By Roselyn Fauth
Mary Hepzibah Turnbull (Book Richard Turnbull a Timaru Pioneer) Richard Turnbulls Chair South Canterbury Museum-CN-6108.
Right Clarkson and Turnbulls wooden store on the Corner of what is now Stafford Street and George Street. The Turnbulls Home was next door.
Sometimes, connecting to history begins with an object. For me it was a monument at a cemetery and then it was a chair.
While browsing the South Canterbury Museum’s online archive and searching for “Turnbull,” I came across a photograph of a chair labelled as Richard Turnbull’s. I included this in a pull up banner for D.C Turnbull & Co when they celebrated their 130 year milestone of business. The timeline absorbed a lot of time, but I really enjoyed the deep dive and side quests over the last five years.
Recently, I have been taking Harvard University’s free course Tangible Things, which encourages looking at objects not just for what they are but for what they can represent. For a unit module I decided to revisit the chair, and pull Mary into the story so we can learn about the woman behind Richard Turnbull. Today's blog is not about the chair, it is about what the chair might have meant to Mary Hepzibah Turnbull, and using the object to connect to her story in the chapters of Timaru's past.
I haven't been successful in finding specific information about the chair. But, I think it travelled with her and Richard from Oxfordshire in 1851. It would have been packed onto the emigrant ship Fatima as part of their few possessions. Perhaps it stood in their cottage in Lyttelton, where she gave birth to her first child just weeks after arriving in New Zealand while Richard farmed at Halswell. Perhaps it moved with her to Timaru, into the home on George Street where she raised ten children and lived through events that would shape a town. It may even have survived the Great Fire of 1868, carried once more into a rebuilt home.
The chair sits in the museum's archive. I have never physically seen it. I only knew about it from a history hunt online. It is identified only with Richard’s name in the description. Why not Mary’s? As information about the chair is scarce, so I turned back to a book written by Mary's great grandson Phillip, to learn more about Mary, and imagine her with the chair, and what it could have meant to her.
I think Mary Hepzibah’s story can invite us to imagine how women shaped early Timaru in ways that often went unrecorded. It asks us to look beyond official names and public positions to recognise the endurance that built households and communities. I believe that by learning about her life, we can learn a bit more about ourselves by reflecting on the past with our own lens. Her story has helped me realise what I am grateful for. And that raising my children with my husband is significant in itself to contributing to the future. What we do in our lives don't have to be the trailblazing firsts, or the winners, or the notable people. We all make a difference in how we live our lives and raise our families.
From Bread Riots to New Beginnings: Leaving Oxfordshire for a New Life in Canterbury: The World They Departed
When Mary Hepzibah Watts married Richard Turnbull in 1851, she was about 21 and he was around 25. Soon after, they boarded the Fatima and left Oxfordshire behind. To understand what they were seeking in Canterbury, I thought it might help with we look more closely at the world they were leaving.
Richard Turnbull was born in 1826 in the city of Oxford, the son of James Turnbull, a baker and confectioner, and his wife Elizabeth (née Hall). He grew up in a tradesman’s household in a bustling university city before training as a draper (to specialise in selling cloth, textiles, and sometimes ready-made clothing) a trade that would later define his career in New Zealand as a merchant and storekeeper.
Mary Hepzibah Watts, on the other hand, was born in 1830 in rural Oxfordshire to Thomas Watts, an agricultural labourer, and Elizabeth Smith. She grew up in one of the small villages or parishes scattered through the county (a landlocked area of south-east England with roots in medieval boundaries) where life revolved around farm work, seasonal rhythms, and close-knit rural communities.
I wonder how they met.
Oxfordshire in the 1830s and 1840s was a patchwork of thatched cottages, old market towns, and agricultural estates. Most families lived modestly in stone or brick cottages, fetching water from wells and cooking over open hearths. Their diets were simple. Bread, porridge, and potatoes formed the staples, with meat an occasional luxury.
Mary’s birth year, 1830, coincided with the Swing Riots, a wave of rural protest across southern England. Agricultural labourers, angry at low wages, soaring food prices, and the introduction of threshing machines that took away winter work, rioted and destroyed machinery. In Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties, “Captain Swing” letters threatened landlords, while the Poor Law offered little support, and the enclosure of common land stripped villagers of rights they had once depended on.
Food costs added to this hardship. Bread was the staple of working-class diets, and in the mid-1800s a standard loaf cost around six to eight pence. (For context, I think a loaf of bread in 2025 costs about $3–$4 NZD (around £1.50), whereas in the mid-1800s it was probably the equivalent of $6.80–$9.10 NZD (or £3.25–£4.33) at a time when working families relied on bread far more heavily than we do today.)
Families might spend over half a day’s wages each week simply to afford enough bread. In bad years, grain prices spiked, and older villagers could still recall the bread riots of earlier decades, when loaves became unaffordable and hunger swept through rural communities.
For Mary and Richard, this was the world they knew: one of narrow lanes and hedged fields, shaped by class divisions and limited opportunity. Oxford’s dreaming spires were near enough to see but far beyond their reach. Emigration promised something England could not: land of their own, food they could grow themselves, and an escape from the relentless grind of rural poverty.
Emigrating to Canterbury
Mary was pregnant when she boarded the Fatima. The voyage took more than three months. Cabin passengers like Mary and Richard had purchased land orders through the Canterbury Association, which entitled them to land and better accommodation on board than those travelling in steerage.
When they reached Lyttelton in December 1851, the settlement was raw and basic. Mary gave birth within weeks, but their baby, also named Mary, survived only a month. Over the next decade, she bore six more children while Richard farmed 300 acres at Halswell, clearing Harakeke (flax) and tussock. Mary stayed in Lyttelton, where at least there were shops and neighbours, while Christchurch remained muddy, flat and plagued by poor drainage.
In a letter written years later to her cousin Edmund Jackson, Mary described those early years: “We lived a struggling life with so much to do.” She also wrote, “God has given me a good kind Christian husband or I should have felt the separation from my relatives much more.” It is a glimpse of her loneliness, but also of her determination to keep going in the face of isolation.
Moving to Timaru
In 1864, Richard and Mary moved with their children south to Timaru. It was only five years since the first immigrant ship, the Strathallan, had landed. Their new home was on George Street, close to the shore where ships anchored offshore and unloaded cargo by surfboat.
Richard opened his shop with David Clarkson.
David Clarkson and Richard Turnbull first crossed paths in the commercial networks of early Christchurch. Clarkson, a draper and founder of Dunstable House, depended on carriers to move his imported goods from Lyttelton to the rapidly growing town. Richard Turnbull, working as a carrier with stables near Cashel Street, was part of this vital supply chain. Their shared involvement in Christchurch’s merchant district placed them in close proximity, forging a professional connection built on trade, transport, and mutual trust.
By the early 1860s, both men were in the thick of Cashel Street’s business hub... Clarkson operating his expanding drapery and Turnbull running his transport services nearby. When Clarkson sold Dunstable House to William Pratt in 1863 and shifted focus toward wholesale and regional trade, Turnbull’s logistical experience made him an ideal partner. Together, they seized on Timaru’s emerging port and growing population, founding Clarkson & Turnbull Ltd in 1863.
