Site & Family History
Mary MacLachlan
There is a long and proud history of the Holmes Family on this picturesque piece of land that drives the vision of Thyme Stream and its master plan values.
Thyme Stream was once a much larger parcel of land of several thousands of acres known as the Mt Harding Estate. Five generations of Holmes have worked and cared for this land and their story is integrated throughout Methven and the values that informed the master plan.
The story of Thyme Stream starts in the late 1800s with George Holmes and the Lyttelton Rail Tunnel creation connecting Christchurch to Lyttelton through the Port Hills. In the early 1870s George Holmes of Holmes and Co Engineers in Melbourne, were engaged to progress stalled work on the Lyttelton railway tunnel. As part payment for taking on this critical work for the community George Holmes received a large parcel of land in Methven. The property has been passed down through the Holmes generations.
Mary MacLachlan
There is a long and proud history of the Holmes Family on this picturesque piece of land that drives the vision of Thyme Stream and its master plan values.
Thyme Stream was once a much larger parcel of land of several thousands of acres known as the Mt Harding Estate. Five generations of Holmes have worked and cared for this land and their story is integrated throughout Methven and the values that informed the master plan.
The story of Thyme Stream starts in the late 1800s with George Holmes and the Lyttelton Rail Tunnel creation connecting Christchurch to Lyttelton through the Port Hills. In the early 1870s George Holmes of Holmes and Co Engineers in Melbourne, were engaged to progress stalled work on the Lyttelton railway tunnel. As part payment for taking on this critical work for the community George Holmes received a large parcel of land in Methven. The property has been passed down through the Holmes generations.
John Holmes 1870, Founder of Lane Neave and Co, Barristers and Solicitors, Christchurch. Donor of Holmes Bequest where Mt Hutt Memorial Hall stands.
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May 29th 1912, letter to John Holmes from the Methven Racing Club thanking him for his service to the club by allowing the Racing club to use his land for a racecourse.
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The Holmes Families have always believed in giving back to the Methven Community and 1907 John Holmes bequeathed to the people of Methven the triangle of land in the centre of Methven Township. This important central piece of the Methvan Village is where the Mt Hutt Memorial Hall and Heritage Centre now stands.
In 1922 John Holmes agreed to a portion of the Mt Harding estate be acquired by the Government to provide returning WW1 ex-servicemen access to land by ballot. Three thousand acres of Mt Harding (comprising 19 farming lots) and 25 half and 1 acre town lots from Spaxton Street to Racecourse Avenue were auctioned at this time with sale prices varying from £40 to £80
In 1922 John Holmes agreed to a portion of the Mt Harding estate be acquired by the Government to provide returning WW1 ex-servicemen access to land by ballot. Three thousand acres of Mt Harding (comprising 19 farming lots) and 25 half and 1 acre town lots from Spaxton Street to Racecourse Avenue were auctioned at this time with sale prices varying from £40 to £80
In the heart of Methven this important piece of public space was donated by the Holmes Family in 1907 to the community for a War memorial hall
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Public auction notice showing the 3,000 acres of land that was up for sale on January 26th 1922.
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A former golf course, a community skating rink and what is presently known as the race course were all once part of the Mt Harding Estate. Interestingly the first aeroplane to come to Methven landed at the race course in 1920.
During the Second World War most of the land adjoining the township (including this site) was dedicated to drying and processing flax for rope and canvas aircraft covers for the war effort. After WW2 the remainder of Mt Harding Homestead block was divided between three brothers, and when Samuel Holmes returned from the Pacific, he commenced farming in 1947 on this site (which he named Sivonholm Farm).
This period of farming included the transition from horse power to tractor power with the first Lanz Bulldog tractors and a Sunshine harvester. Crops grown included wheat, oats, turnips and other cereal crops, along with sheep. The fertile soils and regular foothills rainfall produced grain yields and quality which were highly sought after. Wheat was supplied to Comvita Health Foods in Te Puke for many years, and oats were supplied to renowned Canterbury race horse breeders.
