Open/Close Toolbox
Copyright is retained by the photographer and/or contributor. Please do not reuse without permission.
Format: Photograph
Copyright
Copyright is retained by the photographer and/or contributor. Please do not reuse without permission.
Menu
List of all Otira house occupants, courtesy Stephen Wright
About this image
Descriptionhttps://twowrightbooks.co.nz/books/extras/house_occupants_v10.pdf
See attached for colour version with green changes
OCCUPANTS OF RAILWAY HOUSES IN THE OTIRA VILLAGE (1920s-early 1990s)
Version 10: 6 April 2024
(Note: latest changes are in green)
The following list relates to the railway houses in the Otira village and complements information on the houses
contained in Railway through the Rata: Memories of Otira. Refer to the 1974 plan of houses on page 313 which shows
all except Nos. 465, 498, 560 and 467 (in order from the school heading towards the station). By this time, No. 560 was
the only surviving house of these four.
The oldest house was No. 467 which dated from around 1900. It was the stationmaster's house and after the tunnel
opened in 1923 was in the section adjacent to House 559. In 1940, St Christopher's church was built on the section on
the school side of No. 467. Two further houses, Nos. 498 and 465, appear to date from around 1906. They were next to
the school fronting the railway. No. 560 was built between No. 498 and the section on which the church was later built.
Nos. 518 to 560 inclusive were all built in 1922/23 for the opening of the Otira tunnel. The only railway house which
was built in the village after the opening of the tunnel was in 1951 and was numbered B707.
Gathering information about the occupancy of the houses in the 'railway era' (up until around 1991) was a long and
involved process owing to the fact that while the research for Railway through the Rata was being carried out (in the
2010-12 period) only limited information was found on railway files. At that time, it appeared that the records that
recorded rent payments etc. had been lost or destroyed, but in 2020 the author was made aware of surviving copies of
the NZR Register of Dwellings held in Archives New Zealand, which contain an essentially complete record of
occupants between about the mid-1950s and mid-1970s for the houses built to A.B. Plan 18&19 (e.g. no. 520) and A.B.
Plan 137 (e.g. no. 521). That information has been included in version 9, with the exception of B707 which is yet to be
updated.
Note that where new names appeared in the NZR Register of Dwellings, those entries have been added in blue. The job
designations are those in the register which don’t necessarily correspond exactly to the job title given at the time in
Otira. For example, a ‘temporary labourer’ would probably normally equate to a ‘surfaceman’.
In the original information-gathering process, a large percentage of the information has had to be sourced from
individuals who lived in Otira at different times. Special thanks are due to Bob Williams of Jacksons and Gordon
Cunningham of Otira for their assistance in this process – especially for the 1970s and 1980s period. In addition, school
registers, Wises and Stones directories and electoral rolls have been invaluable.
There is still plenty of scope to make this list more complete. If you can fill gaps, clarify/correct details etc., or have any
queries, please contact us via www.twowrightbooks.co.nz. Once enough new information is at hand, we will make a
new version available. It is hoped that the information will be a valuable resource for family historians and researchers,
as well as being of interest to those who lived in Otira.
Please note that a small 's' following a date (e.g. Mar 1966s) means that the date is based on school register information.
The school date has only been used when there is a high degree of confidence that the family left Otira around the same
time.
Please also note that superseded job titles have sometimes been used for simplicity and to avoid uncertainty as to when
titles changed and also when the original term was still in common usage. For example, engine driver has been retained
rather than locomotive engineer. The role of porter in Otira in the 1940s and earlier equates roughly to traffic assistant
(i.e. it was shunting as well as platform work). Later on, traffic assistants became traffic operators. Sometime during
the 1960s, the term shift clerk was replaced by section officer.
HOUSE WANTED! Quite a number of 1920s and 1930s families have been placed since version 1 was released, due to
contact with several ladies in the 86-90 age bracket who lived in Otira as children. New information has been regularly
sourced through contacts and going through a number of the Westland electoral rolls. There are still many rolls to go
through from the 1920s-80s period. The following names have not been able to be placed in a house with certainty as
yet, although some may have lived in houses other than the 1922/23 railway houses. If you can help, please get in touch.
Note: if first or middle name (as per electoral roll) is in bold it means that that is the name that is listed in the Wises
Directory
1920s and 1930s:
Alex & … Bartlett (Aug 1923s-May 1925s)
Henry William Robert & Bernadena Isabel Black (? - ?, there mid-1928) school teacher – presume lived in railway
house
Freddie Brett married, refreshment rooms manager, lived near fire bell, no children
D & … Brown (? - Apr 1926s, there by Apr1925)
D E & … Browning & family (? - May 1929, there by Feb 1928)
Burney family (Nov 1933s- ?) lived near alleyway on riverside
Richard & Emily Cohen (Mar 1926s-Dec 1929s) lifter
A D & … Dickie (Sep 1924s-Apr 1926s)
William John & Blanche Douglas (Aug 1926s-Dec 1928s) engine driver
… & … Ealam (Oct/Nov 1925s-Jan/Feb 1927s)
James William & Elizabeth Mary Earl (there mid-1928, still there mid-1931) porter
Cyril Ray & Agnes Josephine East (? - ?, there by Nov 1931) clerk
John Edward Harry & Hannah Feary (? - ?, there mid-1928)
Francis Allen (Frank) & Robina G B Halkett (? - ?, there mid-1928, still there mid-1931)
F J & … Hansen (? - Jul 1927s) surfaceman
Francis Alexander & Mary Josephine Hare (? - Oct 1932?, there by Nov 1931) porter
Thomas Vincent & Ruby Irene Harris (? - ?, there mid-1928) clerk
… & … Howarth (? - Mar 1926s)
Patrick? Hughes & family (Jan/Feb 1930s-Jun 1934s) train examiner, lived about opposite fire bell
Ivor Edward William & Gwendoline Louisa Isaac (there mid-1928) porter
Harold Arthur & Jessie Elizabeth Kelly (or Kelley?) (? - ?, there mid-1931) automatic signal maintainer/linesman
Ernie & Lucy Lancaster (first time) (? -Oct 1935s) to Lyttelton – same house as Banks were in later on. Second time in
545
E A Le Fevre family (Apr 1936s-Jul 1937s) to Wellington, railway side, between the alleyways
Gordon Thomas Douglas & Doris Flora Macilquham (? - ?, there mid-1931) labourer
James & Liela Mahon (? - ?, there mid-1931) fireman
James Timothy & Ivy Ellen Mahoney (Oct 1927s-Mar 1928s) clerk
H E (Harry) & … Marsden & family (Jul 1930s-Mar 1933)
William & Winnifred Muriel McGrath (there by 1925, still there mid-1928) carpenter
George Frank & Emily Agness (sp) Morris (Mar 1926s- ? still there mid-1931) chef
Walter Henry & Marion Neame (there mid-1928) surfaceman
William & Kathleen Newburn (? - ?, there Oct 1928) clerk
F & … Page & family (Dec 1929s-Dec 1934s) guard, to Rangiora
Halwyn Beckett & Bertha Nathalia Pike (Dec 1927s-Mar 1930s) fireman
Charles James & Elizabeth Sarah Rice (there mid-1928) porter
… & … Richdale (Nov 1926s-Apr 1928s)
Mr Frank Robertson fireman somewhere in vicinity of 524 (Apr 1936s-Dec 1939s)
George James & Alice Maude Robinson (Jan/Feb 1927-Oct 1928s) engine driver, lived on riverside somewhere not too
far from fire bell
John Dalzell & Elizabeth Ann Rothery (? - ?, there mid-1928) surfaceman
Philip & Helen Grace Samuel (? - Jun 1937s, there by Nov 1931) chef, went to Hamilton, railway side
Senior family (Oct 1932s-Aug 1934?)
Reginald Claude & Amelia Emily Seymour (? - ?, there mid-1928, still there mid-1931) fitter
Charles George & Elizabeth Suters (? - ?, there mid-1928) fitter
Walter Eric & Constance Isabella Tomkins (? - ?, there mid-1928, still there mid-1931) ganger
Arthur & May Townsend (ca. 1932) in square house on railway side below lower alleyway
Con & Stella Treacy (? - ?, there 1925, still there mid-1928) foreman/miner
James (Jimmy) & Cecilia (Cissy) (sp) Wearn (ca. 1927-ca. 1938) engine driver, railway side in a square house between
hall and alleyway
Robert Charles & Elsie Margaret Wilkinson (? - Dec 1931s, there mid-1931) (one child went to Sydenham School
between Sep 1929 & Feb 1931) engine driver
Leonard Edwin (Len) & Emilie Marie Williams (Harry was son and worked in post office) lived on railway-side up
from firebell ca. 1925-ca. 1940, would have lived in 554 or 555
1940s:
Alfred William & Frances Violet Elizabeth Adams (? - ?, there by Sep 1941) train examiner
Leonard James & Minnie Ashton (? - ?, there by Sep 1941, still there mid-1943) porter
William Alexander & Melva Ruby Banks (early 1940s, there by Sep 1941, still there mid-1943) surfaceman
Otheus & Mary Mavis Brighton (? - ?, there Sep 1941, still there mid-1943)
Ted & … Burgess (ca. 1944-46) very likely to be 548, porter
Clifford Llewellyn (Cliff) & Daisy Evelyn May Crawford (early to mid-1940s) near 520, Traction electrician
Albert William & Leah Elizabeth Egan (early 1941-Feb 1943s) house on railway side either 554 or 555, clerk
James & Margaret Emma Gordon (? - ?, there Sep 1941) labourer
Frank Arthur & Wilhelmina Hedges (? - ?, there Sep 1941) house on river side down towards hall end
Ian Hugh (Hughie) & Mary Helen Horne (? - ?, there mid-1943) porter
John & Muriel Edith O'Loughlin (? - ?, there Sep 1941)
John & … Penman (porter) in between the two alleyways on railway side (ca. 1944-ca. 1946) – almost certainly 555
William George & Ellen Edith Robson (? - ?, there Sep 1941)
Smeaton family (Jul 1940s- ?) on railway side somewhere between alleyways or close by
Peter Alexander & Mary Vallance (? - ?, there Sep 1941)
Norman & Olive May Walters (? - ?, there Sep 1941) cleaner, almost certainly 537
1950s:
Frederick Gordon & Olive Lillian Baldwin (there 1954)
Gerald (Gerry) Patrick & Rona Olive Kennedy (there by Oct 1954, lived somewhere before 536?)
Robert & Lizzie Reid (there 1954)
1970s and 1980s:
Mark & V Sargisson – late 1970s, left about Mar/Apr 1980 traffic operator (house near bottom end on riverside)
Billy Stevens, in house opposite Millers
Ivan & Alison Bell
Railway-side houses:
559: Jack & Nell Crook (Jun 1937-Feb 1944) lifter, Arthur & Marj? Lye (there by 1946-Dec 1948s) train examiner, L
H (Les) & Marjorie Reeves (1949-1955) train examiner, G S (Graeme & Esther) Reeves (26 Feb 1955-25 Mar 1958)
train examiner, V D (Viv) & Janice Stewart (26 Mar 1958-18 Jul 1962) train examiner, George & ... Smith (26 Jul 1962-
26 Jun 1964) train examiner, Tasmon & … Gadd (8 Feb 1965-22 Nov 1965) train examiner, Joe Goodman (12 Jun
1966-21 Oct 1969) (plus Derek Albrechtsen) both engine drivers, G T (Geoff) & Liz Butcher (24 Oct 1969-15 Sep
1973) (2nd time in Otira) engine driver, Jeff & Kath Hindle (23 Sep 1973 to Oct/Nov 1978) train examiner, leased June
1980, Bruce (Jack) & Tania Wilson ca. May 1982-1992 (Tania), (Jack to 1993) Traction lineman
558: K (Ken?) & … McClymont (Aug/Sep 1938-Dec 1939s) clerk, John & Alice Rodgers (early 1946-Dec 1948s)
surfaceman, M T (Marne) & Valmai Joan Blanchard (ca. 1949-ca.1954, still there mid-1954) surfaceman, Ross & Greta
Leach, P L [Pat] Riley (8 Nov 1956-3 Oct 1957) temporary labourer [in track gang], T S (Trevor) & Loretta Bakes (7
Nov 1957-5 Sep 1962) surfaceman then traction lineman (from 29 Jun 1959), Stan & Eth Booth (12 Sep 1962-9 Sep
1966) traction lineman, Bruce & Betty McCaughan (31 Jan 1967-12 Apr 1969) traction lineman, M J Johnston (1 Dec
1969-17 Nov 1970) section officer, (vacant from 17/11/70)
Upper Alleyway/Accessway to Station between 558 and 557
557: Frank & … Thomas (ca. 1938-ca. 1941) guard, William John G & … Ward (Aug 1941s-ca. 1946) guard, Charles
Alfred (Charlie) & Doris Gwendoline Walker (? - ?, there in 1948 and 1949) guard, Jimmy & Lorraine Walders (Jimmy
in Otira Apr 1949 but only in house after married which was before May 1952)(? -1956) traffic assistant then guard
(Bob Lamb boarded with them), J A & ... Miller (6 Jun 1957-16 Apr 1958) shunter, K J (Keith & Clarice) Williams (12
May 1958-30 Oct 1959), house allocated to Signals in exchange for 539, B G (Barrie) & Shirley Coughlan (7 Dec
1959-26 Jun 1961) signal maintainer, H M (Bert) & Maureen Elliott (27 Jun 1961-13 May 1969) signal maintainer, N F
(Noel) Jones (24 June 1969-19 Mar 1975) (married Patricia Beckett while in Otira) signal maintainer, K S Harris (21
Jun 1975-18 Apr 1976) surfaceman, Buzz & Diane Terrey (28 Apr 1976-Nov 1978s) bridge gang, R K (Dick) & Lynne
Burn (ca. 1978-1980, there in Jun 1980) Traction linesman, (?) Robbie McGregor (1981/82) surfaceman, Mark &
Donna Hopkins (? - ?, there 1982) surfaceman, I (Willie) & Joanne Iafeta (ca. 1984-Jul 1991s) engine driver
556: Ray (Wampy) & Stella Bell (Jun 1940-Dec 1943s) engine driver, James Stephen & ... Tohill (ca. 1944-1947)
engine driver, Stephen C (Claude) & Mary Corrin (ca. Aug 1948-May 1952s) engine driver, W T (Bill) and Pearl
Henderson (ca. 1952-1954, still there Oct 1954) engine driver, T F R (Tom) & ... McAvey (18 Mar 1955-5 Mar 1958)
previously in Otira two or three times (see 525), Les & Norma Goodman (13 Mar 1958-13 Apr 1961) engine driver, L
W E (Laurie) & Faye Young (17 May 1961-7 July 1964) engine driver, Colin & Pat Thorn (14 Jul 1964-19 Apr 1967)
(2nd house, ex 528) engine driver, Bill & Linda Woods (26 Apr 1967-23 Jun 1969) engine driver, J Shannon (20 Aug
1969-8 Apr 1970) temporary bridgeman, Joseph Dennis & …? Ward (17 Jul 1970-8 Mar 1971) surfaceman, Bill &
Lorraine Mincham (5 Aug 1972-21 Mar 1974) signal maintainer, B A Baillie (19 Jan 1975-16 Aug 1975) outsider,
private lease, A G Walker (24 Nov 1975-23 Mar 1976) private lease, Les & Miriama Sword (25 Mar 1976-end of
1979/beg of 1980) signal maintainer, vacant in June 1980, (?) Graham Wilson, Wally and Emily Ashby (Oct 1982sSep/Oct 1985) (to B707) ganger, Daniel & Kerrin (sp) Shadbolt (?-1990) (Traction lineman)
555: Patrick E (Paddy) & Minnie Margaret Burke (Oct 1947-ca. 1950, there Dec 1949) shunter, Chris & Ann Petersen
(1st time, 2nd time in 538), Dick & Maisie Frewin (Jul 1950-Sep 1954) traffic assistant, F R (Frank) & Myrtle Annear
(7 Dec 1954-8 Jul 1957) guard, J C (Jimmy & Shirley) Gillan (19 Jul 1957-24 Jan 1961) traffic assistant., Fred &
Dorothy Gardyne (23 Mar 1961-15 Jan 1963) ganger, Drummond or 'Drum' & ... Prescott (5 Feb 1963-20 Mar 1965 (to
467) ganger, Viv & Janice Stewart (2nd time in Otira) (17 Aug 1965-9 Apr 1969) train examiner, Danny Cruickshank
(14 Jul 1969-15 Sep 1972) train examiner, Tony & Nancy Barton (13 Apr 1973-Jun 1978s), Arthur & Ruth Spiers (Jun
1978-May 1980s) traffic operator, R E (Ray) Gibb (? - ? there Jun 1980) traffic operator, Vic & Piki Sole (Dec 1980-
Dec 1985) guard, Mike & Heather Masson (1986-1988) signal maintainer, Chris Hogan (Dec 1988-1990) signal
maintainer
554: (?) Derek C (or Don?) & ... Syme (ca. 1944-1946) (lived there twice?) porter, Thomas William (Tom) & Elizabeth
Maude (Betty) Harris (29 Apr 1948-2 May 1951 traffic assistant/shunter (dwelling register has T W Morris, porter), N C
(Chris) & Jessie Smith (18 May 1951-17 Jun 1958) shunter, Peter & Sylvia Dowie (15 Nov 1958-20 Aug 1963) guard,
John & Shirley Kennedy (25 Aug 1963-16 Apr 1968) engine driver (2nd house, ex 535), John (Slim) & Lois
Sommerville (19 Apr 1968-13 Apr 1971) engine driver, D M (Doug) & Mary Donaldson (16 Apr 1971-15 Jul 1974)
engine driver, Jock & Enid Tuari (25 Jul 1974-mid-1976) engine driver (ex 560), Bob & Bev Goodman May 1976s-Dec
1979 engine driver, Owen Fitzgerald (ca. Mar 1980-May 1980) engine driver, vacant Jun 1980, Gilbert Bryan (1980
until houses on railway side sold around mid-1990s, then to 527) engine driver
553: The refreshment rooms cook lived here at the same time as Jacques in 552, E (Ted) & Margaret Mary (Peg)
Tredinnick (ca. 1944-1948, possibly 1949 as in the 1949 electoral roll but if so was definitely in a different house) train
examiner, Leo & Eva Cummings (Sep 1948-Mar 1954s) train examiner, Warren & Pat Milne (17 Jul 1954-1958) train
examiner, Trevor & Val Locke (22 Apr 1958-11 Jul 1961) traffic assistant, Harry & Phyllis Mann (12 Jul 1961-7 Jan
1963) shunter, Guy & Mary Scoon (15 Apr 1963-16 Jun 1965) engine driver (ex545), I M (Ian) & Alice Peters (10 Aug
1966-9 Apr 1968) surfaceman, vacant 9 Apr 1968, still vacant 26 May 1971, Used to store Works staff materials while
maintenance on houses being carried out, workshop (Foreman of Works) in 1972, taken down and transported in parts
to Goat Creek in 1977 for reconstruction of bridge (was bridge gang's headquarters), section used for playground early
1980s.