Their complementary skills drove the firm’s success. Clarkson brought retail expertise and London import connections, while Turnbull provided the transport knowledge and regional distribution networks essential for supplying outlying settlements. The partnership quickly became one of Timaru’s earliest and most influential mercantile ventures.
In 1865, they issued copper penny tokens showing a ship and an imagined breakwater. At that time, Timaru had no breakwater or proper port. The token was a symbol of belief in the future.
For Mary, life would have been full of practical demands. Cooking was done over open fires, water was carried by hand and floors were scrubbed on hands and knees. Raising a family of young children in this environment required constant work.
ABOVE: Turnbull and Clarkson’s wooden shop ‘The Corner’ on Stafford St and George St around 1862-68 before the Great fire. – South Canterbury Museum CN 201904932
Their partnership created one of Timaru’s earliest wholesale and drapery businesses (Clarkson & Turnbull Ltd, 1863–68), forming a bridge between Christchurch’s Cashel Street trade (Dunstable House) and Timaru’s provincial commercial development.
ABOVE: The intersection of Stafford and George Streets, Timaru, circa 1864 to 1868. Clarkson and Turnbulls store over the road on the right. And up the hill you can see houses including Mr. and Mrs. Byrne's residence on the sites where the Criterion and the Theatre Royal are today. – Section of a photo by William Ferrier. South Canterbury Museum CN: 6108
John Liddington Higgs (1864-1919). Timaru Coastline, 1884. Oil on board. Aigantighe Art Gallery Collection 2002.1
In this painting John L. Higgs captures the view from Patiti Point looking north towards central Timaru and its harbour in 1884. He has given prominence to a large six-storey building known as the Timaru Milling Company. The Timaru Milling Company building was built in 1882, replacing a wooden mill that burnt down on this site in in 1881. The mill was the first in New Zealand to use steel rollers rather than grindstones for milling. This fact and how the painting records the height and size of the new brick Timaru Milling Company, seems to be a celebration of the feat of engineering – a human accomplishment depicted alongside, and as a comparison, to the natural beauty, but also vast wildness, of the Timaru coastline. John L. Higgs was the son of John and Alice Higgs who had a farm on Wai-iti Road. Higgs later moved to Blenheim, where he ran a picture framing and signwriting business for many years. - Aigantighe Art Gallery
Photograph of Flockton Well near the corner of George St and the Great North Road (Stafford St), between April and December 1868. It is viewed looking along George St to the west. The original wooden Bank of New Zealand building is visible on the corner (centre of image), with Clarkson and Turnbull across the road (left of centre) and the Club Hotel and Flockton Well in the foreground at the left-hand side of the image. There is a man standing on the well and two boys in front of it. The Russell Ritchie and Co. building is on the right corner. The photograph is mounted on a card backing with the photographers' details and "View Up George St., Timaru." handwritten on lower edge. There are also handwritten labels on the top and lower edges of the mount (with small arrows pointing to the appropriate site) that identify the buildings. - nzmuseums.co.nz/3359/flockton-well-corner-of-george-st-and-the-great-north-roadSouth Canterbury Museum
The Great Fire of 1868
On 7 December 1868, Timaru burned. A fire tore through the business district, destroying three quarters of the wooden town, including Richard’s shop and their family home. The Timaru Herald estimated losses of £70,000.
I imagine Mary standing on Stafford Street, watching flames leap from roof to roof, the smell of smoke sharp in the air. Neighbours formed bucket lines, but little could be done. I wonder what it was like to work through the shock, the grief of loss of all their hard work, and then to muster the energy to rebuild.
Richard rebuilt quickly. His new bluestone store was described as “an ornament to the town,” with its stone pillars and white cornice. Yet the cost was heavy. Richard sold furniture, 500 books and even a Queen Anne china cabinet at auction to meet expenses. Mary would have seen treasured possessions carried away, a reminder that progress often came at a personal price.
ABOVE: 1870 photograph of what was then known as South Road, Timaru (present day Stafford Street) showing construction underway of Richard Turnbull’s Stone Store up the hill on the left. On the corner is Richard Turnbulls shop that was rebuilt in stone after the 1868 fire. – Alfred Charles Barker, Canterbury Museum ID 13/57.
The 1868 fire wasn't the only flames to damange their home.
Five-Roomed House Damaged by Fire - Timaru Herald, Volume C, Issue 15321, 15 April 1914, Page 3
At 4 a.m. yesterday, a five-roomed house on Nelson Terrace, owned by Mr. R. C. Macfarlane of Wanganui and occupied by Mr. T. Turnbull—auctioneer for the New Zealand and Australian Land Company—was partially destroyed by fire.
Mr. Turnbull, who was alone in the house at the time, awoke to find his bedroom filled with smoke. Upon escaping, he discovered that the rear portion of the house was ablaze. He roused a neighbour, who quickly contacted the Fire Brigade by telephone.
The Brigade responded promptly, but the fire had already taken a strong hold and was clearly visible throughout the neighbourhood. Two leads of hose were deployed to bring the main fire under control, but as the flames had spread above the ceilings, firefighters had to remove sheets of roofing iron to extinguish the final embers.
The back of the house was almost completely destroyed. However, the two front rooms and their contents were saved—though they suffered considerable damage from heat, smoke, and water.
Mrs. Turnbull and the family were away in Dunedin at the time. Mr. Turnbull is unable to determine the cause of the fire, noting that no fires had been lit in the house since the previous Thursday. He believes it may have started in the kitchen.
Mr. Turnbull held insurance of £225 on his belongings with the National Insurance Company. Mr. Macfarlane carried a policy of £450 on the building with the South British Insurance Company.
Timaru, 1875, Dunedin, by Burton Brothers, Alfred Burton. Te Papa (C.014371)
Stafford Street, Timaru (1880-1884). Hocken Digital Collections, accessed 10/09/2025, https://hocken.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/66686
The Post Office and the Public Library, Timaru. Hocken Digital Collections, accessed 10/09/2025, https://hocken.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/23731
The Dunstable House name remained on the building after the 1869 rebuild because it continued to operate under that title, even after David Clarkson sold it to William Pratt in 1863. Pratt retained the name for its established reputation, and when John Ballantyne took over in 1872, he also used it briefly (“J. Ballantyne & Co., late Dunstable House”) to reassure customers. In Victorian retail, shop names often outlasted their founders, functioning both as business brands and building identities, so the signage persisted for continuity despite changes in ownership and structure.
Richard's Vision for the Port.
In 1873, Richard hosted a public meeting in his warehouse. Seven hundred locals gathered to discuss the future of Timaru’s port. Richard had long recognised that the town’s growth depended on having a reliable and efficient port. Years earlier, he had minted a token to use as currency in his shop, which featured a dream image of a harbour, even before Timaru became an official port of entry.
The 1873 meeting led to the establishment of the Timaru Harbour Board. Work on the breakwater began in 1878, though not without opposition. Government marine engineer John Blackett warned that the new structure might disrupt coastal sediment flows. He even recommended the breakwater be destroyed.
