Mesopotamia, New Zealand

Mesopotamia is an area of land at the head of the Rangitata River, east of the Southern Alps and inland from Peel Forest. The area is home to the well known Mesopotamia Station which was established by influential novelist Samuel Butler in 1860 after arriving from England.[1] The name Mesopotamia means "between two rivers."[2]

For other uses, see Mesopotamia (disambiguation).

Much of the station is now managed by the Department of Conservation. Local activities include hunting, tramping, safaris, four wheel driving and jet boating. The area was used as a backdrop for the film series The Lord of the Rings.

History

Mesopotamia Station

While many attribute the formation of the station with Butler, most parts of the station had been allotted several years before to various individuals.[3][4] Butler arrived in New Zealand in 1860 and after taking several trips into the Canterbury High Country finally settled on and successfully applied for Run No. 367 in this area.[3] He spent the following winter on the run with his stock, constructing his hut several miles up Forest Creek. The location of where the hut was situated is marked by a plaque today. Butler expanded his holdings over the following years by acquiring neighboring runs and establishing the station.[3] Butler ran the station for approximately four years before selling and returning to England with double his initial investment (£8,000).[5]

The station was sold on numerous occasions to various owners including William Parkerson, Michael and General J. R. Campbell, George McMillan, George Gerard, William Nosworthy.[3] Mesopotamia Station was placed under tenure review in 2003, with 20,863 hectares out of the present 26,115 hectares becoming public conservation land.[6] The remaining land (5,252 hectares) was freeholded to the leaseholder.[6] The current holders of the pastoral lease is the Prouting family who have held it since 1945.[7]

Dr. Andrew Sinclair

Notable botanist and Colonial Secretary to New Zealand, Doctor Andrew Sinclair drowned while crossing the Rangitata River in 1861. Sinclair is buried on Mesopotamia Station in a marked grave near the river.

War memorial

Located at the station is a memorial to members of Mesopotamia Station who fought in the Great War. At the break out of the war the farm manager, the mustering gang and one of the wagoneers left with only two of the eight returning. [8]

Buildings

A school was constructed at the station in 1956 but closed in 1999.[7]

The remains of Butler's cob cottage can be found beside the former school.[9]

Throughout the area are numerous private and public huts, as well as the remnants of past huts.

References
  1. Dominy, Michele D. (2001). Calling the Station Home: Place and Identity in New Zealand's High Country. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. p. 20.
  2. Wynn-Williams, R. B. (2014). Free from Humbug: The Life and Times of Henry Wynn Williams. Christchurch, New Zealand: Shands Track publishing. p. 55.
  3. Acland, Leopold G. D. (1946). The Early Canterbury Runs: Containing the First, Second and Third (New) Series. Christchurch: Whitcombe and Tombs Limited. pp. 143–149.
  4. Newton, Peter (1960). Mesopotamia Station First 100 Years. Timaru, New Zealand: The Timaru Herald Co. LTD.
  5. King, Michael (2003). The Penguin History of New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand: Penguin Group. p. 224.
  6. "Historic Mesopotamia land protected for the future". Scoop. 7 April 2008.
  7. "Mesopotamia Station carved up under Govt scheme". Stuff. 31 January 2009.
  8. "RNZAF – High Country Heroes – Their Deeds Remembered". www.airforce.mil.nz. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  9. "South Canterbury: What Butler saw". The New Zealand Herald. 28 May 2014. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 25 May 2018.

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