During the Second World War most of the land adjoining the township (including this site) was dedicated to drying and processing flax for rope and canvas aircraft covers for the war effort. After WW2 the remainder of Mt Harding Homestead block was divided between three brothers, and when Samuel Holmes returned from the Pacific, he commenced farming in 1947 on this site (which he named Sivonholm Farm).
This period of farming included the transition from horse power to tractor power with the first Lanz Bulldog tractors and a Sunshine harvester. Crops grown included wheat, oats, turnips and other cereal crops, along with sheep. The fertile soils and regular foothills rainfall produced grain yields and quality which were highly sought after. Wheat was supplied to Comvita Health Foods in Te Puke for many years, and oats were supplied to renowned Canterbury race horse breeders.
Lanz Bulldog Tractor working the land
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Sunshine harvester cutting wheat destined for Te Puke
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Site History; Sivonholm Farm 1947-2010
Shirley Novis was a city girl and Sam Holmes a farm boy, they married in 1947, Shirley moved to Methven and became passionate about her new home town. She saw farming life through different eyes! She saw the opportunities it bought way ahead her time; farm stays, health retreat, growing and supplying health shops with spray-free grains & herbs, and the value of wholesome fresh produce for her overseas and city guests, she produced amazing food, raw food, salads and sprouts and fresh herb teas straight from her garden. Methven was not ready for all this weird food back in the 1960's but her worldly city visitors certainly were! During the 1970s and 80s Sam & Shirley Holmes hosted the first farm homestays in the district taking in skiers who often flew in by plane. Depending on the weather and crop rotation, light aircraft were a common sight in the Sivonholm paddocks.
"Live local, support local, Methven is Mighty" she was always saying.
At the age of 89 Shirley felt she still had the 'time' to embark on yet another project which was to develop Thyme Stream with a public walkway connecting the rural edge of the Methven to the heart of the township. She had over the years observed many people walking along the rural roads and saw the value of making a beautiful stream edge link to the great cafes and opens spaces of Methven.
Steve & I took up Shirley's passion for Methven and worked for the last few years helping her create something that would benefit the town and leave a legacy; the Thyme Stream Walkway incorporating the Mt Harding Stream into the Methven walkway for the enjoyment of locals and tourists to share the country air, the waterway and the mountain views.
Shirley passed away in Sept 2017 aged 94. She was excited with all the plans for Thyme Stream and was involved in the 4 years of planning and decision making that it took. The public walkway which sadly she never got to walk on is her legacy to the people of Methven and visitors from near and far.
Mary MacLachlan 2018
Shirley Novis was a city girl and Sam Holmes a farm boy, they married in 1947, Shirley moved to Methven and became passionate about her new home town. She saw farming life through different eyes! She saw the opportunities it bought way ahead her time; farm stays, health retreat, growing and supplying health shops with spray-free grains & herbs, and the value of wholesome fresh produce for her overseas and city guests, she produced amazing food, raw food, salads and sprouts and fresh herb teas straight from her garden. Methven was not ready for all this weird food back in the 1960's but her worldly city visitors certainly were! During the 1970s and 80s Sam & Shirley Holmes hosted the first farm homestays in the district taking in skiers who often flew in by plane. Depending on the weather and crop rotation, light aircraft were a common sight in the Sivonholm paddocks.
"Live local, support local, Methven is Mighty" she was always saying.
At the age of 89 Shirley felt she still had the 'time' to embark on yet another project which was to develop Thyme Stream with a public walkway connecting the rural edge of the Methven to the heart of the township. She had over the years observed many people walking along the rural roads and saw the value of making a beautiful stream edge link to the great cafes and opens spaces of Methven.
Steve & I took up Shirley's passion for Methven and worked for the last few years helping her create something that would benefit the town and leave a legacy; the Thyme Stream Walkway incorporating the Mt Harding Stream into the Methven walkway for the enjoyment of locals and tourists to share the country air, the waterway and the mountain views.
Shirley passed away in Sept 2017 aged 94. She was excited with all the plans for Thyme Stream and was involved in the 4 years of planning and decision making that it took. The public walkway which sadly she never got to walk on is her legacy to the people of Methven and visitors from near and far.
Mary MacLachlan 2018
Shirley at 93 helping with wood clearing from the old farm trees ready for Thyme Stream