Many locals were unconvinced by Blackett’s opinion. In protest, they constructed an effigy of him, paraded it through the town, filled it with fireworks and blew it up.
Over the years, around 30 ships were wrecked off Timaru’s coast. It is easy to understand why Richard and others considered the breakwater essential. Remarkably, Timaru’s was one of only two independently owned ports in the country, the other being Tauranga. Local ratepayers were both investors and owners of the port.
ABOVE: 1865 “New Zealand Timaru” Token , by Clarkson & Turnbull. The reverse shows a ship in harbour, behind a breakwater. The business was the first to export flour from Timaru. The harbour at Timaru was unsafe for vessels in high winds until the construction of a breakwater, a project that did not begin until 1879. – Courtesy Te Papa (NU005401)
ABOVE: c1877 The Roadstead in Timaru before the breakwater was constructed. Courtesy of Private Collection. - Illustrated Australian News (Melbourne, Vic. : 1876-1889) Wed 3 Oct 1877. P155
Engraving showing the Timaru Breakwater 1888. Picturesque atlas of Australasia"; The Picturesque Atlas Publishing Co.
ABOVE: Timaru Harbour, Province of Canterbury : general chart of Timaru and adjoining coast by Sir John Coode showing works recommended by Sir John Coode, August 1875. (from Patiti Point to Washdyke Lagoon). The proposed works are shown in red. – Courtesy of South Canterbury Museum.
Shipwrecks and the Alexandra Rescue
Before the harbour breakwater was built in 1879, Timaru’s open roadstead was dangerous. Ships anchored offshore in all weather and wrecks were frequent.
In 1882, two vessels, the Benvenue and the City of Perth, were driven ashore in a violent sea on a clear blue day. When the harbourmaster sounded the alarm to summon the sea rescue, the town also gathered on the cliffs to watch. At one point everyone was safe, but The Harbour Captain Master Alexandra Mills thought there could be a chance to save the City of Perth. When they realised it was hopeless they started to row back to the shore, and at one point 40 men ended up fighting for their lives in the wild sea. The 1862 lifeboat Alexandra launched through the surf. Among its crew was Arthur Turnbull, Mary’s son.
The boat capsized a few times. Each time, the men struggled back aboard, soaked and exhausted, and rowed again into the surf. The boat was designed to be able to flip itself back over, with cork at the front and back giving it buoyancy. So while the dumping would have been frustrating, at least the boat didn't sink, and they did have the option to climb back in. At dusk, the final rescue run brought in the last survivors. Sadly nine men died from the events on that awful day, including Captain Mills. The day was recalled as Black Sunday and a monument was placed on Sophia Street to honour those lost and those who were brave to rush to the rescue.
If you visit the South Canterbury Museum, you can see a remarkable link to this event. The ship’s bell from the Benvenue is on display there, donated by Mary’s son David Clarkson Turnbull (named after Richard's business partner). David also known as D.C. recalled witnessing the dramatic sea rescue as a boy around the age of 10. I don't know how he came to possess the bell. It's donation is a important reminder of how personal memory and local history can intersect in the museum’s collections.
I imagine Mary on the cliff that day, scanning the waves for Arthur, I bet her hands were clenched in fear. When he finally staggered ashore alive, she must have felt the same mixture of pride, relief and dread that every mother there probably also understood. I wonder if Richard saw the event unfold. Richard was elected MP for Timaru in 1881 until he died in 1890 in Wellington while attending Parliament.
William Ferrier (1855-1922). Breakwater Timaru Running a Southerly Gale, 1888. Oil on canvas. Aigantighe Art Gallery Collection 2002.10.
William Ferrier was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and immigrated to New Zealand in 1869. He trained as a photographer in Christchurch and Oamaru, and in 1881, set up his own studio in Timaru. Ferrier was the grandfather of the well-known New Zealand painter, Colin McCahon (1919-87), who was born in Timaru. Ferrier is known for his success in documenting a vital part of Timaru’s history on photographic film, but he was also a painter. His landscape paintings were exhibited with the South Canterbury Art Society, of which he was a founding member. He was also a member of the Otago Art Society and Canterbury Society of Arts. Breakwater Timaru Running a Southerly Gale was produced from one of Ferrier’s photographs (see reproduced above). This seascape, with its crashing waves and stormy skies shows the power of nature, and was a popular theme Ferrier returned to in both photography and painting. - Aigantighe Art Gallery
After the storm (Timaru Beach 1882, showing the wreck of the ships Benvenue and City of Perth, 1883). It is a romantic painting of the scene. In reality the sea was rough, but the it was a blue sky day. John Gibb 1883. Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, bequest of Mr Thomas Peacock Esq, 1922
Melbourne : David Syme and Co., June 10, 18821882 Engraving published in Illustrated Australian news. http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/253140 - https://viewer.slv.vic.gov.au/?entity=IE8283546&file=FL21663586&mode=browse
Illustrated Australian News (Melbourne, Vic. : 1876 - 1889), Saturday 10 June 1882, page 85 - nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63185597
The wrecks at Timaru, New Zealand: Lifeboats rescuing sailors in heavy surf, one life boat named City of Perth. Wood engraving by Ashton, Julian Rossi, 1851-1942. slv.vic.gov.au/permalink/f/1cl35st/SLV_ROSETTAIE670476
The South Canterbury Museum has an exhibit that includes the Benvenue Bell and medals, the rocket brigade lifesaving launch and the canon that summoned the rocket brigade. Photograpy courtesy of Roselyn Fauth.
This memorial, paid for by public subscription, was constructed as a token of gratitude to those involved in an endeavor to rescue the crew of two ships, the Benvenue and the City of Perth that foundered off the coast of Timaru on 14 May 1882.
A tablet commemorates the Benvenue and City of Perth rescue of 14 May 1882, listing those who perished and those who survived in the effort to save lives. Among those who died were Alexander Mills, Harbour Master of Timaru; John Blacklock, First Mate of the City of Perth; Robert Gardiner, Second Mate of the City of Perth; Donald McLean, Carpenter of the City of Perth; William McLern, Waterman of Timaru; Emanuel Nielson, Boatman of Timaru; Martin Beach, Boatman of Timaru; Harry McDonald, Boatman of Timaru; and George Falgar, Boatman of Timaru. The survivors included W. Budd, R.H. Balsom, D. Bradley, I.J. Bradley, P. Bradley, Robert Collins, W. Collis, James Cracknell, J. Crocome, George Davis, G. Findlay, Christopher Graham, W. Harford, T. Hart, A.L. Haylock, J. Henneker, J. Houlihon, J. Isherwood, E.J. Ivey, M. Le Roy, C. McDonald, J. McIntosh, Francis McKenzie, W.R. McKenzie, T. Martin, G. Mentac, Charles Moore, T. Morgan, W. Oxby, S.J. Passmore, J.A. Paterson, J. Reid, Andrew Shaab, G. Shirtcliffe, W.S. Smith, George Sunnaway, M. Thompson, J. Thomson, A.B. Turnbull, Henry Trousselot, C. Vogeler, and W.H. Walls.
