Family icon lives on

Edna Dickson (98) and her niece Lorraine Irvine. Edna, the daughter of James and Effie Elder, was...
Edna Dickson (98) and her niece Lorraine Irvine. Edna, the daughter of James and Effie Elder, was born at Altrive. Lorraine, daughter of Keith and Freda Elder, grew up at Altrive.

The model was made by craftsman Richard Gardiner, of Christchurch, who has made many scaled-down replicas for people who want to remember homes especially those lost in the earthquakes but has now gone on to do homes and public buildings not only in New Zealand but also overseas (See scaleddown.co.nz).

As noted by NZ Historic Places Trust, Altrive, built in 1897 for William Donald, a former manager for the New Zealand Agricultural Company, is an imposing residence in Waipounamu in rural Southland and a significant example of a late Victorian villa. 

The house, garden and setting befit the aspirations of a gentleman, reflecting Donald’s status and association with the New Zealand Agricultural Company. The aesthetic of the exterior is a mix of styles but the design is eclectic and eye-catching. 

The architectural value of Altrive lies in the richness of a mostly unaltered interior and exterior of this late Victorian villa. It was designed by Invercargill architectural partnership Mackenzie and Gilbertson.

Historic Places Trust Category 2

In 1918 James and Euphemia (Effie) Elder came south from Kakanui in North Otago to live at Altrive, where they brought up a family of nine children. Son Keith and his wife Freda, took over the farm in 1950.

There have been many meetings with the Historic Places Trust in an effort to get funding to put towards its maintenance but to no avail. It is classified as Category 2 and as such generates no funding.

The Elders have had a long association with the area and have been active in many community, business and civic affairs. The house and farm remains in the family. Geoff Elder and his son Andrew manage the very successful Altrive Red Deer Stud producing velvet and trophy stags.

The family plan to donate the model alongwith a display board detailing the history of both Altrive and the Elder family, to the Historical Museum in the Heritage Centre on Hokonui Drive, Gore.

This scaled down replica model of the Elder Family Homestead was funded by thirty- seven- 4th Generation – first cousins and their children. 

 - Lorraine Irvine

 

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