SH2 (Katikati N Rd) on Athenree Rd near Athenree Gorge.
Painting by
Val Tubman
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