Benvenue Monument, Sophia Street, Timaru - Photograph Roselyn Fauth 2024
The 1861 Alexandra lifeboat in storage 2023 - Photo by Roselyn Fauth
Family and Daily Life
By 1881, Mary wrote proudly to Edmund Jackson: “We have ten children living, the eldest Tom is now 28, the youngest Wilfred Watts is nearly 6… we keep no servant but each one does their part to help.”
Their son Saxby, born in 1869, carried a story too. He was named during the “Saxby tidal wave” scare, when a British astrologer, Commander Saxby, predicted that a combination of lunar alignment and atmospheric conditions would cause catastrophic high tides and a tidal wave that would submerge New Zealand’s coasts. Newspapers spread the prediction widely, and it caused considerable alarm among settlers living near the sea, including those in Timaru, where the shoreline was central to daily life and shipping. Of course, nothing happened. The tides rose slightly, but no disaster came. Perhaps Mary and Richard laughed and kept the name anyway.
Their household must have been full of noise, work and routine. Water was carried, bread baked, floors scrubbed and younger children minded. This unseen domestic labour was as much a part of Timaru’s growth as the public work and harbour breakwater.
Politics and Later Years
Richard served on the Provincial Council, the Harbour Board and later in Parliament. While he travelled to meetings and sessions in Wellington, Mary managed the home. His letters often discussed which sons might help in the business and who was working where, a glimpse into family life behind the public roles.
Richard died in 1890 while attending Parliament in Wellington. By then, Timaru had gas lamps, asphalted streets and a working port.
Richard Turnbull’s funeral in 1890 was a significant event in Timaru, reflecting his prominence as both a businessman and the sitting Member of Parliament for the town. After his sudden death in Wellington from Bright’s disease while attending Parliament, his body was returned to Timaru by ship. The Timaru Herald reported that shops closed and flags flew at half-mast as a mark of respect. His funeral cortege was one of the largest the town had seen, with civic leaders, harbour board members, business associates, and townspeople joining Mary and their children to pay tribute. The procession moved through Stafford Street to the Timaru Cemetery, where he was laid to rest in the Anglican section. Speeches at the graveside praised his dedication to Timaru’s harbour development, his long-standing role in local commerce, and his service as their parliamentary representative. For Mary, now widowed after nearly 40 years of marriage, it marked the end of an era.
Mary lived on another twelve years. She died in Timaru on 14 October 1902 at the age of 73 and was buried beside Richard in Timaru Cemetery. She had seen the town transform from an isolated landing place to a busy port with churches, schools and stone buildings. Her burial beside him would later link them both permanently to the town they helped build. Today when you visit the cemetery Richard has a monument prominently in front of the cemetery gates. The Timaru Cemetery Gates were designed by their architect son, James Turnbull.
Left: Richard Turnbull's Will and Right Mary's signature on the will. https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE64655168
These papers are about the probate of Richard Turnbull, an auctioneer from Timaru, Canterbury, who died in Wellington on 17 July 1890. His will, written on 13 April 1887, left everything he owned to his wife, Mary Hephzibah Turnbull, and named her as the executor and guardian of their children. After his death, Mary gave a sworn statement on 4 August 1890, confirming his death, agreeing to carry out his wishes, and noting that his estate was worth less than £300. The District Court in Timaru officially approved the will and granted Mary probate on 5 August 1890, giving her the legal right to manage his estate, pay any debts, and distribute what was left. The will was signed by two witnesses, D. Turnbull, a clerk, and W. Sutton, a butcher, both from Timaru. The court documents include Mary’s affidavit, the probate order, and stamps showing fees paid, completing the legal process that allowed Mary to take charge of her husband’s estate.
Wheat, Wool and Frozen Meat
Since the 1860s, wool had been Timaru’s primary export. Between 1870 and 1913, Canterbury held over half of New Zealand’s wheat land. Mills lined the port skyline. In 1885, freezing works were established, supporting the growing frozen meat trade. All these industries needed intermediaries. Richard’s business played a crucial role, connecting farmers with global markets.
In 1878, he was elected to Parliament as the Member for Timaru. He served on the Canterbury Provincial Council and continued his work on the Harbour Board. To support his growing responsibilities, Richard’s son David left school at 15 to help in the family business. Since the 1860s, wool had been Timaru’s primary export. Between 1870 and 1913, Canterbury held over half of New Zealand’s wheat land. Mills lined the port skyline. In 1885, freezing works were established, supporting the growing frozen meat trade. All these industries needed intermediaries. Richard’s business played a crucial role, connecting farmers with global markets.
In 1878, he was elected to Parliament as the Member for Timaru. He served on the Canterbury Provincial Council and continued his work on the Harbour Board. To support his growing responsibilities, Richard’s son David left school at 15 to help in the family business. Richard death in 1890, ended his opportunity to make impact he had made on the lives of South Cantabrians through his work, service and leadership. It was now time for his children to find their way and make their own lives and legacy.
The Turnbull Legacy Continued
In 1894, David Clarkson Turnbull started his own business, D. C. Turnbull and Co. In 1901, he purchased the Miles Archer and Co buildings on Strathallan Street and asked his architect brother James to design new offices at the front. These buildings, including the brick wool store, are now recognised by Heritage New Zealand as Category II historic places.
This was a prime location, directly connected to rail and shipping networks, and across the road from the Customs House. D. C. Turnbull and Co continued to grow, even acquiring a ship to help carry exports such as grain, wool and meat to overseas markets.
This same site has a rich commercial history. In the late 1850s, Henry Le Cren and Captain Cain had established Timaru’s first store and landing service here. Le Cren was the third person to set up business in the settlement, following encouragement from the Rhodes brothers.
Later, Le Cren sold his landing service to the Provincial Government and his merchant firm to Miles and Co Ltd in 1867. Richard Turnbull, along with others, built the blue stone landing service building on George Street, later selling it to Captain Cain.
Miles Archer and Co became a leading firm in wool and stock trading. They even constructed a tunnel under The Terrace in 1881 to connect their warehouses to the tramway network. In 1895, the business was liquidated, and the buildings passed to John Mee. In 1901, David Turnbull acquired the site and carried on the family tradition.
Seeing Mary Through the Chair
That chair in the museum may once have stood in their cottage. Perhaps Mary polished it, sat in it nursing babies, or shifted it to make room for another child’s bed. Maybe it meant nothing to her at all. Though labelled as Richard’s, I think it can also speak to us about her. Her legacy as the wife of Richard Turnbull, the mother of her children and the woman that she herself was.
This chair has witnessed emigration, loss, fire, rebuilding, shipwreck and progress. In seeing it as Mary’s too, we begin to reclaim space for women in the stories of our past.
Why I Think Her Story Matters
Mary Hepzibah Turnbull’s story shows us a mothers strength that helped to build Timaru. It is not only a story of merchants, councils or harbour boards. It is also the story of women who bore children at sea, carried water, scrubbed floors, and watched sons risk their lives in lifeboats. The men made the monuments. I think the women made the town.