552: Robert (Bob) & Mary Hannah (Mavis) Campbell (ca. 1928-ca. 1935, there mid-1928) engine driver, Merv & Lil
Jacques (Feb 1935s-Apr 1937s) train examiner, W J (Bill) Meadows (Nov 1938-Dec 1939) manager of refreshment
rooms, V G & ... Holland (Dec 1939- ?) manager of refreshment rooms, Robert George & Lorna Ethel Brabyn (ca.
1941-?, still there mid-1943) manager of refreshment rooms, Alexander & Mary McPherson, (Feb 1944s-May 1946s),
W O (Owen) & Dulcie Williams (Sep 1946-28 Jun 1950) leading carpenter, A J (Jim) & Eva Barnes (21 Jul 1950-6 May
1957) carpenter, G M & ... McCabe (there at time of December 1957 flood (27 Jan 1958-23 Feb 1959) carpenter, M O
Stout (20 Mar 1959-30 Oct 1959) temporary labourer, Alby & Eleanor Green (5 Nov 1959-13 Nov 1962) bridge gang,
Les & Elva Organ (14 Jan 1963-19 May 1966) in charge of bridge gang (ex B707), Ken & Nellie Mead (or Meads?) (9
Feb 1967-12 Jun 1970) surfaceman, N V (Neil) & (?) Barbara Johnson (17 Jul 1970-23 Nov 1973) surfaceman, W A
(Kelly) & Glenys Gray (5 Mar 1975-Sep 1976s) bridge gang, Dave Herriot (Mar 1977-ca. Aug 1978) section officer, J
R (Jeffrey) Curtin (Aug 1978-Jan/Feb 1981) section officer, Ian and Liz Wilson (Mar 1981-Mar 1984) section officer,
Derek (sp) & Judy Tainui (1984-ca. late 1987) shunter, … Frew (ca. Apr 1988 - ?) ganger? (with school-aged children)
Lower Alleyway between 552 and 551
551: William (Bill) and Gladys Knight (ca. 1931-ca. 1941, there mid-1931) Lineman/Traction electrician, James
Hector ('Mack') & Violet McKenzie (Sep 1942s-Sep 1949s) Traction lineman, George J & Anne Moyle (Sep 1951s-Nov
1952) guard, M J (Mick) & Elsie Fahey (11 Apr 1953-5 Nov 1956) guard, J G (Jack) & … Mathieson [or Matheson?] (2
May 1957-26 Jan 1960) stationmaster, John Charles (Jack) & Juanita Winnifred Borwick (27 Jan 1960 -6 Jun 1961)
stationmaster, E C (Edgar Charles (Ted)) & … Langdon (9 Jun 1961-14 Mar 1963, next stationmaster was in B707)
stationmaster, Jack & Margaret Chammen (24 Jul 1963-25 Jul 1967) shunter, W J Henderson (26 Jul 1967-19 Jan 1968)
traffic assistant, Graham & ... Dawe (or Dore?) (27 Jan 1968-3 Feb 1971) traffic assistant, R (Bobby) & Elaine
(partner?) McGee (10 Mar 1971-22 Jan 1974) shunter, Merv & Mary Lister (30 Mar 1974-Sep1980s) surfaceman,
vacant as at 9 Mar 1981, Max Barton (early to mid-1980s, left ca. 1987) stationmaster (shared house with Greg
Donovan), Paul Smith & Janie Autaua (ca. mid-1987-late 1988) ex singlemen's hut) section officer
550: Fred & Edna Kear (ca. May 1927-Jul 1938s) engine driver, Morris Henry (Harold) & Freda Jean Neill (ca. 1940-
ca. 1947) engine driver, Vic & Amy Shaw (ca. 1947-Dec 1951s) engine driver, Ian & Veronica Dunsmuir (or
Dunsmuire?) (ca. Dec 1951-ca. 1954) engine driver, Dick and Lorna Williams (Dick lived in Terminus Hotel from about
Aug 1954 until he married, went into house 5 Feb 1956, left Otira 9 Apr 1958) fireman, Alf & Connie Mildenhall (11
Apr 1958-19 Oct 1961) fireman then engine driver, Allan & Nicky Pugh (24 Oct 1961-10 Dec 1963) engine driver,
Graham & Deb Setter (18 Dec 1963-20 Oct 1965) fireman, Harold Carr ('Judge') & Ranui ('Ra') Ngarimu (15 Nov
1965-12 Jun 1969) fireman, M J Johnstone (24 Sep 1969-30 Nov 1969) section officer, W J (Bill & Dawn) Roberts (26
Nov 1970-27 Mar 1972) traffic assistant (1st house, to 546), B A McLintock (3 Jun 1972-approx 23 Dec 1973)
temporary labourer, D A (David?) & … Kennedy (4 Dec 1974-26 Jul 1975) surfaceman, Colin & Sue Brunt (16 Feb
1976-Apr 1978s) (had been empty for a while) surfaceman, Albie & Maria Tengu (1980- ?, still there in May 1985
according to Sam Bell) bridge gang (ex-MOW house), M G (Michael) Cunningham (? - ?, there in Jul, Oct 1985)
shunter (to 534), empty when Paul Smith in 550
549: Llewellyn Scott (? - ?, there mid-1928) leading fireman in Power House, Alfred John & ... Dowling (ca. Oct 1939-
ca. 1942) fireman, Arnold (Bob) & Nola McGrath (ca. 1947-ca. 1950) surfaceman, L G (Lindsay) & Joan McCully (ca.
1950-ca. 1955) surfaceman, J Graham (2 Dec 1955-2 Jun 1956) temporary surfaceman, E J (Ernie) & Allison Crisp (17
Aug 1956-9 Jul 1958) surfaceman in Gang 12 (Otira to Jacksons), Ralph & Mary Norah Margaret King (17 Jan 1959-9
May 1960), Alf & Pearl Tong (20 Jun 1960-13 Oct 1962 when took on tearooms up past Goat Creek) surfaceman, J D
(Jack) & … Lawson (25 Nov 1962-12 Mar 1964) plumber, Leo & Becky? Trouland (25 Apr 1964-2 Apr 1968) plumber,
John & Ruth? Leaker (21 May 1968-31 Jan 1969) plumber, T K (Trevor) & Sue Scott (30 Jun 1969-8 Jul 1975)
surfaceman, R M MacDonald (20 Feb 1975- ?) carpenter, Mar 1982: House occupied by Foreman of Works staff as a
workshop, District Engineer had it Jul, Oct 1985
548: Albert & Mary Rebecca Rouse (? - ?, there 1928) linesman, … & … Payne (Dec 1933s- ?), Les & Maude Cushnie
(in house from 1937 when married-1941, still there mid-1943) Power House clerk (to 1941), Bill & Betty Bryce (ca.
1947-ca. Aug 1948) porter, Allen D & Hazel M McVinnie (31 Aug 1948-ca. 1950, still there May 1950) refreshment
rooms manager, William Henry (Billy) & Lucy Ann F Morton (1950-ca. 1954, there mid-1954) plumber, Fred & …
Bishop (10 Jan 1955-1 Jun 1956) plumber, empty for a long time in Crisp's time, R W (Ray) & Betty Blacktopp (there
24 Jan 1957-27 Nov 1958) temporary plumber, Martha Cunliffe (10 Feb 1959-15 Aug 1960) refreshment rooms
manageress, G R (Graeme) & June Davidson (24 Feb 1961-2 Nov 1964) bridge gang, Gerry & Lou Dennehy (4 Dec
1964-22 Apr 1968) bridge gang then signal maintainer, Ross & Greta Leach (9 May 1968-14 Apr 1970) ganger,
Jim/Jimmy & Phoebe Sydney (24 Jul 1970-5 Dec 1972), D C Ryan (25 Jul 1975-7 Dec 1975) lease to outsider, … & …
Tuhou (? - ?), from 29 June 1982 lease of house to Ian Le Page (contractor for building singlemen's huts), A (Alan) &
Paula Milliken (? -ca. Apr 1986) (1st house, went to 528) Traction lineman, empty
547: Gordon & Nancy Edith Smith (ca. 1941-ca. 1943 there in Feb 1941) train examiner, Neil & … Noonan (ca. 1943-
Jul 1946s) train examiner, Eric & … Carson (ca. 1946-ca. 1948) train examiner, Gordon & Nancy Edith Smith (Aug
1948s-Nov 1949s) (2nd time) train examiner, Tommy & Mina Lord (23 Jan 1950-16 May 1955) train examiner, Bill and
Frances Withers (8 Mar 1956-8 Jun 1961) train examiner, Harry & Edna Fayen (10 Jun 1961-5 Jul 1965) train
examiner, T J (Tom) & Barbara (later) Port (28 Mar 1967-5 Jan 1976) surfaceman, Dave Paranihi (? -ca. 1985) engine
driver & Fiona Crook (? -ca. Nov 1981), permanently empty in 1986-1988 era
546: John (Jack) & Grace Kelly (ca. 1940-ca. 1946) (ex railway house next to old hospital) surfaceman, (?) Leonard
& … McCann (ca. 1946-Dec 1947s) surfaceman, L J (Jim) & Ngaire Lee (6 Feb 1948-29 Jun 1953) surfaceman, O J
(Owen) & Cathy Smith (11 Jul 1953-17 Feb 1960) surfaceman then traffic assistant, E Port (31 Aug 1960-26 Apr 1961),
R M (Ron and …) Jacques (27 Apr 1961-4 Jul 1963) traffic assistant, Tom & Betty Hutt (8 Jul 1963-11 Jul 1966)
shunter, Owen & Cathy Smith (13 Jul 1966-13 Apr 1969) shunter, D (Dennis & …) Oman (1 Aug 1969-29 Jul 1970)
temporary electrician, K D & … Jackson (14 Aug 1970-26 Mar 1971) temporary labourer, Bill & Dawn Roberts (28
Mar 1972, to 24 Nov 1975) (2nd house, ex 550) traffic assistant, (?) A G Walker from 23 Mar 1976 (private lease), G M
(Guy) & Diane (sp) Miller (Oct 1977s-ca. 1981) fitter, Steve Brown (married Colleen 1982) (early 1980s, there May
1982) fitter, D A (Don) & ... Lewis (? - ?, there Jan 1984, Jul, Oct 1985) fitter, Fred & Glenys Key (1986-1988, there
Sep 1986) (2nd house) engine driver
545: Thomas Edward (Ted) & May Josephine Daly (Apr 1939-1941) surfaceman, Ernie & Lucy Lancaster (Jul 1941-
Apr 1946s) ganger, Trevor & Zita Rona Haines (Sep 1946s-Nov 1950s) ganger, (?) Graham & ... Duffy [or Duffey?] (19
Apr 1955-22 Jul 1957) Traction lineman, C A (Colin) & Aileen Ashton (27 Jul 1957-18 Apr 1961) engine driver, Frank
& Marie Lucas (19 Apr 1961-1 Oct 1962) fireman/engine driver, G M (Guy & Mary) Scoon (2 Oct 1962-14 Apr 1963)
to 553, fireman/acting engine driver, to be taken over by Traffic Branch, Ben & … Huve (25 May 1963-27 Sep 1965),
Jock & Leila Harris (29 Jun 1966-27 Apr 1968) (to Otira Gorge tearooms, went to Christchurch Mar 1969) shunter, Alf
& Pearl Tong (28 Apr 1968-3 Jul 1968) temporary bridgeman, A A Bush (23 Sep 1968-31 Jan 1969) electrician
maintainer, J S Gribble (27 Feb 1969-14 May 1969) electrician maintainer, D (Dennis & …) Oman (16 Jun 1969-31 Jul
1969) temporary electrician, R A (Ron & Patricia) Murch (18 Oct 1969-23 Nov 1971) traction lineman, E E O'Neil (6
Mar 1972-31 Oct 1972) porter, Tony & Lyn McIlwraith (6 Aug 1973-Oct 1980) bridge carpenter, … & … Wihape (ca.
