Shadow of the Rock

Monday, 12 October 2009 12:19 |

The planning committee of local residents has taken the literary bull by the horns and given the green light for a comprehensive book on all aspects of the 150 year history of the local valleys. With a working title of ‘In the Shadow of the Rock: 150 Years of the Heathcote Valley School and Community’ the book will attempt to more adequately reflect the toilers and backstays of the valley, with a lesser emphasis on the colonial luminaries such as Godley, Moorhouse and their visionary ilk.

The day to day and more mundane life of those who lived and live in the shadow of Te Tihi o Kahukura/Castle Rock will get an airing that reflects the family names of these valleys and villages which still resonate 150 years later. The book will also give details of early Maori use of the area, describe the epic struggles and historical background to Heathcote’s educational upbringing and its general development.

It will include constructing the rail tunnel and the road tunnel, the operation of the Maltworks, the pioneer orchardists, wineries, farmers and market gardeners, life on the Railways, larger-then-life personalities and local characters, the tragic community impact of two world wars, the gangs of Valley ‘Larrikins’ of the 1880s, the first racecourse, the magnificent hotels and the equally strong Temperance movement, the quarries and brickworks, the infanticides and the crimes, the wildlife and the geology, the children out of wedlock and the vicious assaults, the humour and the passion of these small Canterbury communities and the families that make it what it is today.

With valued contributions from local residents, writer Paul Corliss of Mt. Pleasant is coordinating the project on behalf of the Heathcote Valley School 150th Committee. The book is expected to be some 400 pages and well endowed with historic photographs and illustrations. With publication tentatively due in June 2010, there is still an opportunity for contributions particularly previously unpublished photographs of any of the valleys and their residents. Contact Paul on pcorliss at paradise.net.nz or the Committee Secretary Leanne Chambers at chambersleanne at hotmail.com

In August next year the Heathcote Valley School will have been

educating the children of the Heathcote, Horotane and Avoca

valleys for over a century and a half. A small commemorative

booklet planned to coincide with the local 150 year celebrations

has however taken on a life of its own. The planning committee of

local residents has taken the literary bull by the horns and given

the green light for a comprehensive book on all aspects of the 150

year history of the local valleys. With a working title of ‘In the

Shadow of the Rock: 150 Years of the Heathcote Valley School and

Community’ the book will attempt to more adequately reflect the

toilers and backstays of the valley, with a lesser emphasis on the

colonial luminaries such as Godley, Moorhouse and their visionary

ilk.

The day to day and more mundane life of those who lived and live

in the shadow of Te Tihi o Kahukura/Castle Rock will get an airing

that reflects the family names of these valleys and villages which

still resonate 150 years later. The book will also give details of

early Maori use of the area, describe the epic struggles and

historical background to Heathcote’s educational upbringing and

its general development from constructing the rail tunnel and the

road tunnel, the operation of the Maltworks, the pioneer

orchardists, wineries, farmers and market gardeners, life on the

Railways, larger-then-life personalities and local characters, the

tragic community impact of two world wars, the gangs of Valley

‘Larrikins’ of the 1880s, the first racecourse, the magnificent

hotels and the equally strong Temperance movement, the quarries

and brickworks, the infanticides and the crimes, the wildlife and

the geology, the children out of wedlock and the vicious assaults,

the humour and the passion of these small Canterbury communities

and the families that make it what it is today.

With valued contributions from local residents, writer Paul

Corliss of Mt. Pleasant is coordinating the project on behalf of

the Heathcote Valley School 150th Committee. The book is expected

to be some 400 pages and well endowed with historic photographs

and illustrations. With publication tentatively due in June 2010,

there is still an opportunity for contributions particularly

previously unpublished photographs of any of the valleys and their

residents. Contact Paul on or the

Committee Secretary Leanne Chambers at