Her life reminds us to look more closely at ordinary people in extraordinary times. It is through them that we see how this place was shaped and what perseverance truly looked like.
Mary Hepzibah Turnbull: A Life Timeline (1830–1902)
1830
Birth of Mary Hepzibah Watts in Oxfordshire, England.
Swing Riots erupt across rural southern England, including Oxfordshire, as agricultural labourers protest low wages, rising bread prices, and the introduction of threshing machines. This unrest marked the social conditions Mary was born into.
1830s–1840s
Mary grows up in rural Oxfordshire amid a farming economy transformed by enclosure and mechanisation.
Bread remains the staple diet, with families spending a large portion of their wages on basic food.
Oxford is nearby but socially distant, symbolising privilege beyond reach for rural families.
1851 (Age 21)
Marries Richard Turnbull in Oxfordshire. He is 25.
Emigrates aboard the ship Fatima, leaving England in mid-pregnancy as part of the Canterbury Association settlement scheme.
Arrives in Lyttelton in December after a three-month voyage.
1852 (Age 22)
Birth of first child Mary Turnbull in Lyttelton, who dies after one month.
1852–1863 (Ages 22–33)
Richard farms 300 acres at Halswell near Christchurch.
Mary remains largely in Lyttelton, giving birth to six more children during this period while coping with isolation and limited support.
Christchurch is still in its early stages, plagued by mud, drainage issues, and basic facilities.
1864 (Age 34)
Family relocates to Timaru, then a small landing place with a few scattered cottages and no port infrastructure.
Richard and David Clarkson establish Clarkson & Turnbull, a general store on George Street.
1865 (Age 35)
Clarkson & Turnbull issue penny trade tokens depicting a ship and an imagined harbour breakwater, symbolising their belief in Timaru’s potential.
1868 (Age 38)
The Great Fire of Timaru devastates the town, destroying Richard’s store and three-quarters of the business district.
Richard rebuilds in stone; Mary witnesses their possessions auctioned to cover costs, including 500 books and a Queen Anne cabinet.
1869 (Age 39)
Birth of son Saxby Turnbull, named after the “Saxby tidal wave” prophecy. The tidal wave never occurs.
1870s (Ages 40–50)
Richard becomes active in politics: elected to the Provincial Council (1872) and later serves on the Timaru Harbour Board.
Mary manages the household while raising a large family in Timaru, then still developing its basic infrastructure (unpaved roads, open drains, limited amenities).
1879 (Age 49)
Construction begins on Timaru’s harbour breakwater, a project Richard strongly supported.
Gas street lighting introduced in Timaru around this time, signalling growing urbanisation.
1881 (Age 51)
Mary writes a letter to her cousin Edmund Jackson in England, describing her life:
“We have ten children living… we keep no servant but each one does their part to help.”
Her words highlight family cooperation and domestic self-sufficiency in an era before labour-saving tools.
1882 (Age 52)
The Benvenue and City of Perth shipwreck disaster:
Son Arthur Turnbull serves in the lifeboat Alexandra during the rescue, which capsizes twice in heavy surf.
Eight men die. The entire town gathers to watch.
Years later, son David Clarkson Turnbull donates the Benvenue ship’s bell to the South Canterbury Museum, recalling he had witnessed the rescue.
1890 (Age 60)
Richard dies of Bright’s disease in Wellington while attending Parliament.
Timaru now has gas lighting, asphalted streets, and a growing port—a far cry from the settlement Mary first arrived in.
1890s (Ages 60–70)
Mary lives on in Timaru as the town consolidates into a regional centre with schools, churches, and stone buildings. Her adult children establish businesses, serve in civic roles, and marry into local families.
1902 (Age 73)
Mary Hepzibah Turnbull dies in Timaru on 14 October 1902.
Buried alongside Richard in Timaru Cemetery.
By her death, she has lived through Timaru’s transformation from a small, isolated landing to a thriving port town.
References
South Canterbury Museum Collections: https://www.southcanterburymuseum.co.nz
Turnbull, Philip. Richard Turnbull: A Timaru Pioneer (private family manuscript, excerpts cited).
Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand: https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
Te Ara: The Encyclopaedia of New Zealand: https://teara.govt.nz
“The Value of Money and Household Expenditure in the 19th Century”: https://www.louthlincs1838.org.uk/background-notes/value-of-money/household-expenditure/
“Bread Prices in 19th Century England”: https://pasttense.co.uk/2020/09/13/__trashed/
In 1881, Mary wrote a letter to her cousin Edmund Jackson in England. This was published in Philip Turnbull’s manuscript on his great-grandfather Richard Turnbull.It offers a rare glimpse into her own voice:
Letter from Mary Hepzibah Turnbull to Edmund Jackson, 1881
"My dear cousin,
Many thanks to you for your very kind letter which I received by the last mail. It was a very great pleasure to hear any family news. I have lived for so long away from all the relatives that it is quite refreshing to find there is anyone who will trouble to write to me.
(Here she speaks at some length about various relatives and then continues):
God has given me a good kind Christian husband or I should have felt the separation from my relatives much more. For some years after we came to New Zealand we lived a struggling life with so much to do that letter writing was put off.
You know that we came to this country in 1851, the same year we were married, so all our children are New Zealanders. We sent the two eldest home some 14 years ago to go to school. They were there about three years but neither of them liked England and they were glad to come back. We have ten children living, the eldest Tom is now 28 years old, the youngest Wilfred Watts is nearly 6. They are all living at home so we are always a party by ourselves. We keep no servant but each one does their part to help.
Your sincere cousin,
Mary Hepzibah Turnbull
Mary and Richard's lives contributed a legacy to many that would follow. ABOVE: South Canterbury Jubilee dinner at Timaru, 1909. Shows guests at a dinner held in the Drill Hall, with men and women seated at long tables. Flags hang along a wall. A banner compares import, export, mutton, and wool statistics of 1859 and 1909. – Courtesy National Library CN: 338563
1907 Dunstable House and Ballentines in Timaru - Stafford Street looking North Timaru NZ Industria series Addressed to Miss L Roberts and postmarked
Side Quest: Mary's Anglican Relgion
Philip Turnbull (Mary's great grandson) noted in his book Richard Turnbull: A Timaru Pioneer that Richard and Mary “were Anglicans, as were most of the Canterbury Association settlers who came from southern England.” This connection was deeply rooted in their upbringing. In rural Oxfordshire, Mary would have grown up within the parish structure of the Church of England, where village churches were central to community life. When they emigrated to Canterbury in 1851, they entered a colony shaped by the Anglican ideals of the Canterbury Association, which explicitly sought to create an English church settlement under Bishop George Selwyn’s guidance. In Lyttelton, where they first settled, Holy Trinity Anglican Church opened its doors in 1852, and later in Timaru they would have been part of the congregation at St Mary’s Anglican Church, first built in 1861 and later replaced by the current stone church. I see these churches as being more than places of worship: they anchored community life, hosted social gatherings, and offered settlers like Mary a sense of familiarity and belonging in an isolated new world far from their families in England. Maybe it gave her time to sit on a Sunday, be peaceful and take a moment for herself and her faith.
