The Homestead, Martins Bay .1948.

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DescriptionJohn Nancekivell.." There was a town to be built at Martins Bay.A settlement was surveyed out at Lake McKerrow.Some of the sections were built on.A post-office and store were built along with a few houses.

Farmland was allotted,but conditions were too tough and they were abandoned. The homestead was built by the Gunn family, and was farmed with determination by Murray Gunn.

The government of the time promised the world, ie, a road out to Te Anu etc, but it never happened.Murray operated a tour guiding businness, and primitive accommodation using pack horses or boating the length of the lake. Murray wrote a book on Martins Bay. great reading."
Photo from Alexander Turnbull Library.Date of Photo1948Map^[1]ContributorMaye Dunn

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Location (city or town)Martins BayEventThe homestead, Martins Bay 1948.

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Date Created24th May 2019CommentsDorothy Wills: How did it get the name Homestead was there a farm or such there? Or maybe an accomodation house.

Maye Dunn: I think it is just the caption on the photo , meaning that the hut is the homestead Dorothy Wills.

John Nancekivell: There was a town to be built at Martins Bay, a settlement was surveyed out at Lake McKero, some of the sections were built on a post-office and store were built along with a few houses, farmland was allotted but conditions were too tough and they were abandoned,. The homestead was built by the Gunn family, and was farmed by determination by Murray Gunn, the government of the time promised the world, ie, a road out to Te Anu etc but it never happened, Murray operated a tour guiding businness, and primitive accommodation using pack horses or boating the length of the lake, Murray wrote a book on Martins Bay, great reading

Maye Dunn: Thanks for the history John Nancekivell, very interesting.

Donna Aitken
Davey Gunn's book- "The Land of Doing Without" and "The Pioneers of Martins Bay " by Alice MacKenzie is also worth a read. Walking to Martins Bay via the Hollyford Track is a special walk via the Gunn camp.

Glenn Johnston
Donna Aitken "The Land of Doing Without" about Davey Gunn and the Hollyford was written by Julia Bradshaw. It may still be available in book shops.

Edgar John Brown
Did that trip out to Martin's Bay Big Bay back around to Lake Alabaster a great Tramp

Kevin Oregan
Martin's Bay ! Getting well South there. Pretty remote. Why they tried to start a farming settlement at the time is hard to understand.

Clare Pierson
Similar situation as the special settlement at. Jackson Bay.

Greg Mait
Those Eucalyptus are still there

Sandra Ilton
Is that the swing bridge

Sheree Menzies
Gavin Menzies Darryl Menzies

Margaret McBride
yes,taken from Wallsend.

Deborah Sweetman
Quite a feat in those days considering the amount of times that river flooded.

Rob Lunn
Mother assured me that it was a mission to cross especially if the boys were shaking it

Heather Newby
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Dad took us over it when i was about 8. He used to walk acorss it to go to work at Dobson mine , when he lived in a boarding house at Taylorville in the 1940`s.

Vern Pattinson
I was really young when walked on that foot bridge

Ed Dando
Vern Pattinson me too

Vern Pattinson
Ed Dando I do remember I was with I think Emily or Colin or Laurie

Vern Pattinson
When coal was king

Craig Brooks
when did the bridge come down

Kevin Oregan
Graham Piner Graham did you go past here on your foray to the Red Hills ?

Robert Skilton
Still some private property down there and Lake McKenzie I think it is as well. Much to the annoyance of a certain govt entity

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The Homestead, Martins Bay .1948.

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