09/10/2024. Fraser’s Gully. Grade 2.5. Hikers. Leaders Helen Morris and Heather Reid.
18 hardy souls left the PJ carpark for Frasers Gully car park on a damp morning. No rain in town. Walked up so far and stopped for our morning tea on a corner. Then carried on up to the top at Dalziels Road.
From there went right along on the grass to the new subdivision and had a look at both ends.
Then we went further along and into the Penno block. An area with a history. It was owned by the Kedzlie family who emigrated here in 1853. Had 130 acres and grew crops and raised cows. The historic blue stone barn on the corner was built in the early 1860′ and was one of the earliest farm buildings in NZ. In 1947 the Kedzlie family sold the farm to the Penno family.
The barn was originally used as a cow byre and was restored in the early 2000’s Some of the lime washed walls remain and it has a new roof. The wooden floors have been replaced by Italian bricks originally used as paving in the Octagon. Since 2004 it has been used as a farm shop selling Alpaca products from the Alpacas that are bred on the farm. The old stone walls mark the path that the gold miners used when travelling to the Central Otago goldfields in the 1860’s. It was also the site of one of Dunedin earliest hotels. The Settlers Arms which was owned and operated by the Kedzlie family. The Macrocarpa and Apple trees are around 150 years old.
We had our lunch up in the shelter of the trees before heading back the way we came.
Distance travelled was around 9kms and it was a cold wind. The rain started as we reached the cars. Then off to Sunnyvale for our chat and refreshments.
Helen and Heather.
Link to background information and earlier tramps and hikes in the same area.