Side Quest: What Was the Cost of Bread and Why Did It Lead to Riots in the 1830s UK?
Bread was the staple food for working-class families in the 1800s, making up the bulk of their diet. In the mid-19th century, a standard loaf cost around six to eight pence, which in today’s terms is roughly £3.25–£4.33 (or $6.80–$9.10 NZD). For context, a loaf of bread in 2025 costs about $3–$4 NZD, but people now eat far less bread than they did then. In Mary Hepzibah Turnbull’s time, a rural labourer’s family could spend over half a day’s wages each week just to afford enough bread, leaving little money for anything else.
When harvests failed, prices spiked dramatically. Poor weather, limited farming technology, and the lack of transport infrastructure all made it difficult to bring grain in from other regions. The Corn Laws worsened this by imposing tariffs on imported grain to protect wealthy landowners, making food even more expensive during shortages.
This pushed already struggling families to desperation. Bread riots erupted across Britain, including in Oxfordshire, where Mary was born in 1830, the year of the Swing Riots. These protests were not political revolutions but rather local, spontaneous uprisings by hungry communities. Crowds would seize grain or bread from merchants and sell it back at what they considered a “just price,” enforcing what historians call a “moral economy.”
People could be arrested and charged with theft, rioting, or disturbing the peace, with ringleaders frequently punished more harshly through fines, imprisonment, or even transportation to penal colonies like Australia. During major uprisings such as the Swing Riots of 1830–1831, punishments escalated further, with over 1,900 people tried, many transported, and some executed. In smaller bread riots, however, local authorities sometimes turned a blind eye or pressured merchants to sell grain at fairer prices to prevent further unrest. Historians describe these actions as part of a “moral economy,” where communities believed they had a traditional right to ensure basic food was sold at prices ordinary people could afford, even if it meant defying market laws.
Rather than being about theft, these riots reflected anger at a system where landowners and merchants profited while labourers starved. For rural families like Mary’s, who depended almost entirely on bread for sustenance, such inequality was devastating. This hardship and sense of injustice helped push many to emigrate, seeking a place where they could grow their own food and escape the constant fear of hunger.
The Corn Laws were introduced in 1815. They were a series of tariffs and restrictions on imported grain designed to protect British landowners by keeping grain prices high. While they benefited wealthy landowners, they made bread (the staple food for working-class families) artificially expensive. In years of poor harvest, prices soared because imports were heavily taxed, worsening hunger and hardship for labourers who relied on bread to survive. These laws became a symbol of class privilege and triggered widespread unrest, including bread riots and rural protests like the Swing Riots of 1830. Growing opposition from reformers and industrialists, combined with the crisis of the Irish Potato Famine, eventually led to their repeal in 1846, paving the way for free trade and cheaper food.
References
Past Tense Blog – Bread Prices in 19th Century England and Bread Riots: https://pasttense.co.uk/2020/09/13/__trashed/
Louth Lincs 1838 – Value of Money and Household Expenditure in the 19th Century: https://www.louthlincs1838.org.uk/background-notes/value-of-money/household-expenditure/
Wikipedia – Swing Riots (1830–1831): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swing_Riots
Historic UK – The Corn Laws and their Repeal: https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/The-Corn-Laws/
National Archives UK – Riots and Protest (Including Bread Riots): https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/riots-and-protest/
Side Quest: Richards Turnbull (1826-1890)
Richard was in the thick of local and national politics helping Timaru and wider area establish. From his 1864 corner store, to his auction and merchant company, Richard’s legacy is still felt today.
His family, political & business legacy. D.C. Turnbull & Co’s roots reach into Timaru’s first store, owned by Henry Le Cren, and the foundations laid by David’s father, Richard Turnbull. He was instrumental in family, business and politics, helping to establish the young Timaru township and region. His efforts still impact the opportunity and progress of South Canterbury, an important legacy. 1864, Richard Turnbull, along with his wife Mary, moved to Timaru and opened a general store with David Clarkson under the name Clarkson & Turnbull. They were the first to export flour to the UK. In 1865, they issued a penny token to promote the idea of a new harbour. Richard Turnbull was born in 1826 in Oxford, England, and arrived in Timaru in 1864 after farming for 11 years in Halswell, Christchurch. In 1851, he married Mary Hephzibah Watts (1829–1912). They had 14 children.
Mary 1852-1852
Thomas 1853-1933
Katherine 1855-1931
Charles 1856-1874
Ellen 1858-1936
Arthur 1860-1919 MERCHANT
Esther 1862-1898
James 1864-1947 ARCHITECT
Richard 1866-1867 MERCHANT
David 1868-1951
Saxby 1869-unknown
Ethel 1872-1947
Gerald 1874-1875
Wilfred 1875 - unknown
Timaru was declared a Port of Entry in 1861, making it still a young settlement when Richard, along with his business partner and relative by marriage, David Clarkson, opened Clarkson and Turnbull’s footwear and clothing store on the corner of George and Stafford Streets in 1864, with a later branch in Temuka. Elected to the Municipal Council 1865.
They were the first to export flour from Timaru to London in 1867, expanding into wool and wheat. In 1867, Richard, Henry Le Cren, Capt. Henry Cain, and G.G. Russell established a landing service at George Street, with a bluestone Landing Services Building, and sold it a year later. Richard and Mary’s son, David, was born in 1868 and named after David Clarkson.
1869 Richard rebuilt the Corner Store and family home after the ‘Great Fire‘ of 1868, which destroyed 3/4 of the CBD, and constructed a warehouse a year later.
The "Great Fire of 1868" destroyed their wooden family home and store. They were only partially insured.
The fire started on Bank Street and, fueled by a nor’wester, swept through three blocks, reducing 38 buildings, (3/4 of the CBD) to ashes.
At 43 years old, Richard rebuilt his store on the same site. David moved to Christchurch.
Section 1875 Map of Timaru - Strathallan Street Timaru used to be a creek and has been filled in using clay and spoil removed from the surrounding hillside.
Timaru Roll 71 / TR71, with notes on the history of TR 71 and Black Map 306. Aperture card available. Town of Timaru. NZ Heritage Maps Platform, accessed 19/07/2023. Held by: Archives New Zealand/Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, Christchurch Regional Office. Archway Record CodeR22668789 https://maps.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/331
Stencils used by DC Turnbulls Timaru. Phy By Roselyn Fauth 2023
Roof tile from the Aigantighe Art Gallery. Photography By Roselyn Fauth. The Aigantighe Historic House that is part of the Aigantighe Art Gallery was designed by James S. Turnbull, a well-known Timaru architect. Built of brick and plaster it is crowned with Marseille tile roofing, which were likely imported from Guichard Carvin et Cie, Marseille St. Andre, known for the bee mark. Pressed tiles like this one were exported all over the world and were introduced to New Zealand in about 1901.
Side Quest: James S Turnbull (1864-1947)
James S Turnbull, born in Timaru in 1884, gained early architectural experience through training with Christchurch architects before moving to Melbourne. Upon his return to Timaru, he established a successful architectural practice that flourished well into the 20th century.
