The History

Samuel Miller built Marama Lodge in 1875 for Edward Herbert who was a merchant and shopkeeper for the area during the gold rush days of the early 1860s. The house has stone and clay foundation that is 2 ft wide. A separate annex was built to one side of the house probably to accommodate the staff. The same Herbert Family planted an avenue of Poplars and Birch trees on highway entrance to Lawrence. The Birch trees on Whitehaven Street were taken out in 1987 and Marie initiated the replacement of a new variety White Spire Birch planted in 2009.

The Poplars are reaching their maturity now. Some have been removed and will be replaced with the Birches when the last of them have gone.
 
In 1895 The Herbert’s sold to Ellen and Hugh Craig who were the owners of Cobb & Co. Marama Lodge became the headquarters for the company’s Dunedin to Central Otago Transport run which is well documented in the book, Wells Fargo California to Cobb & Co New Zealand written by Isabel Veitch. With the discovery of gold in 1861 in Gabriel’s Gully, many Australians arrived in the area including Charles Cole, the Australian Cobb & Co coach proprietor. He linked up with Hoyt’s in 1862 to form Cole, Hoyt and Co, proprietors of Cobb & Co Telegraph Line of Coaches. The business grew and expanded into other parts of NZ. 

In the late 1800s Hugh Craig built the Turret room on the North East Corner of Marama Lodge. [There was a 5 Ft high Cast Iron Finial placed on the top of the Turret and in May 2011 it was taken down painted and  remounted as it had developed a distinct lean. At 35kg it took a couple of experts to manage that. A tribute to the builders of the day]. Hugh died in 1907 and Ellen continued to live at Marama Lodge until 1927 when the property passed to the Perpetual Trustees. The next owner was Harry Ernest Pitt who was a farmer from Clydevale.

In 1942 the Presbyterian Social Services Association bought Marama Lodge and it became a children’s home. The reason that they bought Marama was to ensure that they had a property inland in the event of Japanese attack on the coast so there would be a safe house for all concerned.

The children’s home was closed in 1974 and Marama Lodge was sold that year in a slightly run down condition to Patricia and Bruce Payne. The couple made a few changes to provide bed and breakfast accommodation at the Lodge and later to offer a Function service. The first of these was a dinner for The Governor General Sir Arthur Porrit. They were followed by Geoffrey and Denise Shekell. Next were Wayne and Dawn Bosley who took over in 1992.
 

Dennis and Marie Kean bought the property on 17th of April 1998. The first six weeks were spent cutting trees out and clearing the gardens.

2000 was spent clearing the lower section piping the stream that meandered through the paddock. 1000 field tiles were laid and the whole section was drain ploughed and sown in new lawns. We bought the Tuapeka West Presbyterian Church in 2001 and placed it in the middle of the lower section. The building was reclad with new weather boards and walls and ceiling lined with Batts. Power supply was upgraded and underground cabling coupled to the mains.

2005 the Workshop was added to the section and power connected from the church cable. The house has been extensively repaired. All floor coverings were replaced, electricity was completely checked as was the plumbing. All now in very good order. The outside walls have all been repaired. Batts installed on the west wall and in the roof space and windows replaced where required. All timber replaced is H3 treated. There was no structural timber replaced and proved very hard to nail. The internal walls were all filled with sawdust when built and most walls still contain it. Very good Acoustics.

Foundations are 600mm wide and run around the perimeter and also twice through the centre- north south and east west and concrete piles between. Jara plates on all foundations Heart rimu frame of which has not had to be touched. Roof corrugated iron with the stamp from the Birmingham Iron Works still in very good condition. Some ridging has been replaced because of damage from people walking along the ridge fitting TV aerials over the last 45 years.