1981-? , there Nov 1982) surfaceman, Craig Ilton (? - ?, there Jul, Oct 1985) surfaceman, Vicky (sp) Basher (? - ?, there
Sep 1986), Nick & Liz Maeder (Dec 1987-Oct 1989s) shunter
544: D & … Christensen (? - ?, ca. 1940) fireman, Frederick Steve & Gladys Magretha (sp) Davis (ca. 1941-ca. 1946,
there by Sep 1941) fitter, Richard W (Dick) & Elsie Wills (6 May 1944-23 Nov 1954) fitter, A J (Alan) & Eileen Gray
(24 Nov 1954-17 Nov 1959) fitter, Roger & Joy Rasmussen (18 Nov 1959-17 Jun 1965) fitter, John & Joy Newton (5
Jul 1965-20 Apr 1968) fitter, Albert & … Huve (15 Jul 1968-3 Dec 1969), B R Scrimgeour (5 Feb 1970-16 May 1970)
temporary labourer, J Bingham (21 Aug 1970-14 May 1971) temporary labourer then private from 29 Apr 1971, E V F
(Ted) & Stacey Hartley (2 Aug 1971-9 Nov 1972) traction electrician, L B J Burton (11 Sep 1975-?) private lease, Peter
& Burma Cooper (? - ?, after Aug 1975, there Oct 1976) ganger, nobody else until Bob and Maud (sp) Toko (Sep 1980-
1981)
543: Peter & Georgina Lockie (young couple, they were Scottish, went to Christchurch, there by Nov 1931) guard,
Charlie & Mary Emmerson (Apr 1939s-Apr 1954s) cook in railway refreshment rooms, H G Coombes (13 Apr 1954-18
May 1956) [traction] electrician (the original house occupants list had Bert & Ailsa D (Billie) Coombes in 542 from
Apr/May 1953-ca. mid 1955) (in hotel first), Bruce & Elodie Gray (27 Sep 1956-12 Aug 1960) engine driver, Mike &
Loma Kuiti (13 Aug 1960-10 Dec 1964) engine driver, Dave & Maureen Hedley (26 Mar 1965-1 Apr 1968) fireman,
Geoff & Liz Butcher (8 Apr 1968 -10 Jun 1969) fireman, A M Harwood (30 Jun 1969-27 Jan 1970) temporary labourer,
H C McKenzie (30 Jan 1970-19 Jun 1971) temporary labourer, Lindsay & Margaret Nairn (9 Feb 1972-29 Aug 1975) in
charge of bridge gang, Greg and Jackie Shand (pt of 1981) went to 530, Tom Nepia (? - ?, there 1985, 1989) bridge
gang
542: Peter & Kathy (sp) Hill (ca. 1930-ca. 1941, there Sep 1941) fitter, Edgar & Ruth Hartley (ca. 1946-Feb 1954s)
surfaceman, W [Wasily & Anna] Taraschenko (20 Jul 1954-30 Jul 1956) surfaceman [in tunnel gang] (the Taraschenkos
were supposedly in 541 in the original house occupants list from ca. Aug 1954 to Jul/Aug 1956 but that doesn’t tally
with the NZR Register of Dwellings), R C (Reg) & Ngaire Neilson (22 Sep 1956-5 Nov 1959) surfaceman in tunnel
gang, Ernie & June Faulkner (22 Dec 1959-28 Mar 1961) ganger, Franz & Adriana (Shaan) Purgar (14 Apr 1962-4 Aug
1964) signal erector, Ron & Noelene Cain (20 Mar 1965-27 Nov 1968) bridge carpenter, E C (Eric) & ... Hooper (19
Jan 1969-7 Nov 1972) bridge carpenter, Lawrence (Lawrie) & ... Utiger ('Tiger') (6 May 1973-ca. 1991) guard, then
shunter (separated while in Otira)
541: George & Margery Dynan (ca. 1933-Nov/Dec 1951s) Traction electrician, (R C) Robert & … Ingram (Jun 1952sAug 1954s) electrician, W B Johnstone (17 Nov 1955-20 Feb 1958, there in Dec 1957 flood) electrician - Way &
Works, Jack & Bonnie Ackland (7 Jul 1958-14 Apr 1962) traction electrician, Ron & Kath (sp) Lilley (27 Nov 1962-28
May 1968) Traction electrician, Gary & Judy Tipler (6 Jun 1968-9 Apr 1970) Traction electrician, B R (Brian & Verna)
Scrimgeour (17 May 1970-11 Apr 1972) surfaceman, Bill & Annette (sp) Farmer (24 Apr 1972-14 Apr 1973), Bob &
Lorraine Bothwell (15 Apr 1974-1981) bridge gang, Geoff Dunwoodie (6 Feb 1982 – in house until new hut compound
completed ca. May 1983) signal maintainer, Ron & … Langley (ca. Mar 1984-Jul 1985) surfaceman
540: Jack & Ivy Molloy (ca. 1931-1936) carpenter, Bert & Ruby Winchester (Sep 1935-Mar 1938s) carpenter, Edward
Henry & Agnes Mary McGuigan (Mar 1938- ?, still there 1941) carpenter, Stan & Maisie Norris (ca. 1941-ca. 1948)
carpenter, J T Bennett (? -16 June 1950) casual carpenter, N W (Neil) & Pat Columbus (20 Jun 1950-22 Apr 1953)
carpenter, (J R) Reg & Doreen Sheppard (23 Apr 1953-4 Nov 1958) bridge carpenter, Ferenc (Frank) & Rae Kassa (24
Jan 59-4 May 1962), Dave & Lois Wotton (4 Oct 1962-20 Nov 1963 (2nd house), signal maintainer, Dick & Glenis
Trueman (Dick in hotel for couple of weeks, 18 Dec 1964-13 May 1968) signal maintainer, Bill & Judith Stephenson
(14 Oct 1968-3 Apr 1970) carpenter, Gary & Judy Tipler (9 Apr 1970-17 Sep 1971) traction electrician, J M Davison
(13 Feb 1972-19 Oct 1973) fitter (electrical), R D Priest (29 Jun 1974-20 Jan 1975) porter, George & June White (14
Mar 1975-19 Oct 1975) traffic operator, Lionel & ... Renata (31 Jan 1976-Sep 1978s) traffic operator, M J (Mel) Jacobs
(ca. 1979-ca. mid 1985) engine driver, Paul & Tania Thomson (Oct 1985 for 2-3 years then to 533) Traction lineman,
unoccupied & semi-derelict by 1991
539: John & Margaret Harriet O'Connor (? - Jul 1931s) signal adjuster, Alex & Margaret Whitley (1931?-Dec 1936s,
had been in Otira since 1930 so possibly in a different house first, or O'Connors changed houses from 1930) signal
maintainer, T R (Thomas Russell) & Rita McLay (May 1937s-ca. 1946) signal maintainer, (?) Arthur Charles Crosado
(ca. 1947-1948) IP Way, (?) Alf Still (ca. 1949) IP Way, Thornton S (Tom) & ... Fitness (ca. 1949/50-Jun 1953)
ganger/IP Way, D B Moodie (16 Sep 1955-12 Dec 1956) inspector permanent way, R C (Bob) & ... Hooper (4 May
1957-16 Oct 1959) surfaceman, Dave & Lois Wotton (8 Feb 1961-3 Oct 1962) (until Kassas' moved out of 540) signal
maintainer, H J Anderson (28 Dec 1962-8 Jul 1964) temporary surfaceman, Dave & Evonne McLennan (23 Jul 1964-17
Apr 1968) section officer, Murray & … Delahunty (18 Apr 1968 -12 Jul 1969) section officer, R Barr (8 Sep 1969-23
Mar 1970) temporary labourer, E (Ted) & Peg Tredinnick (8 Jul 1970-ca. early Oct 1976) train examiner, Alan &
Doreen Kennedy (1976-ca. 1983) train examiner (to 518), Dave & Kathy Hodgson (ca. 1983-ca. 1985) train examiner
(? Dave: ex-hut compound, there in Sep 1982), Murray & Debbie George (ca. 1986-1989, there Sep 1986) signal
maintainer), John & Janet Withers (Mar 1989-May 1990) surfaceman, Stuart Dow (June 1991-Feb/Mar 1994)
surfaceman
River-side houses:
538: … & … Diggs (? - ?, there ca.1934-1937, neighbours to Kennedys), Nathan & … Rothwell (ca. 1941-ca. 1943)
porter, Gordon & ... Weller (Jun 1946s-Aug 1948s) porter, Athol & Bessie Hands (ca. Aug 1948-May 1952) traffic
assistant, C A E (Chris) & Ann Petersen (2nd time) (30 Jun 1952-20 Sep 1955) traffic assistant, Brian & Rosie Harper
(20 Sep 1955-28 Oct 1958) traffic assistant, E White (2 Sep 1959-3 Sep 1959), Feb 1961: painting contractor to rent for
about 4 months from 20 Feb to 30 June 1961 (P S Evans), Gordon & Shirley Cunningham (14 Aug 1962-19 Jan 1966),
empty for a long time, leased to Otira Playcentre (11 Feb 1971-30 Jun 1973), sold to W P Rathbun of Greymouth Dec
1974, removed Apr 1976
537: I A G & … Clark (Sep 1929-May 1933s), Donald & Elsie Kennedy (Jan/Feb 1935s-ca. 1937) guard, Mornington
Canon ('Morn'?) & Vera Matilda Carr (Feb 1942s-1944) guard, Percival (Beau) Campbell (there 1948, late 1940s, in
Otira from at least 1944) & Miss King, guard, S J (Sid) & … Beattie (ca. 1950-ca. 1952) guard, Duncan Alexander
& … Peat (Aug 1953s-Jun 1954s) shunter/acting guard, AO (Alan) & Mavis Fletcher (17 Jun 1955-23 Jun 1958) guard,
Fred & Lorraine Smith (2 Jul 1958-18 Sep 1961) shunter, Ted & Shona Hayward (27 Sep 1961-13 Mar 1964), Peter
& … Jackson (15 Jun 1964-21 May 1967) traffic assistant, Jim & Paula Daynes (22 Sep 1967-24 Nov 1970) engine
driver, Russel & Nyra Ryder (21 Dec 1970-25 Sep 1972, went to 533) engine driver, house in poor condition May 1972,
sold to W P Rathbun of Greymouth Dec 1974, removed Apr 1976
536: (?) Jack & Emma Pretoria (Tora) Bone (ca. 1928-ca. 1931, definitely there between mid-1928 and mid-1931)
porter (lived in one of the 'long' houses on river side), Max & Mavis Cole (? - ?, neighbours of Kennedys, no family,
great friends of Kears in 550 and left before them), Russell & Dorothy Muriel Plato (ca. 1938-1942 or early 1943)
porter, W J (Jack) & Janet Wilson (Mar 1943s-Mar 1946s) guard, Bill & Aileen Cleave (1946-ca. 1954, there Jan 1954),
shift clerk, Arnold William & Dorothea Ruby Mote (? -Feb 1955s, there by Oct 1954), Ron & Eileen Scott (29 Dec
1955-15 Jun 1956) bridge carpenter, Gerry & Rona (sp) Kennedy (? - ?) carpenter (name doesn’t appear in NZR
Register of Dwellings), Alec & Isobel Mitchell (11 Jul 1956-1 Mar 1958) casual carpenter there at time of Dec 1957
flood, N T F & … Blackmore plumber (21 Feb 1959-30 Mar 1960), Ron & Pat Wills (28 Jun 1960-23 Oct 1962),
Clarrie & Anne Lewis (28 Sep 1963-11 Aug 1966) surfaceman/acting ganger, Leased to Ministry of Works (10 Dec
1966-27 Jan 1967), Parekura ('Johnnie') & Pat ('Ma') Kapa (28 Jan 1967-12 Jun 1969) surfaceman, vacant for a while?,
R Price (30 Jan 1970-25 Apr 1970) temporary labourer, Noel & Lorraine Saxon (7 Dec 1970-20 Sep 1972) (1st house,
to 527) bridge gang, vacated as at Aug 1972, Otira Playcentre (1 Mar 1973-ca. 1990)
535: … & … Musson (mid-1930s, at same time as Kennedys in 537), Frank & Beryl Joyce Richards (ca. 1940-1943,
there Feb 1941) engine driver, Charlie & Verna Broughton (ca. 1944-1945) engine driver, Terence & Myrtle Molloy (ca.
1945-ca. 1948) fireman, Raymond C (Ray) & ... Clark (ca. 1948-ca. 1952) fireman, N W Watson (7 Nov 1953-28 May
1954) fireman, Bill & Joy Manera (1 Jun 1954-27 Aug 1959) fireman, Carl & Marie Voigt (1 Dec 1959-2 Apr 1963)
engine driver, John & Shirley Kennedy (May 1963s-ca. Aug 1963) (to 554) engine driver, L E (Larry) & ... Hogg (31
Aug 1963-Jun/Jul 1980 (separated by Nov 1971) guard, Buzz & Diane Terrey (Jul 1980s-Jan 1984) leading bridge
carpenter, Warren & Ann Marie Shaw (May 1985-May 1988) engine driver
534: William David (Bill or 'Wal') & Esther Sarah Frazer (May 1925-1946) engine driver, Geoffrey C (Geoff) & Phyllis
Foster (Mar 1947-Jul 1952s) engine driver, D L (Don) & … Sutherland (16 Dec 1952-3 Sep 1957) engine driver, R G D
(Reg) & Bev Cameron (4 Sep 1957-17 Apr 1959, when Hills moved out of Otira went to 560) fireman, John & Mariette
Hewitson (28 May 1959-3 Apr 1962) (ex B707) Traction electrician, Howard & ... Straker (21 Sep 1962-18 Mar 1965)
shunter, between Jun 1965 and Mar 1967 leased successively to Structural Steel, D H Pearson Ltd and Royal Forest and
Bird Protection Society, K R (Ken & Kath) O'Reilly (21 Oct 1967-26 Jul 1973) signal maintainer, B C (Brian) & Leigh
(for first year) Coomber (8 Oct 1974-1983) surfaceman, Doug & Priscilla Pourau (? - ?, there 1984-1985)
surfaceman, … Puata (ca. 1985- late 1987, there Oct 1985) surfaceman, Michael Cunningham (? - 1991) shunter (ex
550, 2nd house)
533: Eric Wilfred & Vera Beatrice Crumpton (ca. 1941-ca. 1946) shift clerk, Ray & Marjorie McKenzie (? -Sep 1949s)
shift clerk, N T (Neil) & ... Norris (ca. 1949-ca. 1952) shift clerk, Jimmy & Lorraine Kelly (18 Dec 1953-2 Jul 1957)
shift clerk, Jim & Ruth Turner (3 July 1957-12 Oct 1960) shift clerk, P G (Peter and Merle) Brown (15 Mar 1961-4Apr
1962) traffic assistant, Bert & Ailsa D (Billie) Coombes (2 Jun 1962-11 Mar 1965 (apparently went to 524 but doesn’t
show in NZR Register of Dwellings) traction electrician, T L R (Trevor) & Diane Starr (27 Feb 1967-27 Sep 1972)
surfaceman, Russell & Nyra Ryder (26 Sep 1972-28 Jan 1974) (ex 537) engine driver, Doug & ... Stewart (3 Apr 1974-
24 Oct 1975) engine driver, someone in bridge gang (? - ?), Dave & Helen Boult (signal maintainer) (2 Apr 1976- ?,
there Apr 1977), G B (Graham) & Maureen Hudson (ca. May 1978-Jun 1980) bridge carpenter, Clarry & Angela (after
2-3 weeks) Lewis (Nov 1980-Oct 1982) surfaceman, Carol Downing & Wayne Prendergast (? - ?, there Nov 1983)
surfaceman, Alan & Doreen Kennedy (ex 518) (Sep/Oct 1985- ?) train examiner, Paul & Tania Thomson (ex 540)
(1987/88-1991s) Traction lineman
532: Frank O & Nancy Alice Turvey (ca. 1930-Feb 1932s) fireman, John (Jock) & Ivy Jean Steel (May 1932s-ca.
1944) fireman, then engine driver, N G (Noel) & ... Clark (ca. 1946-May 1951s (engine driver), H H (Harry) & ...
Ferguson (? - ?, there Feb 1952) engine driver, Len & Jean James (24 Jun 1953-8 Oct 1957) engine driver, Ken & Una
Wakefield (10 Oct 1957-8 Aug 1960) engine driver, Arthur (Artie) & Elaine Carson (9 Aug 1960-20 Aug 1963) engine
driver, Eric & Val Arnott (22 Aug 1963-6 Apr 1964) (1st house, to 560) engine driver, Peter & Erin Bradley (11 Apr
1964-17 Jan 1968) engine driver, O C (Owen) & Valerie Wilson (20 Jan 1968-29 Nov 1972) engine driver, Ross &
Judith Tizzard (23 Jan 1973-15 Jan 1976) electrician, T W (Tai & Carol) Thorne (29 Feb 1976-ca. mid-1980, there Apr
1978, June 1980 (left by mid-1980) Traction lineman, Kere & Debbie Howse (ca. Jul 1980-June 1984s) (ex 526)
surfaceman
531: In Oct 1931 was let to an 'outsider', … & … FitzGibbon (? - ?), Arthur & ... Harrison (May 1934s-Jul 1936s)
school teacher, Ben & ... Keating (ca. 1940- ca. 1941) engine driver, then took over Otira Cash Stores, George & Betty
McGee (ca. 1942-1945, Harold Raymond (Ray) & Winifred Grace (Winnie) Bodger (ca. 1945-Dec 1947) (2nd time in
Otira) fireman, Evan Douglas & Doreen Melanphy Harris (ca. 1949-ca. 1953, there by Sep 1949) fireman/engine driver,
John & Stella Butcher (20 Oct 1953-4 Dec 1957) engine driver (senior driver), J E (Jim/Jimmy) & Bev Earl (11 Dec
1957-8 Jun 1964, gone by mid-1964) fireman, Bill Beaton (4 Apr 1966-Nov 1984s (& Colleen from late 1972) Traction
lineman, Kelly & Glenys Gray (? - ?, there Jul, Oct 1985) bridge carpenter (afterwards, went up to tearooms – had these
for 9 months), Aaron McSorley (ca. Oct 1985-ca. Nov 1986) surfaceman
530: Henry F & Rita Elizabeth Unwin (? - ?, there at least between mid-1928 and mid-1931) fitter, Bill & Violet Bell
(ca. 1933-1951) fitter, Trevor & Adele Wilson (24 Jul 1951-10 Jul 1956) fitter, (W K) Bill & Helen Mumford ( 11 Jul
1956-8 Feb 1971) fitter, I W Riley (21 Feb 1971-18 Jun 1971) vacant at 18 June 1971, still vacant Nov 1971, Frank &
Kathy Coxhill (11 Apr 1972-6 Dec 1973) ganger, R C (Bob) & Lorraine Williams (23 Sep 1974-May 1981) (2nd time)
electrician maintainer, Greg & Jackie Shand (ca. 1981-ca. 1983) bridge gang (Greg Shand to MOW house 5 Dec 1983),
G A (Gordon) Cunningham & Janice Wilson (1984-Dec 1989) shunter
529: Richard Noel (Dick) & Jean Jeffcott (? -ca. 1944, there in 1930s) ganger, J S (Filmer) & Ailsa Phillips (1946-
Apr/May 1948s) IP Way clerk, H W (Howard) & Melbar Machon (Mar 1949s-Dec 1952s) IP Way clerk/storeman, Jack
& Jean McLean (20 Feb 1953-13 Mar 1956) IP Way clerk, Nov 1956: house available for surfaceman, J R (John) & ...
Barsby (23 Feb 1957-14 Feb 1958) casual labourer, flood repair workers after Dec 1957 flood, Ron & Peggy Smith (23
Mar 1959-29 Apr 1963) surfaceman?, Brian & Verna? Withell (4 Jun 1963-4 Apr 1966) bridge gang, Bruce & Yvonne
McLennan (17 May 1966-27 Feb 1970) signal maintainer, A D Roberts (20 Jul 1970-28 May 1971) temporary
electrician, D J (Don) & Beryl McKenzie (lived in hotel for long time before house) (13 Mar 1972-ca. Aug 1976)
Traction lineman, T E (Trevor) & Karen Arbuckle (ca. Sep 1976-Oct 1981) fitter, T G (Tony) Evans (1982-end of 1984)
fitter, Roger Harris (? - ?, there Jul, Oct 1985) fitter
528: Allan & Myrtle Pugh (ca. Jan 1936-Oct 1937s) engine driver, Edmund (Nick) & Florence (Flo) Carter (ca. 1937-
1938 & ca. 1940-1946) engine driver, Harold & Jean Clough (Jun 1946s-ca. 1952) fireman, A J (Allen) & Gladys Irene
Pearsey (19 Nov 1952-25 Jul 1956, there Jun 1953) fireman & acting engine driver, B C (Bruce) & Helen Smith (6 Aug
1956-13 June 1960) engine driver, Jack & Audrey Hansen (14 Jun 1960-3 Dec 1963) engine driver, Colin & Pat Thorn
(6 Dec 1963-13 Jul 1964) (1st house, to 556) engine driver, Henry & ... Tebet (27 Sep 1966-24 Nov 1967) traction
electrician, Albie & Pat Mikkelson (7 Dec 1967-30 Nov 1971) engine driver, Len & Jan Goodwin (1 Dec 1971- 22 Jul
1975) engine driver, Bob & Kath Hunt (25 Sep 1975-very late 1978) engine driver, I W (Ian) & Lee (from October)
Dixon (Apr 1979-Mar/Apr 1986), A P (Alan) Milliken (ca. Apr 1986-Oct/Nov 1986) (2nd house, ex 548), Joe Goodman
(ca. 1986-early-mid 1994)
527: Bert & … Thomas (? - ca. 1942, in Otira by 1930 but unsure whether this house for whole time), Charlie & …
Minifie (3 Jul 1943-28 Aug 1946) head teacher, Andy & Flora Anderson (28 Jan 1947-20 Aug 1956) head teacher, ...
Adams (Nov 1956-Dec 1956) school teacher, J G & ... Watson (ca. Jan 1957-Aug 1957) head teacher, S F (Syd) & ...
Postlewaight (Sep 1957-Dec 1959) head teacher, Russell Bain (Jan 1960-Dec 1962) head teacher, David & Janice Bell
(May 1963-Aug 1964 (David previously in hotel, then boarded with Bert and Maureen Elliott until married) (head
teacher), George & Delcie McKenzie (Jan 1965-29 Aug 1965) (later that year when new school house built) both
teachers – George: senior class, Delcie: junior class, Don & Jan McCutcheon (16 Jan 1967-17 Oct 1969) bridge
carpenter, Don & Sherry Tangaroawhai/Timothy (7 Jan 1970-26 Oct 1970), Brian Johnson (5 Feb 1971-5 May 1972),
Noel & Lorraine Saxon (21 Sep 1972-Apr 1976s) (2nd house, ex 536), B P (Brian) & Paula Brown (1976-1981) signal
maintainer, Sam Bell (ca. Apr 1981-May 1985) signal maintainer, Mark Downing & 1st girlfriend Donna Manawatu
2nd girlfriend Judy Kerr (later married) (? - ca. early 1986) bridge gang, Dick & Lynne Burn (Nov 1986-Jul 1989s)
Traction lineman, Geoff & Philippa Bromley (1989-Sep 1991) ganger, Gilbert Bryan (ca. mid-1990s-Jan 2000) engine
driver
526: William (Bill) & Annie May Young (Jun 1923s-Aug 1928s), engine driver, Frederick Gordon & … Baldwin (ca.