When the New Zealand Institute of Architects was formed in 1905, Turnbull was immediately elected a Fellow, a prestigious membership status. His work included the design of both residential and commercial buildings during a period of growth in business and agriculture. Many of his buildings remain, including a number of elegant Edwardian houses with distinct Arts and Crafts influences.
Turnbull was drawn to the Arts and Crafts movement, which gained prominence in England through its reinterpretation of traditional British forms, inspired by Anglo-Saxon architecture. His houses often featured the Timaru vernacular of red brick, though he also designed timber buildings, combining timber boarding, roughcast plaster, and masonry in a style influenced by architect C.F.A. Voysey.
Over generations, many families have enjoyed living in homes designed by Turnbull or his later partnership with Percy Rule. In 1919, Turnbull formed a partnership with Percy Rule, and together, they designed many of the buildings that contribute to Timaru's distinctive architectural character. Turnbull retired in 1938, and future articles will explore these buildings in greater detail.
The son of Richard Turnbull, a prominent Timaru businessman and politician, James Turnbull also designed significant buildings outside Timaru, such as Job Brown’s Beehive Stores in Temuka (heritage item #117, 1901-2), Chalmers Church (heritage item #38, 1903-4), and numerous homes in Timaru. After forming the partnership with Percy Rule around 1920, Rule became the principal designer in the firm. The firm’s projects included the Temuka Library (heritage item #118, 1926-27), St Mary’s Hall in Timaru (1928-29), St James’ Anglican Church at Franz Josef (1928-31), and the 1930 additions to the Bank Street Methodist Church (heritage item #51).
James Stuart Turnbull (1864–1947) died aged 82 and is buried in Timaru Cemetery. Row 130, Plot 430, Timaru Cemetery. You can view his grave here: Timaru.govt.nz/cemetery-search/12547
Katharine Turnbull was buried in the same grave at the Timaru Cemetery on 14 December 1972 at the age of 94.
Notible Buildings in Timaru CBD
1901. D.C. Turnbull & Co Offices. 1-7 Strathallan St
James Turnbull. Edwardian Commercial Classicism
1902. Coronation Buildings. 256-260 Stafford St
James S Turnbull. Edwardian Commercial Classicism
1903-4. Chalmers Presbyterian Church. 2 Elizabeth Place
James Turnbull. Gothic Revival
1915 Grosvenor Hotel. 26 Cains Terrace.
James Turnbull. Edwardian Baroque
1924-25. Oxford Buildings. 148-154 Stafford St
Turnbull & Rule. Inter-war Classical
1928-29. St Mary's Hall. 24 Church St
Turnbull & Rule. Collegiate Gothic
1941-42. Timaru Milling Co Office. 1 Stafford St.
Turnbull & Rule. Art Deco Modern
King Street, Temuka, New Zealand, 1912, Temuka, by Muir & Moodie. Purchased 1998 with New Zealand Lottery Grants Board funds. Te Papa (PS.001496) No Known Copyright Restrictions
Side Quest: David Clarkson - Richards business partner
David Clarkson, born in England in 1823, was an early Canterbury merchant whose career intersected closely with Richard Turnbull’s. He first established himself in Christchurch, opening Dunstable House in 1854, a well-known drapery and outfitting store named after the English town of Dunstable. Clarkson later joined Richard Turnbull in Timaru in 1864, where together they opened Clarkson & Turnbull, a general importers and drapers store at “The Corner” of Stafford and George Streets. Their business played a key role in supplying settlers with much-needed goods during Timaru’s formative years, even issuing their own copper trade tokens in 1865 when small change was scarce. After the Great Fire of 1868 destroyed their shop and much of the town, Clarkson returned to Christchurch and sold Dunstable House in 1872 to John Ballantyne, laying the foundations for what became Ballantynes, one of Canterbury’s most enduring department stores. His entrepreneurial spirit left a lasting mark on both Christchurch and Timaru.
Dunstable House became a cornerstone of early Christchurch retail. Founded by David Clarkson in 1854, it sold drapery, clothing, and household goods imported from Britain, serving the growing settler population. In 1872, Clarkson sold the business to John Ballantyne, a Scottish draper who renamed it J. Ballantyne & Co. The store expanded steadily, becoming a household name across Canterbury. Ballantynes later established a branch in Timaru in 1883, close to where Richard Turnbull’s stone store and the Theatre Royal stood, further intertwining the histories of these prominent merchant families. Today, Ballantynes remains one of New Zealand’s oldest and most respected department stores, its roots tracing back to Clarkson’s original Dunstable House.
References:
Ballantynes History: https://ballantynes.co.nz/our-story
Heritage New Zealand on Ballantynes: https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/5112
Papers Past: The Press, “Ballantynes’ Early Days” (https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/)
ABOVE: Photo taken in 1899 shows the Ballantynes branch in Timaru (established here in 1883). A sign reads “J Ballantynes & Co Victoria House” almost next door to the Theatre Royal. Ballantynes moved to its present site in 1913. Section of a photo. Section of a photo by William Ferrier. - Courtesy of the South Canterbury Museum 1415
Thank you to Christopher Templeton for loaning me a fantastic book: Ballantynes. The Story of Dunstable House 1854-2004 by Gordon Oglive.
This is what I learned...
The Clarksons
David Clarkson (early Christchurch and Dunstable House origins)
Dunstable House Founder (1850s): David Clarkson was pivotal in establishing the early retail foundation in Christchurch. He was involved in Clarkson & Co., later known as Dunstable House, situated on the intersection of Colombo and Cashel Streets.
Clarkson was a draper who invested in shop expansion and modernisation, including building an extension with large display windows, verandahs, and improved facilities. His work laid the groundwork for Cashel Street’s emergence as a commercial hub.
He invested in multiple premises and was active in property development around Cashel Street, which was initially swampy and rough. The area developed quickly into Christchurch’s premier drapery location, aided by Clarkson’s contributions.
Exit from Dunstable House (1863): David Clarkson sold Dunstable House to William Pratt in July 1863, prior to Pratt’s sale to John Ballantyne in 1872. His departure coincided with his move towards farming at Prebbleton.
Elizabeth Clarkson (née Taylor): David’s wife was noted as a pioneer milliner, remembered as one of the early milliners in the Canterbury settlement.
Clarkson’s Later Ventures
Timaru (Clarkson & Turnbull Ltd, 1863–1868): After leaving Christchurch, David Clarkson partnered with Samuel Clarkson Turnbull to establish Clarkson & Turnbull Ltd in Timaru, a drapery and mercantile firm.
Network and Imports: Clarkson’s London connections allowed him to manage a 13-business import pipeline from Britain, importing goods through Melbourne and Sydney, contributing to Canterbury’s growing retail economy.
The Turnbulls
Richard Clarkson Turnbull
Clarkson & Turnbull (Timaru, 1863–1868): Richard partnered with David Clarkson in Timaru during the mid-1860s. Their business benefited from imports and wholesale links to Britain.
Merchant Expansion: Richard Turnbull’s connections tied him to early Christchurch merchants, and he helped bridge trade between Christchurch and Timaru.
