Orton Bradley Park Millhouse

In 1859 the property at Charteris Bay was purchased by the Reverend R R Bradley. He farmed the property until his death in 1892, when It was taken over by his son, R Orton Bradley. He contributed greatly to the technological development of the property and on his death bequeathed it to the nation as a 'National Park'. It failed to meet the criteria for this status, but a special public status was provided for by the R O Bradley Estate Act 1972.

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.

Orton Bradley Park Millhouse, Charteris Bay | R Burgess | 19/09/2023 | Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

List Entry Information

Overview

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

Detailed List Entry

Significance

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.

Physical Description

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.

Reference

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

Report Written By

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.

Further Information

Current Usages

Former Usages

Themes

Web Links

Overview

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

Significance

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 Information

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.

Physical Description

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.

Reference

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.

Location

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