1947-1948) lineman, Lionel Victor & Joyce Pearce (ca. Jan 1949-Jul 1951s) signal erector, J P & ... Mahon (?- ?, there
1952) signal erector, Robert William (Bob) & Lilian (Lil) Green (14 Sep 1953-19 Jul 1954), M G (Merv) & Ziere
Osburn (4 Aug 1954-2 Jun 1959) electrician/maintainer, house allocated to Traffic Branch in exchange for 538, E W
(Ernie) & Marion Elizabeth (Betty) White (4 Sep 1959-31 Jul 1962) guard, Ken & Florrie Fairfax-Jones (29 Mar 1963-
27 Jun 1966) guard, Gavin & Bev Murdoch (28 Jun 1966-23 May 1967) section officer, Dick and Jan Carroll (4 Sep
1967-6 Jan 1971) shunter, J M & K E Davidson (3 Feb 1971-5 May 1971) vacated on 1 May 1971 (took over Four
Square), T J (Tom and Adeyth) Chandler (5 May 1971- Apr 1977s) section officer, K L (Kere) & Debbie Howse (ca.
May-ca. Jul 1980, there June 1980 (1st house, to 532), Alan Crook & Christine Wills (1981-1984) shunter, Grant
Burnard (1984-1986) section officer, Gavin Clout (Jul 1986-Apr 1989) section officer
525: Henry & Blanche Abrahams (Jun/Jul 1923s-March 1927s), … & … Mulholland (Feb 1931s-Jun 1931s) engine
driver, Arthur & Pearl Paston (Dec 1935/Jan 1936-Sep 1940s) fitter, William Alfred (Alf) & Alice May Coombes (Mar
1941s-Aug 1949s) engine driver, Tom & Audrey McAvey (1949-Jun 1952s), Timothy Michael (Tim) & Lorraine (sp)
Katherine Tangney (Jun 1952-Mar 1956s) engine driver, C J (Colin) & Alda Campbell (20 Apr 1957-21 Oct 1958)
engine driver, Roger & Irene Hennessy (22 Oct 1958-8 May 1962) engine driver, J W Jackson (12 Nov 1962-18 Apr
1964) section officer, J A Howe (1 Apr 1965-4 Mar 1966) painter, T (Trevor and Gloria) Walsh (14 Apr 1966-31 Jan
1967) surfaceman, N J Henderson (16 Apr 1967-25 Jul 1967) traffic assistant, Rex & Ann Daniels (26 Oct 1967-19 May
1969) guard, R C (Bob) & Lorraine) Williams (16 Sep 1969-4 Dec 1972) signal maintainer, Clarrie & Anne Lewis (21
Sep 1973-Oct/Nov 1976) ganger, Ray (Snow) Frazer (sp) (? -May 1980) ganger, R L (Ray) Fisher (May/June 1980- ?,
still there Oct 1985) traffic operator
524: Dave & Doris Marquet (1929-1941) stoker in Power House, Percy, Les, Alice, Ron & their mother Clara
Youngman (ca. 1942-various dates), J J (Joe) & Pat Murphy (18 Mar 1957-5 Mar 1958) surfaceman, Karl & Shirley
Van Kasteren (31 May 1958-17 Aug 1960) surfaceman, Frank & Margaret Hines (27 Feb 1961-1 Feb 1964) (2nd house,
ex B707), Bert & Ailsa D (Billie) Coombes (? -Mar 1965s) (2nd house, 2nd time in Otira) [not in NZR Register of
Dwellings] Traction electrician, W G (Bill) & Val McConachy (11 Feb 1964-21 Mar 1969) traction lineman, N B (Neil)
& Ann McDonald (21 May 1969-Nov 1976s) Traction lineman, … Gibb (? - ?, there Jul 1980) traffic assistant, couple
just married when Ray Fisher there, from 8 Jul 1982: Ian Gottermeyer (signal maintainer), Mike Manley (signal
maintainer) & Paul Nicholl (surfaceman) (ex hut compound until new huts ready, ca. Apr 1983), ... Grant (? - ?, there
Nov 1984)
523: John & Mary Josephine Yardley (? -Dec 1935s, there by at least mid-1928) fitter, Harry & Maggie Cox (Mar 1936-
1943) fitter, Victor (Vic) & Amy Barker (ca. Jan 1945-May 1949s) engine driver, Albert J (Albie) & Kathy Ilton (1949-
Jun 1954s) fireman, I G (Ian) & H M (Melva) Ledgerwood (7 Jul 1954-4 Jun 1958) fireman/engine driver, Peter &
Doreen Stewart (11 June 1958-6 May 1963) fireman, Tawhai & Diane Mahauariki (7 May 1963-22 Aug 1967) fireman,
David & Esther Tagestad (24 Aug 1967-12 Aug 1968) fireman, B W Wood (9 Feb 1969-4 Mar 1970) section officer, P
C (Peter & Daphne) Loader (26 May 1970-21 May 1973) section officer, Oct 1973: no longer required for Traffic
Department purposes, J M (Joe) Goodman (1 Oct 1973-ca. Dec 1977/Jan 1978) engine driver, also (? - ca. 1983 to
Wellington, there June 1980, after Wellington returned to 528), Pat & Bonny Watene (Feb 1984-late 1980s) ganger
522: Nathan & Mabel Rothwell (? - ?, there 1928 and earlier), A A (Bert) & Emma Jane (Emm) Emerson (ca. 1931-ca.
1942, there mid-1931) engine driver, William Murray (Bill) & Alice Daniels (Sep 1942-Mar 1948s) engine driver,
Robert C (Bob) & Elsie Kathleen Mechen (ca. 1949-Sep 1950s, in Otira by Sep 1949) (unsure about house), A G (Allan
Guy) & ... Robinson (Oct 1950-ca. 1953) shift clerk, John (Jack) & Margaret Bainbridge (Mar 1953s-Feb 1956s) shift
clerk, Kevin and Vera O'Keefe (27 Mar 1956-19 Nov 1957) shift clerk, Stuart & Joy Pugh (Stuart from 11 Dec 1957,
Joy after they were married (29 March 1958)-31 Jan 1961) shift clerk, Maurice & Irene Hope (8 Mar 1961-29 Jan 1962)
shift clerk, Doug & Pat Taylor (2 Mar 1962-1 Mar 1965) shift clerk, Viv & Betty Sheehan (25 Mar 1965-27 Apr 1968)
traffic assistant, Jeff & Kath Hindle (28 Apr 1968-22 Sep 1973, still recorded as occupants at Nov 1971 even though
had Otira Gorge tearooms from 1969) train examiner, Phil & Jenny Horton (7 Nov 1973-ca. 1978) fitter, Pat & Bonny
Watene (Feb 1984-late 1980s) ganger
521: Harry & Laura Madden & family (ca. 1927-Oct 1937s) to Wellington, engine driver, Arthur & … Stubbs (ca. Jan
1938-Aug 1942s) engine driver, John S & ... Bellaney (Aug 1942s-ca. 1946) engine driver, S G (Stan & Flora) Crowe (3
Apr 1946-6 Jul 1955) engine driver, J A (Johnny) & Pat Kane (13 Jul 1955-21 July 1959) engine driver (known as
“Knocker Kane”), Peter & Jan Griffin (24 Jul 1959-17 Aug 1965) fireman/engine driver, Richard & Dorothy Butcher
(20 Aug 1965-29 July 1968) engine driver, C E Linton (1 Sep 1968-14 Sep 1968) temporary electrician, T T S (Stu) &
Marilyn Heremaia (27 Oct 1968-16 Oct 1972) section officer, Alan & Trish Hunt (18 Oct 1972-3 Mar 1975) section
officer, Mike & Shirley Turner (1 Oct 1975-1978) section officer, K R (Ken) Carter (ca. 1979-ca. 1980, there June
1980) section officer, Ian Waite (ca. May 1981 until went into 519) Traction electrician, Billy ('Spot') Downing (? - ?,
there Nov 1983, Oct 1985) bridge gang (also girlfriend Allison (Alli) Riding for about 18 months from around
1982/83), permanently empty by mid-1980s
520: Charles George & Mildred Frances McCutcheon (ca. 1930-ca. 1935, there mid-1931) fireman/engine driver, J.
& … Styris (1935-ca. 1938) engine driver, Harold Raymond (Ray) & Winifred Grace (Winnie) Bodger (ca. 1940-1941)
fireman, Tom & Ruth King (8 Nov 1941-25 Sep 1956), Feb 1957: vacated by Mechanical Branch, has been allocated to
Way & Works Branch, A T C & ... Stephens (25 Apr 1957-15 Dec 1958) temporary carpenter, William S & Eileen Elsie
Duncan (23 Apr 1959-19 Sep 1961) guard, George & Marilyn Fisher (25 May 1962-24 May 1963) surfaceman, Jeff &
Kath Hindle (27 June 1963-1 Apr 1965, went to Otira Gorge tearooms), Richard & Joy Leach (15 May 1965-21 Sep
1965) temporary labourer, … & … Henderson (? - ?, there Feb 1967 [not in dwelling register], G H (George) and
Papakura Tainui (3 Apr 1967-1 Dec 1972) surfaceman, R H (Dick) & J M Stevens (ca. early 1973-ca. 1975)
surfaceman, G C Tait (25 Nov 1974-6 Dec 1975) temporary labourer, F P Martinac (12 Mar 1976- ?) temporary
labourer, M W (Bill) & Daphne Ryder (? -ca. Apr 1981, there June 1980) ganger, Fred & Glenys Key (Nov 1985-1986)
(1st house, to 546) engine driver
519: Charles H (Harold) & Janie Benfell (1 Aug 1923-1 Jul 1957) engineer/fireman/skilled labourer (Power House),
Wally & Nan Houston (27 Jul 1957-16 Mar 1958) lifter, Dick & Gladys McCann (10 Apr 1958-1 Feb 1961) fitter's
assistant, Viv & Olive Sweeney (31 May 1961-9 Jun 1969) fitter's assistant, M G L (Murray) & Hazel Groube (5 Feb
1970-5 Mar 1973) guard, Oct 1973: no longer required for Traffic purposes, David & ... Brooks (sp) (20 May 1974 -9
Jun 1974), Michael & Dawn Lewis (23 Oct 1974- ?, there in Aug 1976), Neville & Deidre Murdoch (ca. Aug 1977-
Sep/Oct 1979) traffic assistant, N J (Noel) and Leonie) Murchie (Apr 1980-1981) surfaceman, Ian Waite (? - Nov 1982)
Traction electrician (2nd house, ex 521), Graham Gordon (? - ?, there Oct 1985) ganger
518: Frederick (Fred) & Agnes Edith Allott (ca early July 1923s-Sep 1928s) engine driver (now confirmed), Melville &
Maude Mead (1929- ?) surfaceman, Jack & ... Brennan-Holton (known as … Holton) (ca. early 1940s, interned in
WW2) fitter, Robin & Frieda (sp) Drake (ca. 1946-ca. 1949, there Dec 1948 and still there Sep 1949) shunter, Theo
& ... Le Nedelec (ca. 1950-Nov 1953) shunter, Neil & Rita Wilson (ca. 1953-ca. Jul 1957) shunter, F H J (Frank) &
Doreen Jacques (there Dec 1957, 19 Apr 1958-26 Jun 1958) acting train examiner, Noel & Anne Reid (28 Jun 1958-10
Apr 1962) fireman, A W (Allan) & Margaret Henderson (11 Apr 1962-23 Mar 1965) fireman, Alan & Pat Haraki (26
Mar 1965-29 May 1968) engine driver, B L (Brian) McIntosh (15 Jul 1968-11 Dec 1973) fitter (went to bach by police
station which he bought), J J Fathers (14 Jul 1974-17 Aug 1974) traffic assistant, R G Hackett (19 Aug 1974-5 Sep
1975) porter, Mark & Lesley Scotson (18 Sep 1975-ca. Oct 1978) engine driver, E C (Butch) & Tawai Fredericks (ca.
late 1978/early 1979-May/June 1983) train examiner, Alan & Doreen Kennedy (? -ca. 1984, there Aug 1985) train
examiner (ex 539, to 533), Paul Smith (ca. Sep/ Oct 1985-ca. end of 1985, then to singlemen's hut) section officer,
Michael & Debbie Hughes (early 1986-Aug 1987) ganger
B707: R W (Dick) & Audrey Power (Jul 1951-ca. 1954) surfaceman, (?) Trevor & Loretta Bakes (? - ?) surfaceman
who became Traction lineman later (to 558), J G (John) & Mariette Hewitson (late 1957-1958) (1st house, to 534)
Traction electrician, Frank & Margaret Hines (? -ca. Oct 1961) (to 524), Les & Elva Organ (Oct 1961-ca. end 1962) in
charge of bridge gang, Bob & … McCarrigan (? - ?, there 1964) stationmaster, Rex & Joan Wells (Sep 1965s-Nov
1966s) stationmaster, (G R) George & Joyce Brown (ca. end of 1966-ca. late 1969) stationmaster, Wally & Jo Davis
(Mar 1970-mid-1972) stationmaster, Joe & Edith Cumming (Aug 1972-ca. Jul 1976) stationmaster, G W (Gavin) & Ann
Wright (ca. 1976-Nov 1978) stationmaster, W G (Bill) & Ann Ross (ca. 1979- ?, there in Jun1980) stationmaster, Bert &
Dulcie Blade (? -ca. Apr 1984, there mid-1982) stationmaster, Wally and Emily Ashby (Sep/Oct 1985-Mar 1986s) (ex
556) ganger, Barrie Drummond (ca. Apr 1986-ca. late 1986, then to hut compound) ganger, Mike & Elizabeth Reeves (?
- ?) fitter
Houses near school:
560: Charlie & Isabella M Brown (ca. 1924-ca. 1937) Superintendent of Power House, … & … Parker, Cyril & Mavis
Muriel Boys (ca. 1943-ca. 1945, there mid-1943) shift clerk, Robert E (Bob) & Kathleen Elizabeth Round (?-ca. 1950,
married the district nurse) Power House foreman, Arthur & May Townsend (22 Jun 1950-16 Nov 1955) Power House
foreman, H J (Harold ('Happy')) & Alice Hill (nee Youngman) (23 Jan 1956-26 Mar 1959) fitter's assistant, alterations
were made in 1958 to provide accommodation for a visiting doctor and occupancy charge was reduced by 2s 11d per
week (verandah and adjoining room of 560 were used as a waiting room and consulting room respectively between
1958 and around 1962), Reg & Bev Cameron (18 Apr 1959-13 Dec 1960) (2nd house, ex 534) engine driver, Gordon &
Poppy Campbell (15 Dec 1960-1 Apr 1964), E W (Eric) & Val Arnott (7 Apr 1964-1 Feb 1965) (2nd house, ex 532)
engine driver, Pat & Val Crombie (9 Feb 1965-17 Oct 1967) engine driver, Jock & Enid Tuari (21 Oct 1967-24 Jul 1974
(1st house, to 554) engine driver, Harold Carr ('Judge') & Ranui ('Ra') Ngarimu (29 Sep 1974- ?, went to old police
house ca. mid-1990) engine driver
498: Gavin C (or Gaven?) & Sarah Ann Gaudion (ca. Jan 1927-Aug 1931s) ganger, … & … Garlick (Aug/Sep 1933sDec 1935s), Norman Alexander James (Norm) & Mary Porter (Mar 1937-Feb 1943s), Bert & Helen Tressler (Feb
1943s-Oct 1945s), D K (Keith) & Norma Philpott (ca. 1948-ca. 1953) signal maintainer, E C (Ted) & Joan Groufsky
(20 Sep 1952-26 Mar 1958) signal maintainer, V R (Vern) & Rhona MacPherson (9 Jun 1958-17 May 1961) signal
maintainer, Graham & Helen Bell (31 Jan 1962-21 Jul 1965) signal maintainer, Ken & Linda Lancaster (15 Nov 1965-
23 Jan 1968) signal maintainer, John & Esme Cappill (22 May 1968-15 Sep 1971) ganger, Dec 1971: considered
uneconomic to repair, tender for removal from I D Leggat (Christchurch) Feb 1972
465: Eric & Gladys James (Dec 1925-mid-1941), occupied by district nurse from 29 August 1946 to 1966 when she
lived in the third (from the river) NZED house. Sold with lease of land to Canterbury Education Board in August 1975
for $100 and used for school purposes (e.g. manual training).
467: H C (Henry) & … Langford (? - 26 Feb 1926), Walter Henry & Nellie (sp) Frances (sp) Lilley (Apr 1928s- Jun
1933s) stationmaster, Charles & … Rollo (Jun 1933s-Dec 1935s) stationmaster, W J & … Domigan (ca. 1936-ca.
1938), stationmaster, S N (Syd) & Margaret (Greta) Kinraid (Nov 1948s-Sep 1953s), J K (Jim) & … McIver (ca. 1953-
1955) shift clerk, S R (Selwyn) & Joyce Whitfield (Sep 1955s-Apr 1958s) shift clerk, John & Maureen McRobie (ca.
June 1958-1962) shift clerk, A B (Bruce) & … Bartlett (Mar 1962s-Nov 1964s) section officer, Drummond (or 'Drum')
& … Prescott (ca. Nov 1964-Aug 1965s?) ganger (ex 555), Lance & Jean Fisher (Oct 1965-1970) ganger, Feb 1971:
house uneconomic to repair and sold to Danny Cruickshank in Apr 1971 for $10
(The page for House 467 has been removed from the Register of Dwellings)Date of Photo1940`sMap[1] ContributorLyn Frazer
See attached for colour version with green changes
OCCUPANTS OF RAILWAY HOUSES IN THE OTIRA VILLAGE (1920s-early 1990s)
Version 10: 6 April 2024
(Note: latest changes are in green)
The following list relates to the railway houses in the Otira village and complements information on the houses
contained in Railway through the Rata: Memories of Otira. Refer to the 1974 plan of houses on page 313 which shows
all except Nos. 465, 498, 560 and 467 (in order from the school heading towards the station). By this time, No. 560 was
the only surviving house of these four.
