The millhouse, with its under-shot wheel powered by water brought from further up the valley, is the technological hub of the farm property. The belt driven machinery in the mill, or machine shop, includes a milling saw, lathe, and a generator to produce electricity.
The millhouse was not a successful commercial venture, most of the timber cut there being for private or local use. The generators installed in 1901 and 1922 provided the electric power for one of-the earliest electrical lighting systems on Banks Peninsula.
List Entry Information
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
4392
Date Entered
28th June 1990
Date of Effect
28th June 1990
City/District Council
Christchurch City
Region
Canterbury Region
Extent of List Entry
Extent includes part of the land described as RS 129 (RT 851738), Canterbury Land District and the building known as Orton Bradley Park Millhouse thereon. Refer to Extent map tabled at Rārangi Kōrero Committee Meeting on 30 May 2024.
Legal description
RS 129 (RT 851738), Canterbury Land District
Location Description
Council rating address is 1 Charteris Bay Road
Status
Listed
List Entry Status
Historic Place Category 1
Access
Private/No Public Access
List Number
4392
Date Entered
28th June 1990
Date of Effect
28th June 1990
City/District Council
Christchurch City
Region
Canterbury Region
Extent of List Entry
Extent includes part of the land described as RS 129 (RT 851738), Canterbury Land District and the building known as Orton Bradley Park Millhouse thereon. Refer to Extent map tabled at Rārangi Kōrero Committee Meeting on 30 May 2024.
Legal description
RS 129 (RT 851738), Canterbury Land District
Location Description
Council rating address is 1 Charteris Bay Road
Why is this place significant?
Historic Significance
Historical Significance or Value This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. The mill house or machine shop was the centre of a remarkable farm industrial facility on Banks Peninsula. The technology used reflects the input of innovative property owners over two generations. The property is now a public park.
Physical Significance
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY: It is an unpretentious, utilitarian building well suited to its function of housing a mill and an electricity generator. TOWNSCAPE/LANDMARK VALUE: Although situated against a hillside and surrounded by mature trees and other buildings it has little landscape value.
Why is this place significant?
Historic Significance
Historical Significance or Value This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. The mill house or machine shop was the centre of a remarkable farm industrial facility on Banks Peninsula. The technology used reflects the input of innovative property owners over two generations. The property is now a public park.
Physical Significance
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. ARCHITECTURAL QUALITY: It is an unpretentious, utilitarian building well suited to its function of housing a mill and an electricity generator. TOWNSCAPE/LANDMARK VALUE: Although situated against a hillside and surrounded by mature trees and other buildings it has little landscape value.
Construction Materials
Timber frame; corrugated iron cladding
Notable Features
The machinery system on the millhouse.
Construction Materials
Timber frame; corrugated iron cladding
Notable Features
The machinery system on the millhouse.
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: This is a simple, utilitarian building, clad in corrugated iron. Rectangular in plan, the Millhouse has an opening at the east end, two sets of double doors on the south side, and one set of double doors on each of the north and west sides. It has a medium-pitched gable roof, with two skylights. The water wheel on the north side was used to power a timber mill and an electric generator. MODIFICATIONS: Since 1972 the millhouse, water wheel and machinery have been repaired and restored.
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION: This is a simple, utilitarian building, clad in corrugated iron. Rectangular in plan, the Millhouse has an opening at the east end, two sets of double doors on the south side, and one set of double doors on each of the north and west sides. It has a medium-pitched gable roof, with two skylights. The water wheel on the north side was used to power a timber mill and an electric generator. MODIFICATIONS: Since 1972 the millhouse, water wheel and machinery have been repaired and restored.
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
20th December 1990
Information Sources
Press
Press, 17 May 1915, p.9.
Challenger, 1985
N. Challenger, The Water Technology, Orton Bradley Park. Christchurch, 1985
Conway, 1975
MJ Conway, Orton Bradley Park. Landscape Proposals for a Farm Park at Charteris Bay. unpublished thesis for Diploma in Landscape Architecture, Lincoln College, 1975
Gregory-Hunt, 1981
Karen Gregory-Hunt, 'Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, a History', unpublished, 1981
Paine, 1970
Edith Paine, The Southern Bays of Lyttelton Harbour, Christchurch, 1970
Other Information
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. A copy of this report is available from the NZHPT Southern Region office Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions.
Historical and Associated Iwi / Hapū / Whānau
Completion Date
20th December 1990
Information Sources
Press
Press, 17 May 1915, p.9.
Challenger, 1985
N. Challenger, The Water Technology, Orton Bradley Park. Christchurch, 1985
Conway, 1975
MJ Conway, Orton Bradley Park. Landscape Proposals for a Farm Park at Charteris Bay. unpublished thesis for Diploma in Landscape Architecture, Lincoln College, 1975
Gregory-Hunt, 1981
Karen Gregory-Hunt, 'Orton Bradley Park, Charteris Bay, a History', unpublished, 1981
Paine, 1970
Edith Paine, The Southern Bays of Lyttelton Harbour, Christchurch, 1970
Other Information
This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1980. This report includes the text from the original Building Classification Committee report considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. A copy of this report is available from the NZHPT Southern Region office Please note that entry on the New Zealand Heritage List/Rarangi Korero identifies only the heritage values of the property concerned, and should not be construed as advice on the state of the property, or as a comment of its soundness or safety, including in regard to earthquake risk, safety in the event of fire, or insanitary conditions.