End of Partnership: Clarkson & Turnbull dissolved by 1868, marking the end of this joint venture.
Wider Turnbull Family Context
Richard Turnbull (Christchurch Merchant): Related through extended merchant ties, Richard Turnbull’s Clarkson and Turnbull trading tokens (dated 1857) circulated as local currency in Christchurch. These tokens exemplify how Clarkson and Turnbull operated at the cutting edge of commerce in Canterbury during its early provincial years.
Turnbull Legacy: The Turnbull family’s drapery and trading links connected Christchurch’s Cashel Street growth with Timaru’s early retail history. Their name also appears in later contexts connected to civic and commercial development in Canterbury.
Clarksons, Turnbulls, and Dunstable House/Ballantynes
Business Succession: Clarkson’s establishment of Dunstable House in Christchurch (1850s) → sold to Pratt (1863) → sold to John Ballantyne (1872).
Timaru Expansion: Clarkson partnered with Samuel Turnbull to open Clarkson & Turnbull Ltd (1863–68), linking Timaru to Canterbury’s growing retail network. This predates Ballantyne’s Timaru venture (Victoria House, 1883).
Trade and Imports: Both Clarkson and Turnbull used extensive British connections to supply imported drapery goods, establishing supply chains later inherited by Pratt and Ballantyne.
Millinery & Fashion: Elizabeth Clarkson (pioneer milliner) and the retail focus on drapery and clothing positioned these families at the forefront of Canterbury’s fashion and mercantile trades.
Key Takeaways
The Clarksons founded and built Dunstable House, establishing Cashel Street’s retail hub before exiting to farm and focus on Timaru ventures.
The Turnbulls, particulary Richard, carried forward Clarkson’s mercantile model into Timaru (Clarkson & Turnbull Ltd).
Both families built trade infrastructure and supply networks that set the stage for William Pratt’s tenure and ultimately John Ballantyne’s acquisition, linking early Christchurch retail directly to Timaru’s commercial development.
Their contributions bridged urban retail (Christchurch) and provincial expansion (Timaru), showing how merchant families intertwined across Canterbury’s key settlements.
Timeline: Dunstable House, Clarkson, Pratt & Early Ballantynes
1850 – The Charlotte Jane arrives in Lyttelton (first Canterbury Association emigrant ship).
1851 – David Clarkson (Kent) and Esther Clarkson (Bedfordshire) arrive in Lyttelton on the Labuan with infant Joseph Jnr.
1851 – Joseph Clarkson (David’s father) and brother Samuel arrive earlier on the Castle Eden; buy land at Dublin & London Streets, Lyttelton.
1851 (Dec) – Joseph Clarkson conveys property to David to help fund a Cashel Street section in Christchurch.
1853 (Oct) – David & Esther sell Lyttelton land, travel to Australia for drapery stock.
1854 (Aug) – Thomas Atkinson returns from Australia aboard Prima Donna with stock.
1854 (Sept) – Dunstable House founded by David & Esther Clarkson with Atkinson; advertised in Lyttelton Times.
1855 (Jan) – Partnership with Atkinson dissolved; Clarkson takes sole control.
1856 (Dec) – Clarksons purchase section 881 for Dunstable House.
1857 (Jan) – Clarkson renames business Dunstable House and expands shop with display windows and verandah.
1857 – Christchurch surpasses Lyttelton as main business centre; 18 drapers/clothing shops (half near Colombo & Cashel Streets).
1858 (Feb) – Clarksons buy remainder of section 881; site includes a deep gully later infilled.
1860 (Nov) – Fire destroys Lean’s Bach & Corrals in Christchurch.
1861 (May) – Brewery fire near Cashel Street; burns later that year.
1863 (July) – Clarkson agrees to sell Dunstable House to William Pratt.
1863 (Dec) – Pratt returns to Christchurch, completes stocktake with Charles Bowker; ownership transfers.
1863 – Christchurch plagued by disease, petty crime, and 28 brothels by 1869.
1863 (Late) – Pratt & Clarkson build stone fireproof storage behind Dunstable House.
1863 – Dunstable House issues penny trading token.
1864 – Pratt formally takes over Dunstable House; survives cotton shortage from American Civil War. Shop hours: 8am–8pm (9pm Sat).
1866 – Waterloo House founded by Thomas Brass on Colombo Street corner.
1867 – Pratt builds a new showroom east of Dunstable House; adds right-of-way.
1867 (June) – Fire prompts Provincial Council law requiring brick/stone construction in city centre.
1869 (Apr) – Cashel Street decorated for Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh’s royal visit.
1870 (Mar) – Tearoom fire spreads; Pratt’s brick wall saves Dunstable House.
1870 – Waterloo House burns but stock salvaged; rebuilt.
1870 (Oct 24–25) – Great Lyttelton fire devastates town, including Pratt’s store.
1870 (Oct) – Major Cashel Street fire damages businesses; Pratt secures Dunstable House freehold.
1871 (May) – Thomas Brass partners with John Shackleton and rebuilds Cashel House drapery.
1871 – Pratt rebuilds Dunstable House in brick.
1872 (May 26) – Pratt sells Dunstable House to John Ballantyne; farewell supper held.
1873 (Feb 26) – Lease officially transfers to Ballantyne.
1879–86 – William Henry Pratt (Pratt’s son) co-partners in Ballantynes.
1875: John Gurney begins working from London as Ballantynes' buyer.
14 Dec 1879: New "Agreement to Import" signed. John Ballantyne takes control of the London office, installing his son Thorne Ballantyne as London buyer.
1883: London office moves from Gresham Buildings to 24 Coleman Street.
1888: London office relocates back to Basinghall Street near the Wool Exchange.
1896 (1 July): Ballantynes launches its mail-order business, initially run by one staff member, later requiring an assistant.
1896 (18 Aug): W.J. Kent appointed manager of Victoria House (Timaru). Shop expands to 18,000 sq. ft. plus a 7,000 sq. ft. furnishing annex. Departments include drapery, tailoring, costume-making, hosiery, gloves, and military uniforms.
1897 (1 Feb): Factories Act requires minimum workspace per employee; Kent summoned over compliance issues in Timaru factory.
1897 (Feb): Timaru’s rural service area spans Rangitata River to Waitaki River and inland to Mackenzie Country. Timaru population grows to ~5,000.
1900 (New Year’s Day): Timaru staff send a greeting card to Ballantynes’ management, signed by over 60 employees, affirming loyalty.
1900: Timaru population grows further after Canterbury Province's Jubilee; population reaches 6,000.
1903: Cyclopedia of New Zealand publishes a detailed feature on Ballantynes Timaru, praising its expansion to 170 staff.
1912: Original Victoria House premises deemed too small; Timaru population hits 8,000. Land purchased north of Stafford Street for a new Victoria House.
1913 (22 Feb): Opening of the new Victoria House, designed by Clarkson & Ballantyne, described as: "Imposing and artistic" (Timaru Herald). Constructed from brick, Oamaru stone, and Swedish marble. Features: 222 sq. ft. "island window", fireproof staircases, mirrored fittings, ventilation, and an electric lift.