The 1853 sketch by "W.D." captures Timaru's early days, featuring George Rhodes' cottage on the foreshore, now the Landing Services Building site. This first European house in South Canterbury, built in 1851, served as a home, pub, and birthplace of Timaru's first European child.
But what does this have to do with a shipping crate?
In 1851, George Rhodes built a simple cottage on Timaru Beach, which also served as the first public house. Samuel and Anne Williams had their first child, William Williams, in this house, using a gin case as a cradle.
The Rhodes family moved to their sheep run, where James Mackenzie famously stole a flock of 1,000 sheep in 1855, leading to the naming of the Mackenzie District. Taiko, a shepherd working for the Rhodes, helped find Mackenzie, and a memorial at the bottom of the Taiko zigzag recognizes him.
Samuel Williams returned to Timaru in 1856 with his family, moving into the Rhodes cottage. Timaru's first European baby was born there, and the first edition of the Timaru Herald was printed in their kitchen. A plaque commemorates this site at the Timaru Landing Services Building.
By 1859, 120 settlers arrived on the Strathallan, growing the population to around 1,000 by 1866. In 1882, the first export of frozen meat left Timaru for the UK, boosting the local economy. Despite this growth, the treacherous sea claimed around 22 ships between 1865-1890.
Photos:: Roselyn Fauth