Map 1875 showing Peeress Town

The Peeress ship was another significant milestone in Timaru's immigrant history because it brought 24 immigrant families in 1874, marking a major effort by the Canterbury Provincial Council to populate and develop the region despite challenging conditions.

In 1874, the Peeress ship brought 24 immigrant families to New Zealand, marking a significant chapter in the history of Pātītī Point and Timaru. The journey, which began with high hopes and dreams of a new life, would see these families establish a temporary settlement that left a lasting legacy.

Arrival and Settlement

The immigrants aboard the Peeress, mostly from England, reached the shores of Pātītī Point on July 25, 1874, after 118 grueling days at sea. Although the ship initially arrived at Pātītī Point on July 24, rough seas forced a detour to Lyttelton. The following day, the passengers were transferred to two steamers to reach their final destination, as direct voyages to Timaru without port facilities were rare.

Upon arrival, these families were allowed to build temporary accommodation on a designated quarantine reserve. The simple cottages, made from cob and sod (a combination of clay, tussock, and dirt-bricks, with sod cut from the ground), were a welcome relief compared to the barracks they had previously occupied. Despite the poor sanitary conditions and the prevalence of diseases like typhoid fever, many families chose to stay on, as they had nowhere else to go.

Challenges and Community Response

Life in the temporary settlement was far from ideal. Sanitation issues and crime were concerns for some residents of the neighboring Timaru Borough. However, since the area fell outside the council boundaries, the borough had no authority to intervene. Despite these challenges, the community of Peeress town made the best of their situation, with several families turning their cottages into comfortable homes.

Government Intervention and Relocation

The government, aiming to keep the area as a quarantine/military reserve rather than allowing it to become a permanent settlement, eventually ordered all residents to vacate the township. The buildings were razed, and the land was sown with English grass, returning it to a reserve. This decision marked the end of the Peeress immigrants' settlement at Pātītī Point, forcing the families to find new homes once again.

Post-Vacation Usage and Legacy

The area at Pātītī Point has a rich history that predates the Peeress immigrants. It has been a place of shelter for hundreds of years, with artifacts like moa bones and a moa hunter’s necklace found in the area, dating back over 800 years. In the 1830s, the Weller Brothers established a short-lived whaling station there, with Samuel Williams, a member of the crew, featuring in other Timaru history stories. A whale pot for rendering blubber still stands at the current-day carpark, serving as a reminder of this era.

Following the departure of the Peeress immigrants, the reserve was considered for various uses, including a battery and rifle practice. The rail line from the rock quarry, now Centennial Park, used to run up Otipua Rd and down to the port, intersecting with the rifle training area. Today, a WuHoo Timaru sign at the car park celebrates William Greene’s painting, The Roadmakers 1916, depicting the labor required to build roads for the growing town.

Cultural and Historical Significance

"Pātītī Point is located on the South Canterbury coastline at Timaru. Pātītī was a passenger on the Ārai-te-uru waka, which capsized off Matakaea on the North Otago Coastline. After the capsize, many of the passengers went ashore to explore the land. However, they needed to be back at the waka before daylight. Most did not make it, including Pātītī, and instead were transformed into many of the well-known landmarks of Te Waipounamu. In 1880, Hoani Kāhu from Arowhenua described Pātītī as “he kāinga nohoanga, mahinga kai, and he tauraka a waka”. - https://kahurumanu.co.nz/

Interactive History Exploration

For those interested in exploring this rich history, various resources are available. Historical plaques and signs at the car park provide insights, and after big swells, the beach below Pātītī Point cliff can reveal historical artifacts like old boilers and boot prints. Sites such as pressreader.com and rootsweb.com offer detailed accounts of the Peeress immigrants, including passenger lists and stories of those who perished due to the harsh conditions.

Images from above 1956 can be viewed at retrolens.nz, and the Kā Huru Manu project offers an exploration of original Māori place names and histories at kahurumanu.co.nz/atlas. Additionally, the Aigantighe website features details about the WuHoo Timaru signs and William Greene’s painting, The Roadmakers 1916, at aigantighe.co.nz/wuhoo-timaru.

The story of the Peeress immigrants and their time at Pātītī Point is a testament to the resilience and determination of these early settlers, whose legacy continues to be remembered and explored today.

FDM-0690-G-TimaruFromTheAir-Caroline Bay harbour and town-DougMill-air transport and survey business from a hangar at Hobsonville Point between 1927-1937- Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections FDM-0690-G