The oldest house was No. 467 which dated from around 1900. It was the stationmaster's house and after the tunnel
opened in 1923 was in the section adjacent to House 559. In 1940, St Christopher's church was built on the section on
the school side of No. 467. Two further houses, Nos. 498 and 465, appear to date from around 1906. They were next to
the school fronting the railway. No. 560 was built between No. 498 and the section on which the church was later built.
Nos. 518 to 560 inclusive were all built in 1922/23 for the opening of the Otira tunnel. The only railway house which
was built in the village after the opening of the tunnel was in 1951 and was numbered B707.
Gathering information about the occupancy of the houses in the 'railway era' (up until around 1991) was a long and
involved process owing to the fact that while the research for Railway through the Rata was being carried out (in the
2010-12 period) only limited information was found on railway files. At that time, it appeared that the records that
recorded rent payments etc. had been lost or destroyed, but in 2020 the author was made aware of surviving copies of
the NZR Register of Dwellings held in Archives New Zealand, which contain an essentially complete record of
occupants between about the mid-1950s and mid-1970s for the houses built to A.B. Plan 18&19 (e.g. no. 520) and A.B.
Plan 137 (e.g. no. 521). That information has been included in version 9, with the exception of B707 which is yet to be
updated.
Note that where new names appeared in the NZR Register of Dwellings, those entries have been added in blue. The job
designations are those in the register which don’t necessarily correspond exactly to the job title given at the time in
Otira. For example, a ‘temporary labourer’ would probably normally equate to a ‘surfaceman’.
In the original information-gathering process, a large percentage of the information has had to be sourced from
individuals who lived in Otira at different times. Special thanks are due to Bob Williams of Jacksons and Gordon
Cunningham of Otira for their assistance in this process – especially for the 1970s and 1980s period. In addition, school
registers, Wises and Stones directories and electoral rolls have been invaluable.
There is still plenty of scope to make this list more complete. If you can fill gaps, clarify/correct details etc., or have any
queries, please contact us via www.twowrightbooks.co.nz. Once enough new information is at hand, we will make a
new version available. It is hoped that the information will be a valuable resource for family historians and researchers,
as well as being of interest to those who lived in Otira.
Please note that a small 's' following a date (e.g. Mar 1966s) means that the date is based on school register information.
The school date has only been used when there is a high degree of confidence that the family left Otira around the same
time.
Please also note that superseded job titles have sometimes been used for simplicity and to avoid uncertainty as to when
titles changed and also when the original term was still in common usage. For example, engine driver has been retained
rather than locomotive engineer. The role of porter in Otira in the 1940s and earlier equates roughly to traffic assistant
(i.e. it was shunting as well as platform work). Later on, traffic assistants became traffic operators. Sometime during
the 1960s, the term shift clerk was replaced by section officer.
HOUSE WANTED! Quite a number of 1920s and 1930s families have been placed since version 1 was released, due to
contact with several ladies in the 86-90 age bracket who lived in Otira as children. New information has been regularly
sourced through contacts and going through a number of the Westland electoral rolls. There are still many rolls to go
through from the 1920s-80s period. The following names have not been able to be placed in a house with certainty as
yet, although some may have lived in houses other than the 1922/23 railway houses. If you can help, please get in touch.
Note: if first or middle name (as per electoral roll) is in bold it means that that is the name that is listed in the Wises
Directory
1920s and 1930s:
Alex & … Bartlett (Aug 1923s-May 1925s)
Henry William Robert & Bernadena Isabel Black (? - ?, there mid-1928) school teacher – presume lived in railway
house
Freddie Brett married, refreshment rooms manager, lived near fire bell, no children
D & … Brown (? - Apr 1926s, there by Apr1925)
D E & … Browning & family (? - May 1929, there by Feb 1928)
Burney family (Nov 1933s- ?) lived near alleyway on riverside
Richard & Emily Cohen (Mar 1926s-Dec 1929s) lifter
A D & … Dickie (Sep 1924s-Apr 1926s)
William John & Blanche Douglas (Aug 1926s-Dec 1928s) engine driver
… & … Ealam (Oct/Nov 1925s-Jan/Feb 1927s)
James William & Elizabeth Mary Earl (there mid-1928, still there mid-1931) porter
Cyril Ray & Agnes Josephine East (? - ?, there by Nov 1931) clerk
John Edward Harry & Hannah Feary (? - ?, there mid-1928)
Francis Allen (Frank) & Robina G B Halkett (? - ?, there mid-1928, still there mid-1931)
F J & … Hansen (? - Jul 1927s) surfaceman
Francis Alexander & Mary Josephine Hare (? - Oct 1932?, there by Nov 1931) porter
Thomas Vincent & Ruby Irene Harris (? - ?, there mid-1928) clerk
… & … Howarth (? - Mar 1926s)
Patrick? Hughes & family (Jan/Feb 1930s-Jun 1934s) train examiner, lived about opposite fire bell
Ivor Edward William & Gwendoline Louisa Isaac (there mid-1928) porter
Harold Arthur & Jessie Elizabeth Kelly (or Kelley?) (? - ?, there mid-1931) automatic signal maintainer/linesman
Ernie & Lucy Lancaster (first time) (? -Oct 1935s) to Lyttelton – same house as Banks were in later on. Second time in
545
E A Le Fevre family (Apr 1936s-Jul 1937s) to Wellington, railway side, between the alleyways
Gordon Thomas Douglas & Doris Flora Macilquham (? - ?, there mid-1931) labourer
James & Liela Mahon (? - ?, there mid-1931) fireman
James Timothy & Ivy Ellen Mahoney (Oct 1927s-Mar 1928s) clerk
H E (Harry) & … Marsden & family (Jul 1930s-Mar 1933)
William & Winnifred Muriel McGrath (there by 1925, still there mid-1928) carpenter
George Frank & Emily Agness (sp) Morris (Mar 1926s- ? still there mid-1931) chef
Walter Henry & Marion Neame (there mid-1928) surfaceman
William & Kathleen Newburn (? - ?, there Oct 1928) clerk
F & … Page & family (Dec 1929s-Dec 1934s) guard, to Rangiora
Halwyn Beckett & Bertha Nathalia Pike (Dec 1927s-Mar 1930s) fireman
Charles James & Elizabeth Sarah Rice (there mid-1928) porter
… & … Richdale (Nov 1926s-Apr 1928s)
Mr Frank Robertson fireman somewhere in vicinity of 524 (Apr 1936s-Dec 1939s)
George James & Alice Maude Robinson (Jan/Feb 1927-Oct 1928s) engine driver, lived on riverside somewhere not too
far from fire bell
John Dalzell & Elizabeth Ann Rothery (? - ?, there mid-1928) surfaceman
Philip & Helen Grace Samuel (? - Jun 1937s, there by Nov 1931) chef, went to Hamilton, railway side
Senior family (Oct 1932s-Aug 1934?)
Reginald Claude & Amelia Emily Seymour (? - ?, there mid-1928, still there mid-1931) fitter
Charles George & Elizabeth Suters (? - ?, there mid-1928) fitter
Walter Eric & Constance Isabella Tomkins (? - ?, there mid-1928, still there mid-1931) ganger
Arthur & May Townsend (ca. 1932) in square house on railway side below lower alleyway
Con & Stella Treacy (? - ?, there 1925, still there mid-1928) foreman/miner
James (Jimmy) & Cecilia (Cissy) (sp) Wearn (ca. 1927-ca. 1938) engine driver, railway side in a square house between
hall and alleyway
Robert Charles & Elsie Margaret Wilkinson (? - Dec 1931s, there mid-1931) (one child went to Sydenham School
between Sep 1929 & Feb 1931) engine driver
Leonard Edwin (Len) & Emilie Marie Williams (Harry was son and worked in post office) lived on railway-side up
from firebell ca. 1925-ca. 1940, would have lived in 554 or 555
1940s:
Alfred William & Frances Violet Elizabeth Adams (? - ?, there by Sep 1941) train examiner
Leonard James & Minnie Ashton (? - ?, there by Sep 1941, still there mid-1943) porter
William Alexander & Melva Ruby Banks (early 1940s, there by Sep 1941, still there mid-1943) surfaceman
Otheus & Mary Mavis Brighton (? - ?, there Sep 1941, still there mid-1943)
Ted & … Burgess (ca. 1944-46) very likely to be 548, porter
Clifford Llewellyn (Cliff) & Daisy Evelyn May Crawford (early to mid-1940s) near 520, Traction electrician
Albert William & Leah Elizabeth Egan (early 1941-Feb 1943s) house on railway side either 554 or 555, clerk
James & Margaret Emma Gordon (? - ?, there Sep 1941) labourer
Frank Arthur & Wilhelmina Hedges (? - ?, there Sep 1941) house on river side down towards hall end
Ian Hugh (Hughie) & Mary Helen Horne (? - ?, there mid-1943) porter
John & Muriel Edith O'Loughlin (? - ?, there Sep 1941)
John & … Penman (porter) in between the two alleyways on railway side (ca. 1944-ca. 1946) – almost certainly 555
William George & Ellen Edith Robson (? - ?, there Sep 1941)
Smeaton family (Jul 1940s- ?) on railway side somewhere between alleyways or close by
Peter Alexander & Mary Vallance (? - ?, there Sep 1941)
Norman & Olive May Walters (? - ?, there Sep 1941) cleaner, almost certainly 537
1950s:
Frederick Gordon & Olive Lillian Baldwin (there 1954)
Gerald (Gerry) Patrick & Rona Olive Kennedy (there by Oct 1954, lived somewhere before 536?)
Robert & Lizzie Reid (there 1954)
1970s and 1980s:
Mark & V Sargisson – late 1970s, left about Mar/Apr 1980 traffic operator (house near bottom end on riverside)
Billy Stevens, in house opposite Millers
Ivan & Alison Bell
Railway-side houses:
559: Jack & Nell Crook (Jun 1937-Feb 1944) lifter, Arthur & Marj? Lye (there by 1946-Dec 1948s) train examiner, L
H (Les) & Marjorie Reeves (1949-1955) train examiner, G S (Graeme & Esther) Reeves (26 Feb 1955-25 Mar 1958)
train examiner, V D (Viv) & Janice Stewart (26 Mar 1958-18 Jul 1962) train examiner, George & ... Smith (26 Jul 1962-
26 Jun 1964) train examiner, Tasmon & … Gadd (8 Feb 1965-22 Nov 1965) train examiner, Joe Goodman (12 Jun
1966-21 Oct 1969) (plus Derek Albrechtsen) both engine drivers, G T (Geoff) & Liz Butcher (24 Oct 1969-15 Sep
1973) (2nd time in Otira) engine driver, Jeff & Kath Hindle (23 Sep 1973 to Oct/Nov 1978) train examiner, leased June
1980, Bruce (Jack) & Tania Wilson ca. May 1982-1992 (Tania), (Jack to 1993) Traction lineman
558: K (Ken?) & … McClymont (Aug/Sep 1938-Dec 1939s) clerk, John & Alice Rodgers (early 1946-Dec 1948s)
surfaceman, M T (Marne) & Valmai Joan Blanchard (ca. 1949-ca.1954, still there mid-1954) surfaceman, Ross & Greta
Leach, P L [Pat] Riley (8 Nov 1956-3 Oct 1957) temporary labourer [in track gang], T S (Trevor) & Loretta Bakes (7
Nov 1957-5 Sep 1962) surfaceman then traction lineman (from 29 Jun 1959), Stan & Eth Booth (12 Sep 1962-9 Sep
1966) traction lineman, Bruce & Betty McCaughan (31 Jan 1967-12 Apr 1969) traction lineman, M J Johnston (1 Dec
1969-17 Nov 1970) section officer, (vacant from 17/11/70)
Upper Alleyway/Accessway to Station between 558 and 557
557: Frank & … Thomas (ca. 1938-ca. 1941) guard, William John G & … Ward (Aug 1941s-ca. 1946) guard, Charles
Alfred (Charlie) & Doris Gwendoline Walker (? - ?, there in 1948 and 1949) guard, Jimmy & Lorraine Walders (Jimmy
in Otira Apr 1949 but only in house after married which was before May 1952)(? -1956) traffic assistant then guard
(Bob Lamb boarded with them), J A & ... Miller (6 Jun 1957-16 Apr 1958) shunter, K J (Keith & Clarice) Williams (12
May 1958-30 Oct 1959), house allocated to Signals in exchange for 539, B G (Barrie) & Shirley Coughlan (7 Dec
1959-26 Jun 1961) signal maintainer, H M (Bert) & Maureen Elliott (27 Jun 1961-13 May 1969) signal maintainer, N F
(Noel) Jones (24 June 1969-19 Mar 1975) (married Patricia Beckett while in Otira) signal maintainer, K S Harris (21
Jun 1975-18 Apr 1976) surfaceman, Buzz & Diane Terrey (28 Apr 1976-Nov 1978s) bridge gang, R K (Dick) & Lynne
Burn (ca. 1978-1980, there in Jun 1980) Traction linesman, (?) Robbie McGregor (1981/82) surfaceman, Mark &
Donna Hopkins (? - ?, there 1982) surfaceman, I (Willie) & Joanne Iafeta (ca. 1984-Jul 1991s) engine driver
556: Ray (Wampy) & Stella Bell (Jun 1940-Dec 1943s) engine driver, James Stephen & ... Tohill (ca. 1944-1947)
engine driver, Stephen C (Claude) & Mary Corrin (ca. Aug 1948-May 1952s) engine driver, W T (Bill) and Pearl
Henderson (ca. 1952-1954, still there Oct 1954) engine driver, T F R (Tom) & ... McAvey (18 Mar 1955-5 Mar 1958)
previously in Otira two or three times (see 525), Les & Norma Goodman (13 Mar 1958-13 Apr 1961) engine driver, L
W E (Laurie) & Faye Young (17 May 1961-7 July 1964) engine driver, Colin & Pat Thorn (14 Jul 1964-19 Apr 1967)
(2nd house, ex 528) engine driver, Bill & Linda Woods (26 Apr 1967-23 Jun 1969) engine driver, J Shannon (20 Aug
1969-8 Apr 1970) temporary bridgeman, Joseph Dennis & …? Ward (17 Jul 1970-8 Mar 1971) surfaceman, Bill &
Lorraine Mincham (5 Aug 1972-21 Mar 1974) signal maintainer, B A Baillie (19 Jan 1975-16 Aug 1975) outsider,
private lease, A G Walker (24 Nov 1975-23 Mar 1976) private lease, Les & Miriama Sword (25 Mar 1976-end of
1979/beg of 1980) signal maintainer, vacant in June 1980, (?) Graham Wilson, Wally and Emily Ashby (Oct 1982sSep/Oct 1985) (to B707) ganger, Daniel & Kerrin (sp) Shadbolt (?-1990) (Traction lineman)
555: Patrick E (Paddy) & Minnie Margaret Burke (Oct 1947-ca. 1950, there Dec 1949) shunter, Chris & Ann Petersen
(1st time, 2nd time in 538), Dick & Maisie Frewin (Jul 1950-Sep 1954) traffic assistant, F R (Frank) & Myrtle Annear
(7 Dec 1954-8 Jul 1957) guard, J C (Jimmy & Shirley) Gillan (19 Jul 1957-24 Jan 1961) traffic assistant., Fred &
Dorothy Gardyne (23 Mar 1961-15 Jan 1963) ganger, Drummond or 'Drum' & ... Prescott (5 Feb 1963-20 Mar 1965 (to
467) ganger, Viv & Janice Stewart (2nd time in Otira) (17 Aug 1965-9 Apr 1969) train examiner, Danny Cruickshank
(14 Jul 1969-15 Sep 1972) train examiner, Tony & Nancy Barton (13 Apr 1973-Jun 1978s), Arthur & Ruth Spiers (Jun
1978-May 1980s) traffic operator, R E (Ray) Gibb (? - ? there Jun 1980) traffic operator, Vic & Piki Sole (Dec 1980-
Dec 1985) guard, Mike & Heather Masson (1986-1988) signal maintainer, Chris Hogan (Dec 1988-1990) signal
maintainer
554: (?) Derek C (or Don?) & ... Syme (ca. 1944-1946) (lived there twice?) porter, Thomas William (Tom) & Elizabeth
Maude (Betty) Harris (29 Apr 1948-2 May 1951 traffic assistant/shunter (dwelling register has T W Morris, porter), N C
(Chris) & Jessie Smith (18 May 1951-17 Jun 1958) shunter, Peter & Sylvia Dowie (15 Nov 1958-20 Aug 1963) guard,
John & Shirley Kennedy (25 Aug 1963-16 Apr 1968) engine driver (2nd house, ex 535), John (Slim) & Lois
Sommerville (19 Apr 1968-13 Apr 1971) engine driver, D M (Doug) & Mary Donaldson (16 Apr 1971-15 Jul 1974)
engine driver, Jock & Enid Tuari (25 Jul 1974-mid-1976) engine driver (ex 560), Bob & Bev Goodman May 1976s-Dec
1979 engine driver, Owen Fitzgerald (ca. Mar 1980-May 1980) engine driver, vacant Jun 1980, Gilbert Bryan (1980
until houses on railway side sold around mid-1990s, then to 527) engine driver
553: The refreshment rooms cook lived here at the same time as Jacques in 552, E (Ted) & Margaret Mary (Peg)
Tredinnick (ca. 1944-1948, possibly 1949 as in the 1949 electoral roll but if so was definitely in a different house) train
examiner, Leo & Eva Cummings (Sep 1948-Mar 1954s) train examiner, Warren & Pat Milne (17 Jul 1954-1958) train
examiner, Trevor & Val Locke (22 Apr 1958-11 Jul 1961) traffic assistant, Harry & Phyllis Mann (12 Jul 1961-7 Jan
1963) shunter, Guy & Mary Scoon (15 Apr 1963-16 Jun 1965) engine driver (ex545), I M (Ian) & Alice Peters (10 Aug
1966-9 Apr 1968) surfaceman, vacant 9 Apr 1968, still vacant 26 May 1971, Used to store Works staff materials while
maintenance on houses being carried out, workshop (Foreman of Works) in 1972, taken down and transported in parts
to Goat Creek in 1977 for reconstruction of bridge (was bridge gang's headquarters), section used for playground early
1980s.
