Why is this place significant?

Why is this place Category 1 / Category 2?

The land where Somerville Park sits was taken up by the Somerville family in the mid-1850s. John Somerville (1828-1904) was born at Edgehead, Midlothian, Scotland. He came to New Zealand on the Blundell, along with his parents and extended family, arriving on 21 September 1848. The family took up residence at Andersons Bay in Dunedin and set up the first stone flour mills in Otago, supplying the whole of Dunedin for a time. The Somervilles took up land at the east end of the Warepa Bush, with John Somerville building his first house, later moving to the Chester Hill area. In 1854 both John and James purchased land at Warepa and Waitepeka in South Otago. In 1854 John moved south and built a bark cottage at Warepa Bush. In 1855 John married Margaret Oughton Brown, and walked from Dunedin to Clutha on their honeymoon. John purchased additional land in 1858, and in 1859 along with his brothers bought further blocks, giving the family holdings of about 1,200 acres in one block. Only John and James settled on the land. The flour mill was first erected at Warepa, bullock-driven initially, and then by a water-wheel using stones from the Andersons Bay mill. The Warepa mill burnt down and another was built at Waitepeka, using new 2 ft. 6 inch (76cm) stones. The Somervilles supplied a wide area, even taking supplies to the gold diggings in Central Otago. The general store business developed alongside, and by the late 1860s both John and James had moved from Warepa to the mill site at Waitepeka. A list of government employees notes J. Somerville as post master at Waitepeka, with the length of service recorded as over five years at this time. By the 1870s their venture had developed into a large business employing a large number of staff. They had, in addition to the general store and flour mill business, an oatmeal mill and kiln, flax mill, bunkrooms and huts for men, smithy, and operated a post office in the general store. Family historian Lenore Somerville cites the Clutha Leader: 'The block of buildings which go to make up Messrs. Somervilles' premises now suggests the idea of being the nucleus of a probable flourishing rural township in the fertile locality.' A photograph dated 1870 shows a large cluster of buildings centred on largely cleared farmland. These are described in a family history as the implement shed, grain store and general store (now known as the barn), flour and oatmeal mill, John Somerville's house, James Somerville's house, John Somerville's glasshouse and the water reservoir. A mill manager's cottage was built in the mid-1880s, on raised land overlooking the site of the mill and the general store. Waitepeka was the centre of the developing district at this time. John Somerville was civic minded, and took active interest in public affairs, was clerk and engineer to the Warepa Road Board, on the Warepa and Waitepeka School Committees, and was one of the first local councillors once the county system began operation. He was a locally significant figure, held in high esteem. John and James Somerville worked in partnership until about 1890-1892. The business was suffering from a shortage of capital: the expense of the new buildings, high wage costs, and much of the trade being carried out on a barter basis weighed heavily on the brothers. The partnership was wound up and the plant and goods sold by auction. John took over the general store and James the flour mill. Two of John's sons (John Aitken and George) took over the leases of their father's property and that of William. James' three sons, John, James and Robert took over their father's farm. One source records that the flour mill ceased operation in 1902 after the dam failed following a flood. John Somerville worked the general store with his daughter Margaret. There was still sufficient traffic on the road to Owaka to support the business, but on a small scale. John died in March 1904, and his cortege was said to have been the longest seen in the district, some 63 traps as well as horsemen. Members of the next two generations of Somervilles led by John's son John Aitken (1863-1946), carried on the various businesses associated with the property: the flaxmill, sawmill, carrying business and general store under the name of J.A. Somerville and Sons. The grounds were extensively planted, and other features added including a glasshouse, summerhouse and fountain (now in a ruined state). A newspaper article from 1990 identifies that there used to be four houses and a smithy as well as the general store and flourmill, and the family were engaged in many activities in the wider district. John Aitken's three sons managed the farm, farm contracting, shop and road transport. The first three commercial concerns were sold in the mid-1930s. The general store operated until around 1950. The next generation from the brothers went into the transport industry, which turned into Somerville Transport Company, later merged with the South Otago Transport Company. For some years the current owners, descendants from the original Somerville family, have been collecting artefacts and information associated with the Somerville family and displaying them in two buildings on the property (the Hut adjoining the Truck Shed, and the former Mill Manager's House).

Somerville Park is located in the rural hinterland of town of Balclutha in South Otago. Somerville Park is on Waitepeka Road, a small country back road some 10 kilometres south west of the town. Somerville Park is located at the end of gravelled drive. The group of buildings, structures and archaeological remains sit on a sloping section amidst an overgrown garden, mature trees and undergrowth. On the right of the drive is the former general store, a large timber building. Across the drive are the Hut (museum), Truck Shed and Oatmeal Kiln, which are located on the site of the former Somerville Flour Mill. The small Hut now used as a small museum was originally the Somerville Transport drivers and labourers sleepout at Waiwera South Railway Station. It is a single room weatherboard structure with a single door and window. The roof is corrugated iron. Alongside the Hut are the small office and truck sheds associated with the transport business. The shed is large timber -framed structure divided into bays. The building is located on the site of the flour mill. The remains of the wheel pit and associated race are located behind the Sheds. The now dry Mill Race runs from a dam to the south east. The remains of the Oatmeal Kiln sits next to the Truck Sheds. This is a brick structure with concrete render. The former general store, which houses the post office, is located on the right side of the driveway. This is a large timber structure, clad in weatherboard. The main body of the building is a single gable structure, with an open interior space. There is a lean-to addition on the west elevation which houses the post office. There is an open porch adjoining the post office, and providing a covered entrance area. The building is in poor condition. To the east of the general store are the ruins of John Somerville's 1860s residence. This was a substantial two-storey timber residence. The house is in a derelict state, in partial collapse. It was last occupied in the 1940s. To the north west of the 1860s House is the Mill Manager's House built in the 1880s. This is a standard single storey villa style residence set above the mature orchard and gardens. The Mill Manager's House is currently used as a museum, bringing together items from the Bannerman and Somerville families, and other ephemera, from the Balclutha area. To the south west of the Mill Manager's House is the current residence built in the 1930s. This is a single storey timber building clad in weatherboard. To the south of the 1930s house is the in-ground water reservoir, dating from at least the 1870s. It is six feet deep, and constructed of concrete with a corrugated iron roof. The reservoir is still in use. There are other archaeological remnants of the Somervilles' occupation, including a ruined summer house, covered in vegetation, the foundation of the glass house, and the associated orchard and gardens dating from the early occupation. The owner notes that there are various rubbish pits on the property, and remains of the mill, such as mill stones, on site.

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A fully referenced registration report is available from the NZHPT Otago/Southland Area 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.