Vallance family member and reunion organiser Anne Lee pins up the names of Jean and William Vallance’s direct descendants who made it to the reunion at Vallance Cottage Reserve, Alexandra, last weekend. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Three generations of the Vallance family travelled to Alexandra from around the country to attend a family reunion celebrating Jean and William Vallance, founders of the 1896 Vallance Cottage.

The 128-year-old cottage was built by shepherd and gold miner William Vallance, and was lived in by the Vallance family until the 1970s.

In the mid-1990s the cottage was given to Central Otago by the Vallance family.

The reunion was particularly important to the 40 descendants as due to structural deterioration, the Central Otago Regional Council closed the cottage to visitors in late October.

After the closure, further deterioration caused a wall to collapse.

Efforts had been made to make the cottage safe, and with bracing installed members of the family and public were able to have tours inside during the reunion.

Vallance descendent and reunion organiser Anne Lee, of Canterbury, said it was wonderful to have so many of the family come down.

"Especially so many of the cousins, and the next layer down of Bill and Jean’s great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

"It was wonderful listening to the old memories and creating new memories." said Ms Lee.

— APL