552: Robert (Bob) & Mary Hannah (Mavis) Campbell (ca. 1928-ca. 1935, there mid-1928) engine driver, Merv & Lil
Jacques (Feb 1935s-Apr 1937s) train examiner, W J (Bill) Meadows (Nov 1938-Dec 1939) manager of refreshment
rooms, V G & ... Holland (Dec 1939- ?) manager of refreshment rooms, Robert George & Lorna Ethel Brabyn (ca.
1941-?, still there mid-1943) manager of refreshment rooms, Alexander & Mary McPherson, (Feb 1944s-May 1946s),
W O (Owen) & Dulcie Williams (Sep 1946-28 Jun 1950) leading carpenter, A J (Jim) & Eva Barnes (21 Jul 1950-6 May
1957) carpenter, G M & ... McCabe (there at time of December 1957 flood (27 Jan 1958-23 Feb 1959) carpenter, M O
Stout (20 Mar 1959-30 Oct 1959) temporary labourer, Alby & Eleanor Green (5 Nov 1959-13 Nov 1962) bridge gang,
Les & Elva Organ (14 Jan 1963-19 May 1966) in charge of bridge gang (ex B707), Ken & Nellie Mead (or Meads?) (9
Feb 1967-12 Jun 1970) surfaceman, N V (Neil) & (?) Barbara Johnson (17 Jul 1970-23 Nov 1973) surfaceman, W A
(Kelly) & Glenys Gray (5 Mar 1975-Sep 1976s) bridge gang, Dave Herriot (Mar 1977-ca. Aug 1978) section officer, J
R (Jeffrey) Curtin (Aug 1978-Jan/Feb 1981) section officer, Ian and Liz Wilson (Mar 1981-Mar 1984) section officer,
Derek (sp) & Judy Tainui (1984-ca. late 1987) shunter, … Frew (ca. Apr 1988 - ?) ganger? (with school-aged children)
Lower Alleyway between 552 and 551
551: William (Bill) and Gladys Knight (ca. 1931-ca. 1941, there mid-1931) Lineman/Traction electrician, James
Hector ('Mack') & Violet McKenzie (Sep 1942s-Sep 1949s) Traction lineman, George J & Anne Moyle (Sep 1951s-Nov
1952) guard, M J (Mick) & Elsie Fahey (11 Apr 1953-5 Nov 1956) guard, J G (Jack) & … Mathieson [or Matheson?] (2
May 1957-26 Jan 1960) stationmaster, John Charles (Jack) & Juanita Winnifred Borwick (27 Jan 1960 -6 Jun 1961)
stationmaster, E C (Edgar Charles (Ted)) & … Langdon (9 Jun 1961-14 Mar 1963, next stationmaster was in B707)
stationmaster, Jack & Margaret Chammen (24 Jul 1963-25 Jul 1967) shunter, W J Henderson (26 Jul 1967-19 Jan 1968)
traffic assistant, Graham & ... Dawe (or Dore?) (27 Jan 1968-3 Feb 1971) traffic assistant, R (Bobby) & Elaine
(partner?) McGee (10 Mar 1971-22 Jan 1974) shunter, Merv & Mary Lister (30 Mar 1974-Sep1980s) surfaceman,
vacant as at 9 Mar 1981, Max Barton (early to mid-1980s, left ca. 1987) stationmaster (shared house with Greg
Donovan), Paul Smith & Janie Autaua (ca. mid-1987-late 1988) ex singlemen's hut) section officer
550: Fred & Edna Kear (ca. May 1927-Jul 1938s) engine driver, Morris Henry (Harold) & Freda Jean Neill (ca. 1940-
ca. 1947) engine driver, Vic & Amy Shaw (ca. 1947-Dec 1951s) engine driver, Ian & Veronica Dunsmuir (or
Dunsmuire?) (ca. Dec 1951-ca. 1954) engine driver, Dick and Lorna Williams (Dick lived in Terminus Hotel from about
Aug 1954 until he married, went into house 5 Feb 1956, left Otira 9 Apr 1958) fireman, Alf & Connie Mildenhall (11
Apr 1958-19 Oct 1961) fireman then engine driver, Allan & Nicky Pugh (24 Oct 1961-10 Dec 1963) engine driver,
Graham & Deb Setter (18 Dec 1963-20 Oct 1965) fireman, Harold Carr ('Judge') & Ranui ('Ra') Ngarimu (15 Nov
1965-12 Jun 1969) fireman, M J Johnstone (24 Sep 1969-30 Nov 1969) section officer, W J (Bill & Dawn) Roberts (26
Nov 1970-27 Mar 1972) traffic assistant (1st house, to 546), B A McLintock (3 Jun 1972-approx 23 Dec 1973)
temporary labourer, D A (David?) & … Kennedy (4 Dec 1974-26 Jul 1975) surfaceman, Colin & Sue Brunt (16 Feb
1976-Apr 1978s) (had been empty for a while) surfaceman, Albie & Maria Tengu (1980- ?, still there in May 1985
according to Sam Bell) bridge gang (ex-MOW house), M G (Michael) Cunningham (? - ?, there in Jul, Oct 1985)
shunter (to 534), empty when Paul Smith in 550
549: Llewellyn Scott (? - ?, there mid-1928) leading fireman in Power House, Alfred John & ... Dowling (ca. Oct 1939-
ca. 1942) fireman, Arnold (Bob) & Nola McGrath (ca. 1947-ca. 1950) surfaceman, L G (Lindsay) & Joan McCully (ca.
1950-ca. 1955) surfaceman, J Graham (2 Dec 1955-2 Jun 1956) temporary surfaceman, E J (Ernie) & Allison Crisp (17
Aug 1956-9 Jul 1958) surfaceman in Gang 12 (Otira to Jacksons), Ralph & Mary Norah Margaret King (17 Jan 1959-9
May 1960), Alf & Pearl Tong (20 Jun 1960-13 Oct 1962 when took on tearooms up past Goat Creek) surfaceman, J D
(Jack) & … Lawson (25 Nov 1962-12 Mar 1964) plumber, Leo & Becky? Trouland (25 Apr 1964-2 Apr 1968) plumber,
John & Ruth? Leaker (21 May 1968-31 Jan 1969) plumber, T K (Trevor) & Sue Scott (30 Jun 1969-8 Jul 1975)
surfaceman, R M MacDonald (20 Feb 1975- ?) carpenter, Mar 1982: House occupied by Foreman of Works staff as a
workshop, District Engineer had it Jul, Oct 1985
548: Albert & Mary Rebecca Rouse (? - ?, there 1928) linesman, … & … Payne (Dec 1933s- ?), Les & Maude Cushnie
(in house from 1937 when married-1941, still there mid-1943) Power House clerk (to 1941), Bill & Betty Bryce (ca.
1947-ca. Aug 1948) porter, Allen D & Hazel M McVinnie (31 Aug 1948-ca. 1950, still there May 1950) refreshment
rooms manager, William Henry (Billy) & Lucy Ann F Morton (1950-ca. 1954, there mid-1954) plumber, Fred & …
Bishop (10 Jan 1955-1 Jun 1956) plumber, empty for a long time in Crisp's time, R W (Ray) & Betty Blacktopp (there
24 Jan 1957-27 Nov 1958) temporary plumber, Martha Cunliffe (10 Feb 1959-15 Aug 1960) refreshment rooms
manageress, G R (Graeme) & June Davidson (24 Feb 1961-2 Nov 1964) bridge gang, Gerry & Lou Dennehy (4 Dec
1964-22 Apr 1968) bridge gang then signal maintainer, Ross & Greta Leach (9 May 1968-14 Apr 1970) ganger,
Jim/Jimmy & Phoebe Sydney (24 Jul 1970-5 Dec 1972), D C Ryan (25 Jul 1975-7 Dec 1975) lease to outsider, … & …
Tuhou (? - ?), from 29 June 1982 lease of house to Ian Le Page (contractor for building singlemen's huts), A (Alan) &
Paula Milliken (? -ca. Apr 1986) (1st house, went to 528) Traction lineman, empty
547: Gordon & Nancy Edith Smith (ca. 1941-ca. 1943 there in Feb 1941) train examiner, Neil & … Noonan (ca. 1943-
Jul 1946s) train examiner, Eric & … Carson (ca. 1946-ca. 1948) train examiner, Gordon & Nancy Edith Smith (Aug
1948s-Nov 1949s) (2nd time) train examiner, Tommy & Mina Lord (23 Jan 1950-16 May 1955) train examiner, Bill and
Frances Withers (8 Mar 1956-8 Jun 1961) train examiner, Harry & Edna Fayen (10 Jun 1961-5 Jul 1965) train
examiner, T J (Tom) & Barbara (later) Port (28 Mar 1967-5 Jan 1976) surfaceman, Dave Paranihi (? -ca. 1985) engine
driver & Fiona Crook (? -ca. Nov 1981), permanently empty in 1986-1988 era
546: John (Jack) & Grace Kelly (ca. 1940-ca. 1946) (ex railway house next to old hospital) surfaceman, (?) Leonard
& … McCann (ca. 1946-Dec 1947s) surfaceman, L J (Jim) & Ngaire Lee (6 Feb 1948-29 Jun 1953) surfaceman, O J
(Owen) & Cathy Smith (11 Jul 1953-17 Feb 1960) surfaceman then traffic assistant, E Port (31 Aug 1960-26 Apr 1961),
R M (Ron and …) Jacques (27 Apr 1961-4 Jul 1963) traffic assistant, Tom & Betty Hutt (8 Jul 1963-11 Jul 1966)
shunter, Owen & Cathy Smith (13 Jul 1966-13 Apr 1969) shunter, D (Dennis & …) Oman (1 Aug 1969-29 Jul 1970)
temporary electrician, K D & … Jackson (14 Aug 1970-26 Mar 1971) temporary labourer, Bill & Dawn Roberts (28
Mar 1972, to 24 Nov 1975) (2nd house, ex 550) traffic assistant, (?) A G Walker from 23 Mar 1976 (private lease), G M
(Guy) & Diane (sp) Miller (Oct 1977s-ca. 1981) fitter, Steve Brown (married Colleen 1982) (early 1980s, there May
1982) fitter, D A (Don) & ... Lewis (? - ?, there Jan 1984, Jul, Oct 1985) fitter, Fred & Glenys Key (1986-1988, there
Sep 1986) (2nd house) engine driver
545: Thomas Edward (Ted) & May Josephine Daly (Apr 1939-1941) surfaceman, Ernie & Lucy Lancaster (Jul 1941-
Apr 1946s) ganger, Trevor & Zita Rona Haines (Sep 1946s-Nov 1950s) ganger, (?) Graham & ... Duffy [or Duffey?] (19
Apr 1955-22 Jul 1957) Traction lineman, C A (Colin) & Aileen Ashton (27 Jul 1957-18 Apr 1961) engine driver, Frank
& Marie Lucas (19 Apr 1961-1 Oct 1962) fireman/engine driver, G M (Guy & Mary) Scoon (2 Oct 1962-14 Apr 1963)
to 553, fireman/acting engine driver, to be taken over by Traffic Branch, Ben & … Huve (25 May 1963-27 Sep 1965),
Jock & Leila Harris (29 Jun 1966-27 Apr 1968) (to Otira Gorge tearooms, went to Christchurch Mar 1969) shunter, Alf
& Pearl Tong (28 Apr 1968-3 Jul 1968) temporary bridgeman, A A Bush (23 Sep 1968-31 Jan 1969) electrician
maintainer, J S Gribble (27 Feb 1969-14 May 1969) electrician maintainer, D (Dennis & …) Oman (16 Jun 1969-31 Jul
1969) temporary electrician, R A (Ron & Patricia) Murch (18 Oct 1969-23 Nov 1971) traction lineman, E E O'Neil (6
Mar 1972-31 Oct 1972) porter, Tony & Lyn McIlwraith (6 Aug 1973-Oct 1980) bridge carpenter, … & … Wihape (ca.
1981-? , there Nov 1982) surfaceman, Craig Ilton (? - ?, there Jul, Oct 1985) surfaceman, Vicky (sp) Basher (? - ?, there
Sep 1986), Nick & Liz Maeder (Dec 1987-Oct 1989s) shunter
544: D & … Christensen (? - ?, ca. 1940) fireman, Frederick Steve & Gladys Magretha (sp) Davis (ca. 1941-ca. 1946,
there by Sep 1941) fitter, Richard W (Dick) & Elsie Wills (6 May 1944-23 Nov 1954) fitter, A J (Alan) & Eileen Gray
(24 Nov 1954-17 Nov 1959) fitter, Roger & Joy Rasmussen (18 Nov 1959-17 Jun 1965) fitter, John & Joy Newton (5
Jul 1965-20 Apr 1968) fitter, Albert & … Huve (15 Jul 1968-3 Dec 1969), B R Scrimgeour (5 Feb 1970-16 May 1970)
temporary labourer, J Bingham (21 Aug 1970-14 May 1971) temporary labourer then private from 29 Apr 1971, E V F
(Ted) & Stacey Hartley (2 Aug 1971-9 Nov 1972) traction electrician, L B J Burton (11 Sep 1975-?) private lease, Peter
& Burma Cooper (? - ?, after Aug 1975, there Oct 1976) ganger, nobody else until Bob and Maud (sp) Toko (Sep 1980-
1981)
543: Peter & Georgina Lockie (young couple, they were Scottish, went to Christchurch, there by Nov 1931) guard,
Charlie & Mary Emmerson (Apr 1939s-Apr 1954s) cook in railway refreshment rooms, H G Coombes (13 Apr 1954-18
May 1956) [traction] electrician (the original house occupants list had Bert & Ailsa D (Billie) Coombes in 542 from
Apr/May 1953-ca. mid 1955) (in hotel first), Bruce & Elodie Gray (27 Sep 1956-12 Aug 1960) engine driver, Mike &
Loma Kuiti (13 Aug 1960-10 Dec 1964) engine driver, Dave & Maureen Hedley (26 Mar 1965-1 Apr 1968) fireman,
Geoff & Liz Butcher (8 Apr 1968 -10 Jun 1969) fireman, A M Harwood (30 Jun 1969-27 Jan 1970) temporary labourer,
H C McKenzie (30 Jan 1970-19 Jun 1971) temporary labourer, Lindsay & Margaret Nairn (9 Feb 1972-29 Aug 1975) in
charge of bridge gang, Greg and Jackie Shand (pt of 1981) went to 530, Tom Nepia (? - ?, there 1985, 1989) bridge
gang
542: Peter & Kathy (sp) Hill (ca. 1930-ca. 1941, there Sep 1941) fitter, Edgar & Ruth Hartley (ca. 1946-Feb 1954s)
surfaceman, W [Wasily & Anna] Taraschenko (20 Jul 1954-30 Jul 1956) surfaceman [in tunnel gang] (the Taraschenkos
were supposedly in 541 in the original house occupants list from ca. Aug 1954 to Jul/Aug 1956 but that doesn’t tally
with the NZR Register of Dwellings), R C (Reg) & Ngaire Neilson (22 Sep 1956-5 Nov 1959) surfaceman in tunnel
gang, Ernie & June Faulkner (22 Dec 1959-28 Mar 1961) ganger, Franz & Adriana (Shaan) Purgar (14 Apr 1962-4 Aug
1964) signal erector, Ron & Noelene Cain (20 Mar 1965-27 Nov 1968) bridge carpenter, E C (Eric) & ... Hooper (19
Jan 1969-7 Nov 1972) bridge carpenter, Lawrence (Lawrie) & ... Utiger ('Tiger') (6 May 1973-ca. 1991) guard, then
shunter (separated while in Otira)
541: George & Margery Dynan (ca. 1933-Nov/Dec 1951s) Traction electrician, (R C) Robert & … Ingram (Jun 1952sAug 1954s) electrician, W B Johnstone (17 Nov 1955-20 Feb 1958, there in Dec 1957 flood) electrician - Way &
Works, Jack & Bonnie Ackland (7 Jul 1958-14 Apr 1962) traction electrician, Ron & Kath (sp) Lilley (27 Nov 1962-28
May 1968) Traction electrician, Gary & Judy Tipler (6 Jun 1968-9 Apr 1970) Traction electrician, B R (Brian & Verna)
Scrimgeour (17 May 1970-11 Apr 1972) surfaceman, Bill & Annette (sp) Farmer (24 Apr 1972-14 Apr 1973), Bob &
Lorraine Bothwell (15 Apr 1974-1981) bridge gang, Geoff Dunwoodie (6 Feb 1982 – in house until new hut compound
completed ca. May 1983) signal maintainer, Ron & … Langley (ca. Mar 1984-Jul 1985) surfaceman
540: Jack & Ivy Molloy (ca. 1931-1936) carpenter, Bert & Ruby Winchester (Sep 1935-Mar 1938s) carpenter, Edward
Henry & Agnes Mary McGuigan (Mar 1938- ?, still there 1941) carpenter, Stan & Maisie Norris (ca. 1941-ca. 1948)
carpenter, J T Bennett (? -16 June 1950) casual carpenter, N W (Neil) & Pat Columbus (20 Jun 1950-22 Apr 1953)
carpenter, (J R) Reg & Doreen Sheppard (23 Apr 1953-4 Nov 1958) bridge carpenter, Ferenc (Frank) & Rae Kassa (24
Jan 59-4 May 1962), Dave & Lois Wotton (4 Oct 1962-20 Nov 1963 (2nd house), signal maintainer, Dick & Glenis
Trueman (Dick in hotel for couple of weeks, 18 Dec 1964-13 May 1968) signal maintainer, Bill & Judith Stephenson
(14 Oct 1968-3 Apr 1970) carpenter, Gary & Judy Tipler (9 Apr 1970-17 Sep 1971) traction electrician, J M Davison
(13 Feb 1972-19 Oct 1973) fitter (electrical), R D Priest (29 Jun 1974-20 Jan 1975) porter, George & June White (14
Mar 1975-19 Oct 1975) traffic operator, Lionel & ... Renata (31 Jan 1976-Sep 1978s) traffic operator, M J (Mel) Jacobs
(ca. 1979-ca. mid 1985) engine driver, Paul & Tania Thomson (Oct 1985 for 2-3 years then to 533) Traction lineman,
unoccupied & semi-derelict by 1991
539: John & Margaret Harriet O'Connor (? - Jul 1931s) signal adjuster, Alex & Margaret Whitley (1931?-Dec 1936s,
