Riccarton House, Riccarton Bush and Deans Cottage

William and John Deans, who had emigrated to New Zealand from Scotland in 1840 and 1842 respectively, decided to settle on the Canterbury Plains in 1843. Settling near the bush at Putaringamotu, the Deans renamed their area of settlement Riccarton after their home area in Ayrshire, Scotland. The river, Otakaro, up which they brought their supplies, was renamed the Avon after the Avon Water which had bounded their grandfather's property in Lanarkshire.

The survival of Riccarton Bush, a significant Christchurch landmark, is essentially due to the expressed wish of John Deans I before he died in 1854. His wife, Jane, ensured the protection of the bush and in 1914 John Deans III saw that the bush was placed in trust and gifted to the people of Canterbury.

In 1947 the Council purchased Riccarton House and the remaining 1.4 hectares of bush as a public amenity. The bush, Riccarton House and the Deans Cottage of 1844 (the oldest dwelling on the Canterbury Plains) are an integral part of the European settlement history of Christchurch.

Deans' Cottage

Deans Cottage, a simple robust pioneer cottage, was built by Samuel Manson and William and John Deans. It was originally sited near the Kahu Road Bridge. In 1947 it was shifted from this site and restored by the Christchurch Rotary Club.

In 1970 it was relocated to its present site with the help of the Riccarton Rotary Club. It contains displays of historic items loaned and assembled by the Canterbury Museum.

Riccarton House

Riccarton House is testimony to the fortitude of John Deans' wife, Jane, who commissioned the first and second stages of this house. Jane ensured the continuation of the Deans' settlement in Canterbury after the untimely death of her husband.

In 1856 Jane commissioned the first section of Riccarton House to be built by James Johnson. The two storey section of this house remains as part of the east wing of the present structure. In 1874 a second section was built and in 1900 a substantial addition designed by the architectural firm of England Brothers was added to accommodate the growing family of John Deans II and his wife, Catherine.

A restoration and conservation programme of Riccarton House is undertaken by the Riccarton Bush Trust. The house is open to the public and is used as a functions and meetings venue.

More information

Riccarton Bush

Early Christchurch fact sheets.

Putaringamotu

Tī Kōuka Whenua - local Māori history.

Riccarton Bush: a remnant of the kahikatea swamp forest formerly existing in the neighbourhood of Christchurch, New Zealand

Edited by Chas. Chilton, 1924. Digitised booklet.

Riccarton House

New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

Riccarton House & Bush

Riccarton Bush Trust web site.

Related pages

The Deans Family

Early Christchurch fact sheets.

Early Riccarton/Fendalton

Local history fact sheets.

Sources

This was originally derived from the Christchurch City Council handbook of 1998.