Community Contributed
Duncan House, Foxton
The historic Duncan House in Foxton
Shown at left in 1991, the Duncan Homestead, Foxton, was constructed for the Rev James Duncan in 1869. In 1990 the Homestead was extended with buildings from the Brigidine Convent, which were originally constructed in 1911.
The March 2011 edition of Elderberries had tho following article about Duncan House:
Duncan House has seen many changes, both structurally and in the surrounding township.
With Heritage Features dating back over 140 years, the building structures are noted in the Horowhenua District Council District Plan.
The Duncan Homestead, Foxton, was built for the Rev James Duncan in 1869.
Angela and Dave Pilgrim were married in the gardens of the homestead after purchasing their historic “dream home” in 2004.
The place oozed the atmosphere of Huckleberry Finn for Dave, who had long dreamed of living on his own stretch of river. A love of old things made the couple perfect new owners and they established Duncan House as a function centre over the next two years, hosting a number of weddings and social gatherings. After taking up fulltime residence in 2006, they have used the house mainly for family and friends’ occasions.
Duncan House was among the first homes built in Foxton after the Māori settlement of Te Awahou, on the Manawatū River, was renamed in 1866. It is the oldest house still occupied in the Manawatu. After the 1855 earthquake Pākehā settlers abandoned Paiaka, about 5km upstream, and moved to Te Awahou. The settlement had been the base for Presbyterian James Duncan’s missionary work from 1848 and he had his new home built 21 years later.
The 1866–67 New Zealand Almanac recorded five storekeepers, three bootmakers, two carpenters, a hotel keeper, a ferryman, a road overseer, four surveyors, nine farmers and four labourers in the town of Foxton, often referred to as Manawatū in the earlier years.
In 1865 the settlement was renamed Foxton in honour of Premier William Fox. It thrived on the flax boom of 1869-70 and then as the gateway to the newly opened upper Manawatū.
The Foxton wharf and tramway to Palmerston North, which began operation in 1873, led to the town being a thriving transport centre.
Flax booms in 1889-93, and from 1899 to 1919 generated much activity. Another flax revival began in 1934 around the production of wool packs made from the fibre. In the 1940s carpet was added to the production range. Activity at the Woolpack and Textiles plant peaked in the 1960s – although the last ship called at the port in 1941, and the railway closed in 1959.
The population of Foxton grew from 733 to 1233 between 1881 and 1891. It rose dramatically again with the Woolpack and Textiles boom, with a population of 2206 in 1936 and a high of 2800 in 1966. For the last 50 years the population has remained fairly stable between 2700 and 2840 people (not including Foxton Beach).
Local families the Frasers, Hales (1930s), Halidones and Toners all added to and changed the original house’s structure.
In 1990 the Duncan Homestead was extended with buildings from the Brigidine Convent, to achieve the home we see today.
Annual plantings of colour and constant upkeep keep Angela and Dave on their toes. They are paid back by their love of entertaining in the grounds and comfortable lounges of this gracious old lady.
Duncan House, 1990.