had been in Otira since 1930 so possibly in a different house first, or O'Connors changed houses from 1930) signal
maintainer, T R (Thomas Russell) & Rita McLay (May 1937s-ca. 1946) signal maintainer, (?) Arthur Charles Crosado
(ca. 1947-1948) IP Way, (?) Alf Still (ca. 1949) IP Way, Thornton S (Tom) & ... Fitness (ca. 1949/50-Jun 1953)
ganger/IP Way, D B Moodie (16 Sep 1955-12 Dec 1956) inspector permanent way, R C (Bob) & ... Hooper (4 May
1957-16 Oct 1959) surfaceman, Dave & Lois Wotton (8 Feb 1961-3 Oct 1962) (until Kassas' moved out of 540) signal
maintainer, H J Anderson (28 Dec 1962-8 Jul 1964) temporary surfaceman, Dave & Evonne McLennan (23 Jul 1964-17
Apr 1968) section officer, Murray & … Delahunty (18 Apr 1968 -12 Jul 1969) section officer, R Barr (8 Sep 1969-23
Mar 1970) temporary labourer, E (Ted) & Peg Tredinnick (8 Jul 1970-ca. early Oct 1976) train examiner, Alan &
Doreen Kennedy (1976-ca. 1983) train examiner (to 518), Dave & Kathy Hodgson (ca. 1983-ca. 1985) train examiner
(? Dave: ex-hut compound, there in Sep 1982), Murray & Debbie George (ca. 1986-1989, there Sep 1986) signal
maintainer), John & Janet Withers (Mar 1989-May 1990) surfaceman, Stuart Dow (June 1991-Feb/Mar 1994)
surfaceman
River-side houses:
538: … & … Diggs (? - ?, there ca.1934-1937, neighbours to Kennedys), Nathan & … Rothwell (ca. 1941-ca. 1943)
porter, Gordon & ... Weller (Jun 1946s-Aug 1948s) porter, Athol & Bessie Hands (ca. Aug 1948-May 1952) traffic
assistant, C A E (Chris) & Ann Petersen (2nd time) (30 Jun 1952-20 Sep 1955) traffic assistant, Brian & Rosie Harper
(20 Sep 1955-28 Oct 1958) traffic assistant, E White (2 Sep 1959-3 Sep 1959), Feb 1961: painting contractor to rent for
about 4 months from 20 Feb to 30 June 1961 (P S Evans), Gordon & Shirley Cunningham (14 Aug 1962-19 Jan 1966),
empty for a long time, leased to Otira Playcentre (11 Feb 1971-30 Jun 1973), sold to W P Rathbun of Greymouth Dec
1974, removed Apr 1976
537: I A G & … Clark (Sep 1929-May 1933s), Donald & Elsie Kennedy (Jan/Feb 1935s-ca. 1937) guard, Mornington
Canon ('Morn'?) & Vera Matilda Carr (Feb 1942s-1944) guard, Percival (Beau) Campbell (there 1948, late 1940s, in
Otira from at least 1944) & Miss King, guard, S J (Sid) & … Beattie (ca. 1950-ca. 1952) guard, Duncan Alexander
& … Peat (Aug 1953s-Jun 1954s) shunter/acting guard, AO (Alan) & Mavis Fletcher (17 Jun 1955-23 Jun 1958) guard,
Fred & Lorraine Smith (2 Jul 1958-18 Sep 1961) shunter, Ted & Shona Hayward (27 Sep 1961-13 Mar 1964), Peter
& … Jackson (15 Jun 1964-21 May 1967) traffic assistant, Jim & Paula Daynes (22 Sep 1967-24 Nov 1970) engine
driver, Russel & Nyra Ryder (21 Dec 1970-25 Sep 1972, went to 533) engine driver, house in poor condition May 1972,
sold to W P Rathbun of Greymouth Dec 1974, removed Apr 1976
536: (?) Jack & Emma Pretoria (Tora) Bone (ca. 1928-ca. 1931, definitely there between mid-1928 and mid-1931)
porter (lived in one of the 'long' houses on river side), Max & Mavis Cole (? - ?, neighbours of Kennedys, no family,
great friends of Kears in 550 and left before them), Russell & Dorothy Muriel Plato (ca. 1938-1942 or early 1943)
porter, W J (Jack) & Janet Wilson (Mar 1943s-Mar 1946s) guard, Bill & Aileen Cleave (1946-ca. 1954, there Jan 1954),
shift clerk, Arnold William & Dorothea Ruby Mote (? -Feb 1955s, there by Oct 1954), Ron & Eileen Scott (29 Dec
1955-15 Jun 1956) bridge carpenter, Gerry & Rona (sp) Kennedy (? - ?) carpenter (name doesn’t appear in NZR
Register of Dwellings), Alec & Isobel Mitchell (11 Jul 1956-1 Mar 1958) casual carpenter there at time of Dec 1957
flood, N T F & … Blackmore plumber (21 Feb 1959-30 Mar 1960), Ron & Pat Wills (28 Jun 1960-23 Oct 1962),
Clarrie & Anne Lewis (28 Sep 1963-11 Aug 1966) surfaceman/acting ganger, Leased to Ministry of Works (10 Dec
1966-27 Jan 1967), Parekura ('Johnnie') & Pat ('Ma') Kapa (28 Jan 1967-12 Jun 1969) surfaceman, vacant for a while?,
R Price (30 Jan 1970-25 Apr 1970) temporary labourer, Noel & Lorraine Saxon (7 Dec 1970-20 Sep 1972) (1st house,
to 527) bridge gang, vacated as at Aug 1972, Otira Playcentre (1 Mar 1973-ca. 1990)
535: … & … Musson (mid-1930s, at same time as Kennedys in 537), Frank & Beryl Joyce Richards (ca. 1940-1943,
there Feb 1941) engine driver, Charlie & Verna Broughton (ca. 1944-1945) engine driver, Terence & Myrtle Molloy (ca.
1945-ca. 1948) fireman, Raymond C (Ray) & ... Clark (ca. 1948-ca. 1952) fireman, N W Watson (7 Nov 1953-28 May
1954) fireman, Bill & Joy Manera (1 Jun 1954-27 Aug 1959) fireman, Carl & Marie Voigt (1 Dec 1959-2 Apr 1963)
engine driver, John & Shirley Kennedy (May 1963s-ca. Aug 1963) (to 554) engine driver, L E (Larry) & ... Hogg (31
Aug 1963-Jun/Jul 1980 (separated by Nov 1971) guard, Buzz & Diane Terrey (Jul 1980s-Jan 1984) leading bridge
carpenter, Warren & Ann Marie Shaw (May 1985-May 1988) engine driver
534: William David (Bill or 'Wal') & Esther Sarah Frazer (May 1925-1946) engine driver, Geoffrey C (Geoff) & Phyllis
Foster (Mar 1947-Jul 1952s) engine driver, D L (Don) & … Sutherland (16 Dec 1952-3 Sep 1957) engine driver, R G D
(Reg) & Bev Cameron (4 Sep 1957-17 Apr 1959, when Hills moved out of Otira went to 560) fireman, John & Mariette
Hewitson (28 May 1959-3 Apr 1962) (ex B707) Traction electrician, Howard & ... Straker (21 Sep 1962-18 Mar 1965)
shunter, between Jun 1965 and Mar 1967 leased successively to Structural Steel, D H Pearson Ltd and Royal Forest and
Bird Protection Society, K R (Ken & Kath) O'Reilly (21 Oct 1967-26 Jul 1973) signal maintainer, B C (Brian) & Leigh
(for first year) Coomber (8 Oct 1974-1983) surfaceman, Doug & Priscilla Pourau (? - ?, there 1984-1985)
surfaceman, … Puata (ca. 1985- late 1987, there Oct 1985) surfaceman, Michael Cunningham (? - 1991) shunter (ex
550, 2nd house)
533: Eric Wilfred & Vera Beatrice Crumpton (ca. 1941-ca. 1946) shift clerk, Ray & Marjorie McKenzie (? -Sep 1949s)
shift clerk, N T (Neil) & ... Norris (ca. 1949-ca. 1952) shift clerk, Jimmy & Lorraine Kelly (18 Dec 1953-2 Jul 1957)
shift clerk, Jim & Ruth Turner (3 July 1957-12 Oct 1960) shift clerk, P G (Peter and Merle) Brown (15 Mar 1961-4Apr
1962) traffic assistant, Bert & Ailsa D (Billie) Coombes (2 Jun 1962-11 Mar 1965 (apparently went to 524 but doesn’t
show in NZR Register of Dwellings) traction electrician, T L R (Trevor) & Diane Starr (27 Feb 1967-27 Sep 1972)
surfaceman, Russell & Nyra Ryder (26 Sep 1972-28 Jan 1974) (ex 537) engine driver, Doug & ... Stewart (3 Apr 1974-
24 Oct 1975) engine driver, someone in bridge gang (? - ?), Dave & Helen Boult (signal maintainer) (2 Apr 1976- ?,
there Apr 1977), G B (Graham) & Maureen Hudson (ca. May 1978-Jun 1980) bridge carpenter, Clarry & Angela (after
2-3 weeks) Lewis (Nov 1980-Oct 1982) surfaceman, Carol Downing & Wayne Prendergast (? - ?, there Nov 1983)
surfaceman, Alan & Doreen Kennedy (ex 518) (Sep/Oct 1985- ?) train examiner, Paul & Tania Thomson (ex 540)
(1987/88-1991s) Traction lineman
532: Frank O & Nancy Alice Turvey (ca. 1930-Feb 1932s) fireman, John (Jock) & Ivy Jean Steel (May 1932s-ca.
1944) fireman, then engine driver, N G (Noel) & ... Clark (ca. 1946-May 1951s (engine driver), H H (Harry) & ...
Ferguson (? - ?, there Feb 1952) engine driver, Len & Jean James (24 Jun 1953-8 Oct 1957) engine driver, Ken & Una
Wakefield (10 Oct 1957-8 Aug 1960) engine driver, Arthur (Artie) & Elaine Carson (9 Aug 1960-20 Aug 1963) engine
driver, Eric & Val Arnott (22 Aug 1963-6 Apr 1964) (1st house, to 560) engine driver, Peter & Erin Bradley (11 Apr
1964-17 Jan 1968) engine driver, O C (Owen) & Valerie Wilson (20 Jan 1968-29 Nov 1972) engine driver, Ross &
Judith Tizzard (23 Jan 1973-15 Jan 1976) electrician, T W (Tai & Carol) Thorne (29 Feb 1976-ca. mid-1980, there Apr
1978, June 1980 (left by mid-1980) Traction lineman, Kere & Debbie Howse (ca. Jul 1980-June 1984s) (ex 526)
surfaceman
531: In Oct 1931 was let to an 'outsider', … & … FitzGibbon (? - ?), Arthur & ... Harrison (May 1934s-Jul 1936s)
school teacher, Ben & ... Keating (ca. 1940- ca. 1941) engine driver, then took over Otira Cash Stores, George & Betty
McGee (ca. 1942-1945, Harold Raymond (Ray) & Winifred Grace (Winnie) Bodger (ca. 1945-Dec 1947) (2nd time in
Otira) fireman, Evan Douglas & Doreen Melanphy Harris (ca. 1949-ca. 1953, there by Sep 1949) fireman/engine driver,
John & Stella Butcher (20 Oct 1953-4 Dec 1957) engine driver (senior driver), J E (Jim/Jimmy) & Bev Earl (11 Dec
1957-8 Jun 1964, gone by mid-1964) fireman, Bill Beaton (4 Apr 1966-Nov 1984s (& Colleen from late 1972) Traction
lineman, Kelly & Glenys Gray (? - ?, there Jul, Oct 1985) bridge carpenter (afterwards, went up to tearooms – had these
for 9 months), Aaron McSorley (ca. Oct 1985-ca. Nov 1986) surfaceman
530: Henry F & Rita Elizabeth Unwin (? - ?, there at least between mid-1928 and mid-1931) fitter, Bill & Violet Bell
(ca. 1933-1951) fitter, Trevor & Adele Wilson (24 Jul 1951-10 Jul 1956) fitter, (W K) Bill & Helen Mumford ( 11 Jul
1956-8 Feb 1971) fitter, I W Riley (21 Feb 1971-18 Jun 1971) vacant at 18 June 1971, still vacant Nov 1971, Frank &
Kathy Coxhill (11 Apr 1972-6 Dec 1973) ganger, R C (Bob) & Lorraine Williams (23 Sep 1974-May 1981) (2nd time)
electrician maintainer, Greg & Jackie Shand (ca. 1981-ca. 1983) bridge gang (Greg Shand to MOW house 5 Dec 1983),
G A (Gordon) Cunningham & Janice Wilson (1984-Dec 1989) shunter
529: Richard Noel (Dick) & Jean Jeffcott (? -ca. 1944, there in 1930s) ganger, J S (Filmer) & Ailsa Phillips (1946-
Apr/May 1948s) IP Way clerk, H W (Howard) & Melbar Machon (Mar 1949s-Dec 1952s) IP Way clerk/storeman, Jack
& Jean McLean (20 Feb 1953-13 Mar 1956) IP Way clerk, Nov 1956: house available for surfaceman, J R (John) & ...
Barsby (23 Feb 1957-14 Feb 1958) casual labourer, flood repair workers after Dec 1957 flood, Ron & Peggy Smith (23
Mar 1959-29 Apr 1963) surfaceman?, Brian & Verna? Withell (4 Jun 1963-4 Apr 1966) bridge gang, Bruce & Yvonne
McLennan (17 May 1966-27 Feb 1970) signal maintainer, A D Roberts (20 Jul 1970-28 May 1971) temporary
electrician, D J (Don) & Beryl McKenzie (lived in hotel for long time before house) (13 Mar 1972-ca. Aug 1976)
Traction lineman, T E (Trevor) & Karen Arbuckle (ca. Sep 1976-Oct 1981) fitter, T G (Tony) Evans (1982-end of 1984)
fitter, Roger Harris (? - ?, there Jul, Oct 1985) fitter
528: Allan & Myrtle Pugh (ca. Jan 1936-Oct 1937s) engine driver, Edmund (Nick) & Florence (Flo) Carter (ca. 1937-
1938 & ca. 1940-1946) engine driver, Harold & Jean Clough (Jun 1946s-ca. 1952) fireman, A J (Allen) & Gladys Irene
Pearsey (19 Nov 1952-25 Jul 1956, there Jun 1953) fireman & acting engine driver, B C (Bruce) & Helen Smith (6 Aug
1956-13 June 1960) engine driver, Jack & Audrey Hansen (14 Jun 1960-3 Dec 1963) engine driver, Colin & Pat Thorn
(6 Dec 1963-13 Jul 1964) (1st house, to 556) engine driver, Henry & ... Tebet (27 Sep 1966-24 Nov 1967) traction
electrician, Albie & Pat Mikkelson (7 Dec 1967-30 Nov 1971) engine driver, Len & Jan Goodwin (1 Dec 1971- 22 Jul
1975) engine driver, Bob & Kath Hunt (25 Sep 1975-very late 1978) engine driver, I W (Ian) & Lee (from October)
Dixon (Apr 1979-Mar/Apr 1986), A P (Alan) Milliken (ca. Apr 1986-Oct/Nov 1986) (2nd house, ex 548), Joe Goodman
(ca. 1986-early-mid 1994)
527: Bert & … Thomas (? - ca. 1942, in Otira by 1930 but unsure whether this house for whole time), Charlie & …
Minifie (3 Jul 1943-28 Aug 1946) head teacher, Andy & Flora Anderson (28 Jan 1947-20 Aug 1956) head teacher, ...
Adams (Nov 1956-Dec 1956) school teacher, J G & ... Watson (ca. Jan 1957-Aug 1957) head teacher, S F (Syd) & ...
Postlewaight (Sep 1957-Dec 1959) head teacher, Russell Bain (Jan 1960-Dec 1962) head teacher, David & Janice Bell
(May 1963-Aug 1964 (David previously in hotel, then boarded with Bert and Maureen Elliott until married) (head
teacher), George & Delcie McKenzie (Jan 1965-29 Aug 1965) (later that year when new school house built) both
teachers – George: senior class, Delcie: junior class, Don & Jan McCutcheon (16 Jan 1967-17 Oct 1969) bridge
carpenter, Don & Sherry Tangaroawhai/Timothy (7 Jan 1970-26 Oct 1970), Brian Johnson (5 Feb 1971-5 May 1972),
Noel & Lorraine Saxon (21 Sep 1972-Apr 1976s) (2nd house, ex 536), B P (Brian) & Paula Brown (1976-1981) signal
maintainer, Sam Bell (ca. Apr 1981-May 1985) signal maintainer, Mark Downing & 1st girlfriend Donna Manawatu
2nd girlfriend Judy Kerr (later married) (? - ca. early 1986) bridge gang, Dick & Lynne Burn (Nov 1986-Jul 1989s)
Traction lineman, Geoff & Philippa Bromley (1989-Sep 1991) ganger, Gilbert Bryan (ca. mid-1990s-Jan 2000) engine
driver
526: William (Bill) & Annie May Young (Jun 1923s-Aug 1928s), engine driver, Frederick Gordon & … Baldwin (ca.
1947-1948) lineman, Lionel Victor & Joyce Pearce (ca. Jan 1949-Jul 1951s) signal erector, J P & ... Mahon (?- ?, there
1952) signal erector, Robert William (Bob) & Lilian (Lil) Green (14 Sep 1953-19 Jul 1954), M G (Merv) & Ziere
Osburn (4 Aug 1954-2 Jun 1959) electrician/maintainer, house allocated to Traffic Branch in exchange for 538, E W
(Ernie) & Marion Elizabeth (Betty) White (4 Sep 1959-31 Jul 1962) guard, Ken & Florrie Fairfax-Jones (29 Mar 1963-
27 Jun 1966) guard, Gavin & Bev Murdoch (28 Jun 1966-23 May 1967) section officer, Dick and Jan Carroll (4 Sep
1967-6 Jan 1971) shunter, J M & K E Davidson (3 Feb 1971-5 May 1971) vacated on 1 May 1971 (took over Four
Square), T J (Tom and Adeyth) Chandler (5 May 1971- Apr 1977s) section officer, K L (Kere) & Debbie Howse (ca.
