Belfast District Museum
Belfast History & Genealogy
Canterbury
New Zealand

Heslington - Belfast's Forgotten Neighbour

by Dennis Hills

Published in 2010, this 80-page book records the rise and fall of Heslington, established along with the township of Belfast, in 1882. There are advertisements relating to this settlement, and extracts from the diary of Johanna Wolff, whose family lived there. There was a Heslington General Store on the corner of Johns and Main North Roads, and a blacksmith (wheelwright and coachbuilder) next door. The book includes newspaper cuttings and entries from electoral rolls. The use of the name Heslington died out around 1920.

$13 posted (order with cheque to address below)

The Belfast Meat Factory Pre-Dated The Township

by Dennis Hills

Published in 2009, this 46-page book shatters the myth that 'James McNeight Watt named Belfast'. The subdivision of a township was announced in 1882, when the frozen meat industry began, almost a decade after W H Mein established a boiling-down works in the area, which was uninhabited, with few people to complain about the smell! Watt became involved in 1873, and was probably responsible for the introduction of the Belfast name to the factory. Even earlier, there was a Belfast Boarding House near central Christchurch. The book provides details of the processes carried out at the Belfast Meat Factory, has extracts from newspaper articles and advertisements from the 1870s, and has profiles of Mein, Watt, Longman, Nicholls and other meat industry pioneers.

$7.00 posted (order with cheque to address below)

Settling Near The Styx River

by Dennis & Helen Hills

Published in 2006, this 259-page book covers general aspects of the Styx River catchment, but concentrates on the history of settlement, mainly prior to 1900. About 150 individuals or families are mentioned, some in detail. In the area that is today's Belfast district, the names Abbott, Adams, Allen, Ashby, Ashworth, Bartlett, Bealey, Blake, Brown, Cabot, Chapman, Dearsley, Duncan, Dunnage, Easterbrook, Englefield, Farquhar, Gifkins, Gimblett, Gray, Guthrie, Hadler, Harris, Heaphy, Hickman, Hillier, Hopkins, Inch, Johns, Kolkman, Low, Main, Maindonald, Marshall, Mason, Mein, Mills, Moir, Monk, Morris, Nicholls, Orchard, Patchett, Preston, Reid, Savill, Sleeman, Tisch, Tombs, Treleaven, Waites, Wilson and Wolff are some of those that appear. Rural Section ownership in 1863, and names extracted from electoral rolls to 1893, are included as appendices. Winner of Shirley Papanui/Rehua Heritage Award (Education & Awareness Category) 2008.

$48.00 posted (order with cheque to address below).

The Styx Story, A Study of a Christchurch River

by Dennis Hills

This 98-page book was the first on the Styx River catchment, and was published in 2002 as a combined information/history book. It covers such topics as water, landscape evolution, flora and fauna, recreation, visions for the future, and history of seven sections of the catchment. Winner of Shirley Papanui/Rehua Heritage Award (Education & Awareness Category) 2003.

$22.00 posted (order with cheque to address below).

The Old Schoolmaster's House, Belfast

by Dennis & Helen Hills

This 44-page book gives the history of the house, a prominent landmark in Belfast, and there are profiles of the headmasters who lived in it until the 1970s. Saved from demolition, the building is now a feature on the Kapuatohe Historic Reserve. There is mention of the house being involved in secret World War II research on long-range air warning technology! There is also background information on other buildings on the Reserve. These are an old crofter's cottage and the Belfast District Museum. Winner of Shirley Papanui/Rehua Heritage Award (Education & Exploration Category) 2008.

$7.00 posted (order with cheque to address below).

A History of the Belfast Schools 1859-1978

by Barbara B Roberts

.. for the Belfast School Centennial Committee 1978

Earlier church schools had preceded the North Road School, later Belfast School, which opened on what is now the Kapuatohe Historic Reserve, in 1878. Reference is made in this 117-page book to associated schools (Coutts Island and Spencerville). Historical photographs and text are supplemented by reminiscences of past-pupils, and there are profiles of headmasters and Chairmen of the School Committee.

$12 posted (order with cheque to address below).

Belfast School 120th Reunion booklet 1998

Belfast School Reunion Committee

After the reunion held in 1998, this 28-page booklet was prepared. It contained reminiscences of several past pupils and others having an association with Belfast School. A range of photographs from 1893 to 1998 of classes, staff members, buildings, sports teams, reunions and school committees is supplemented by cartoons.

$8 posted (order with cheque to address below).