May-ca. Jul 1980, there June 1980 (1st house, to 532), Alan Crook & Christine Wills (1981-1984) shunter, Grant
Burnard (1984-1986) section officer, Gavin Clout (Jul 1986-Apr 1989) section officer
525: Henry & Blanche Abrahams (Jun/Jul 1923s-March 1927s), … & … Mulholland (Feb 1931s-Jun 1931s) engine
driver, Arthur & Pearl Paston (Dec 1935/Jan 1936-Sep 1940s) fitter, William Alfred (Alf) & Alice May Coombes (Mar
1941s-Aug 1949s) engine driver, Tom & Audrey McAvey (1949-Jun 1952s), Timothy Michael (Tim) & Lorraine (sp)
Katherine Tangney (Jun 1952-Mar 1956s) engine driver, C J (Colin) & Alda Campbell (20 Apr 1957-21 Oct 1958)
engine driver, Roger & Irene Hennessy (22 Oct 1958-8 May 1962) engine driver, J W Jackson (12 Nov 1962-18 Apr
1964) section officer, J A Howe (1 Apr 1965-4 Mar 1966) painter, T (Trevor and Gloria) Walsh (14 Apr 1966-31 Jan
1967) surfaceman, N J Henderson (16 Apr 1967-25 Jul 1967) traffic assistant, Rex & Ann Daniels (26 Oct 1967-19 May
1969) guard, R C (Bob) & Lorraine) Williams (16 Sep 1969-4 Dec 1972) signal maintainer, Clarrie & Anne Lewis (21
Sep 1973-Oct/Nov 1976) ganger, Ray (Snow) Frazer (sp) (? -May 1980) ganger, R L (Ray) Fisher (May/June 1980- ?,
still there Oct 1985) traffic operator
524: Dave & Doris Marquet (1929-1941) stoker in Power House, Percy, Les, Alice, Ron & their mother Clara
Youngman (ca. 1942-various dates), J J (Joe) & Pat Murphy (18 Mar 1957-5 Mar 1958) surfaceman, Karl & Shirley
Van Kasteren (31 May 1958-17 Aug 1960) surfaceman, Frank & Margaret Hines (27 Feb 1961-1 Feb 1964) (2nd house,
ex B707), Bert & Ailsa D (Billie) Coombes (? -Mar 1965s) (2nd house, 2nd time in Otira) [not in NZR Register of
Dwellings] Traction electrician, W G (Bill) & Val McConachy (11 Feb 1964-21 Mar 1969) traction lineman, N B (Neil)
& Ann McDonald (21 May 1969-Nov 1976s) Traction lineman, … Gibb (? - ?, there Jul 1980) traffic assistant, couple
just married when Ray Fisher there, from 8 Jul 1982: Ian Gottermeyer (signal maintainer), Mike Manley (signal
maintainer) & Paul Nicholl (surfaceman) (ex hut compound until new huts ready, ca. Apr 1983), ... Grant (? - ?, there
Nov 1984)
523: John & Mary Josephine Yardley (? -Dec 1935s, there by at least mid-1928) fitter, Harry & Maggie Cox (Mar 1936-
1943) fitter, Victor (Vic) & Amy Barker (ca. Jan 1945-May 1949s) engine driver, Albert J (Albie) & Kathy Ilton (1949-
Jun 1954s) fireman, I G (Ian) & H M (Melva) Ledgerwood (7 Jul 1954-4 Jun 1958) fireman/engine driver, Peter &
Doreen Stewart (11 June 1958-6 May 1963) fireman, Tawhai & Diane Mahauariki (7 May 1963-22 Aug 1967) fireman,
David & Esther Tagestad (24 Aug 1967-12 Aug 1968) fireman, B W Wood (9 Feb 1969-4 Mar 1970) section officer, P
C (Peter & Daphne) Loader (26 May 1970-21 May 1973) section officer, Oct 1973: no longer required for Traffic
Department purposes, J M (Joe) Goodman (1 Oct 1973-ca. Dec 1977/Jan 1978) engine driver, also (? - ca. 1983 to
Wellington, there June 1980, after Wellington returned to 528), Pat & Bonny Watene (Feb 1984-late 1980s) ganger
522: Nathan & Mabel Rothwell (? - ?, there 1928 and earlier), A A (Bert) & Emma Jane (Emm) Emerson (ca. 1931-ca.
1942, there mid-1931) engine driver, William Murray (Bill) & Alice Daniels (Sep 1942-Mar 1948s) engine driver,
Robert C (Bob) & Elsie Kathleen Mechen (ca. 1949-Sep 1950s, in Otira by Sep 1949) (unsure about house), A G (Allan
Guy) & ... Robinson (Oct 1950-ca. 1953) shift clerk, John (Jack) & Margaret Bainbridge (Mar 1953s-Feb 1956s) shift
clerk, Kevin and Vera O'Keefe (27 Mar 1956-19 Nov 1957) shift clerk, Stuart & Joy Pugh (Stuart from 11 Dec 1957,
Joy after they were married (29 March 1958)-31 Jan 1961) shift clerk, Maurice & Irene Hope (8 Mar 1961-29 Jan 1962)
shift clerk, Doug & Pat Taylor (2 Mar 1962-1 Mar 1965) shift clerk, Viv & Betty Sheehan (25 Mar 1965-27 Apr 1968)
traffic assistant, Jeff & Kath Hindle (28 Apr 1968-22 Sep 1973, still recorded as occupants at Nov 1971 even though
had Otira Gorge tearooms from 1969) train examiner, Phil & Jenny Horton (7 Nov 1973-ca. 1978) fitter, Pat & Bonny
Watene (Feb 1984-late 1980s) ganger
521: Harry & Laura Madden & family (ca. 1927-Oct 1937s) to Wellington, engine driver, Arthur & … Stubbs (ca. Jan
1938-Aug 1942s) engine driver, John S & ... Bellaney (Aug 1942s-ca. 1946) engine driver, S G (Stan & Flora) Crowe (3
Apr 1946-6 Jul 1955) engine driver, J A (Johnny) & Pat Kane (13 Jul 1955-21 July 1959) engine driver (known as
“Knocker Kane”), Peter & Jan Griffin (24 Jul 1959-17 Aug 1965) fireman/engine driver, Richard & Dorothy Butcher
(20 Aug 1965-29 July 1968) engine driver, C E Linton (1 Sep 1968-14 Sep 1968) temporary electrician, T T S (Stu) &
Marilyn Heremaia (27 Oct 1968-16 Oct 1972) section officer, Alan & Trish Hunt (18 Oct 1972-3 Mar 1975) section
officer, Mike & Shirley Turner (1 Oct 1975-1978) section officer, K R (Ken) Carter (ca. 1979-ca. 1980, there June
1980) section officer, Ian Waite (ca. May 1981 until went into 519) Traction electrician, Billy ('Spot') Downing (? - ?,
there Nov 1983, Oct 1985) bridge gang (also girlfriend Allison (Alli) Riding for about 18 months from around
1982/83), permanently empty by mid-1980s
520: Charles George & Mildred Frances McCutcheon (ca. 1930-ca. 1935, there mid-1931) fireman/engine driver, J.
& … Styris (1935-ca. 1938) engine driver, Harold Raymond (Ray) & Winifred Grace (Winnie) Bodger (ca. 1940-1941)
fireman, Tom & Ruth King (8 Nov 1941-25 Sep 1956), Feb 1957: vacated by Mechanical Branch, has been allocated to
Way & Works Branch, A T C & ... Stephens (25 Apr 1957-15 Dec 1958) temporary carpenter, William S & Eileen Elsie
Duncan (23 Apr 1959-19 Sep 1961) guard, George & Marilyn Fisher (25 May 1962-24 May 1963) surfaceman, Jeff &
Kath Hindle (27 June 1963-1 Apr 1965, went to Otira Gorge tearooms), Richard & Joy Leach (15 May 1965-21 Sep
1965) temporary labourer, … & … Henderson (? - ?, there Feb 1967 [not in dwelling register], G H (George) and
Papakura Tainui (3 Apr 1967-1 Dec 1972) surfaceman, R H (Dick) & J M Stevens (ca. early 1973-ca. 1975)
surfaceman, G C Tait (25 Nov 1974-6 Dec 1975) temporary labourer, F P Martinac (12 Mar 1976- ?) temporary
labourer, M W (Bill) & Daphne Ryder (? -ca. Apr 1981, there June 1980) ganger, Fred & Glenys Key (Nov 1985-1986)
(1st house, to 546) engine driver
519: Charles H (Harold) & Janie Benfell (1 Aug 1923-1 Jul 1957) engineer/fireman/skilled labourer (Power House),
Wally & Nan Houston (27 Jul 1957-16 Mar 1958) lifter, Dick & Gladys McCann (10 Apr 1958-1 Feb 1961) fitter's
assistant, Viv & Olive Sweeney (31 May 1961-9 Jun 1969) fitter's assistant, M G L (Murray) & Hazel Groube (5 Feb
1970-5 Mar 1973) guard, Oct 1973: no longer required for Traffic purposes, David & ... Brooks (sp) (20 May 1974 -9
Jun 1974), Michael & Dawn Lewis (23 Oct 1974- ?, there in Aug 1976), Neville & Deidre Murdoch (ca. Aug 1977-
Sep/Oct 1979) traffic assistant, N J (Noel) and Leonie) Murchie (Apr 1980-1981) surfaceman, Ian Waite (? - Nov 1982)
Traction electrician (2nd house, ex 521), Graham Gordon (? - ?, there Oct 1985) ganger
518: Frederick (Fred) & Agnes Edith Allott (ca early July 1923s-Sep 1928s) engine driver (now confirmed), Melville &
Maude Mead (1929- ?) surfaceman, Jack & ... Brennan-Holton (known as … Holton) (ca. early 1940s, interned in
WW2) fitter, Robin & Frieda (sp) Drake (ca. 1946-ca. 1949, there Dec 1948 and still there Sep 1949) shunter, Theo
& ... Le Nedelec (ca. 1950-Nov 1953) shunter, Neil & Rita Wilson (ca. 1953-ca. Jul 1957) shunter, F H J (Frank) &
Doreen Jacques (there Dec 1957, 19 Apr 1958-26 Jun 1958) acting train examiner, Noel & Anne Reid (28 Jun 1958-10
Apr 1962) fireman, A W (Allan) & Margaret Henderson (11 Apr 1962-23 Mar 1965) fireman, Alan & Pat Haraki (26
Mar 1965-29 May 1968) engine driver, B L (Brian) McIntosh (15 Jul 1968-11 Dec 1973) fitter (went to bach by police
station which he bought), J J Fathers (14 Jul 1974-17 Aug 1974) traffic assistant, R G Hackett (19 Aug 1974-5 Sep
1975) porter, Mark & Lesley Scotson (18 Sep 1975-ca. Oct 1978) engine driver, E C (Butch) & Tawai Fredericks (ca.
late 1978/early 1979-May/June 1983) train examiner, Alan & Doreen Kennedy (? -ca. 1984, there Aug 1985) train
examiner (ex 539, to 533), Paul Smith (ca. Sep/ Oct 1985-ca. end of 1985, then to singlemen's hut) section officer,
Michael & Debbie Hughes (early 1986-Aug 1987) ganger
B707: R W (Dick) & Audrey Power (Jul 1951-ca. 1954) surfaceman, (?) Trevor & Loretta Bakes (? - ?) surfaceman
who became Traction lineman later (to 558), J G (John) & Mariette Hewitson (late 1957-1958) (1st house, to 534)
Traction electrician, Frank & Margaret Hines (? -ca. Oct 1961) (to 524), Les & Elva Organ (Oct 1961-ca. end 1962) in
charge of bridge gang, Bob & … McCarrigan (? - ?, there 1964) stationmaster, Rex & Joan Wells (Sep 1965s-Nov
1966s) stationmaster, (G R) George & Joyce Brown (ca. end of 1966-ca. late 1969) stationmaster, Wally & Jo Davis
(Mar 1970-mid-1972) stationmaster, Joe & Edith Cumming (Aug 1972-ca. Jul 1976) stationmaster, G W (Gavin) & Ann
Wright (ca. 1976-Nov 1978) stationmaster, W G (Bill) & Ann Ross (ca. 1979- ?, there in Jun1980) stationmaster, Bert &
Dulcie Blade (? -ca. Apr 1984, there mid-1982) stationmaster, Wally and Emily Ashby (Sep/Oct 1985-Mar 1986s) (ex
556) ganger, Barrie Drummond (ca. Apr 1986-ca. late 1986, then to hut compound) ganger, Mike & Elizabeth Reeves (?
- ?) fitter
Houses near school:
560: Charlie & Isabella M Brown (ca. 1924-ca. 1937) Superintendent of Power House, … & … Parker, Cyril & Mavis
Muriel Boys (ca. 1943-ca. 1945, there mid-1943) shift clerk, Robert E (Bob) & Kathleen Elizabeth Round (?-ca. 1950,
married the district nurse) Power House foreman, Arthur & May Townsend (22 Jun 1950-16 Nov 1955) Power House
foreman, H J (Harold ('Happy')) & Alice Hill (nee Youngman) (23 Jan 1956-26 Mar 1959) fitter's assistant, alterations
were made in 1958 to provide accommodation for a visiting doctor and occupancy charge was reduced by 2s 11d per
week (verandah and adjoining room of 560 were used as a waiting room and consulting room respectively between
1958 and around 1962), Reg & Bev Cameron (18 Apr 1959-13 Dec 1960) (2nd house, ex 534) engine driver, Gordon &
Poppy Campbell (15 Dec 1960-1 Apr 1964), E W (Eric) & Val Arnott (7 Apr 1964-1 Feb 1965) (2nd house, ex 532)
engine driver, Pat & Val Crombie (9 Feb 1965-17 Oct 1967) engine driver, Jock & Enid Tuari (21 Oct 1967-24 Jul 1974
(1st house, to 554) engine driver, Harold Carr ('Judge') & Ranui ('Ra') Ngarimu (29 Sep 1974- ?, went to old police
house ca. mid-1990) engine driver
498: Gavin C (or Gaven?) & Sarah Ann Gaudion (ca. Jan 1927-Aug 1931s) ganger, … & … Garlick (Aug/Sep 1933sDec 1935s), Norman Alexander James (Norm) & Mary Porter (Mar 1937-Feb 1943s), Bert & Helen Tressler (Feb
1943s-Oct 1945s), D K (Keith) & Norma Philpott (ca. 1948-ca. 1953) signal maintainer, E C (Ted) & Joan Groufsky
(20 Sep 1952-26 Mar 1958) signal maintainer, V R (Vern) & Rhona MacPherson (9 Jun 1958-17 May 1961) signal
maintainer, Graham & Helen Bell (31 Jan 1962-21 Jul 1965) signal maintainer, Ken & Linda Lancaster (15 Nov 1965-
23 Jan 1968) signal maintainer, John & Esme Cappill (22 May 1968-15 Sep 1971) ganger, Dec 1971: considered
uneconomic to repair, tender for removal from I D Leggat (Christchurch) Feb 1972
465: Eric & Gladys James (Dec 1925-mid-1941), occupied by district nurse from 29 August 1946 to 1966 when she
lived in the third (from the river) NZED house. Sold with lease of land to Canterbury Education Board in August 1975
for $100 and used for school purposes (e.g. manual training).
467: H C (Henry) & … Langford (? - 26 Feb 1926), Walter Henry & Nellie (sp) Frances (sp) Lilley (Apr 1928s- Jun
1933s) stationmaster, Charles & … Rollo (Jun 1933s-Dec 1935s) stationmaster, W J & … Domigan (ca. 1936-ca.
1938), stationmaster, S N (Syd) & Margaret (Greta) Kinraid (Nov 1948s-Sep 1953s), J K (Jim) & … McIver (ca. 1953-
1955) shift clerk, S R (Selwyn) & Joyce Whitfield (Sep 1955s-Apr 1958s) shift clerk, John & Maureen McRobie (ca.
June 1958-1962) shift clerk, A B (Bruce) & … Bartlett (Mar 1962s-Nov 1964s) section officer, Drummond (or 'Drum')
& … Prescott (ca. Nov 1964-Aug 1965s?) ganger (ex 555), Lance & Jean Fisher (Oct 1965-1970) ganger, Feb 1971:
house uneconomic to repair and sold to Danny Cruickshank in Apr 1971 for $10
(The page for House 467 has been removed from the Register of Dwellings)Date of Photo1940`sMap[1] ContributorLyn Frazer
Shown in this image
Location (city or town)OtiraEventOtira Railway House 534 in snow
Category Information
Category TagOld Houses
From Facebook
Date Created10th June 2023CommentsRussell Postlewaight
We lived at 527 from 1956 to 1959 as I recall and I have similar snow pictures of the time. Me and my 5 siblings running g through the white stuff and making crazy looking snow people.
Lindsay Thompson
Russell Postlewaight . Probably used to read the power meter there a few years ago.
Miree Gibson
Thank you for sharing this!
Arthur Bass
No smoke up, no decent coal waggons been put down the backshunt for the villagers to lighten ?
John Paget
Cold place Otira no sun.
Robin Gibbens
All the period photo s are great and a good look at the past
Pauline Barrow
It look cold i wonder why they don't have a fire going
We lived at 527 from 1956 to 1959 as I recall and I have similar snow pictures of the time. Me and my 5 siblings running g through the white stuff and making crazy looking snow people.
Lindsay Thompson
Russell Postlewaight . Probably used to read the power meter there a few years ago.
Miree Gibson
Thank you for sharing this!
Arthur Bass
No smoke up, no decent coal waggons been put down the backshunt for the villagers to lighten ?
John Paget
Cold place Otira no sun.
Robin Gibbens
All the period photo s are great and a good look at the past
Pauline Barrow
It look cold i wonder why they don't have a fire going
Click on the image to add
a tag or press ESC to cancel
a tag or press ESC to cancel
West Coast New Zealand History (12th Apr 2024). List of all Otira house occupants, courtesy Stephen Wright. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 26th Mar 2026 08:42, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/33398