Farm Map

Bitter Water

a story of waikawa

Farm

waikawa from 1875 to 1915

1875

Arthur Drake settles at Waikawa, taking over the Bevan farm and homestead Drake Homestead
The Drake (previously the Bevan) Homestead stood at the right of this photograph.
The house burnt down and the grove of trees (now stumps) in the centre were cut down c1960.
The site of Pa Te Rauparaha is behind the sandhills behind the stumps.
Photograph courtesy of Karen Jessop, 1999.

1877-78

The inland road (now State Highway One ) is built

1878

Wellington-Manawatu Railway route surveyed

1880

Wellington-Manawatu Railway company formed

1882

Wellington-Manawatu Railway started

1885

Manakau township established

Arthur Drake marries Harriet Halse

1886

Wellington-Manawatu Railway completed

Telegraph line demolished and sold to the Drakes for fencing

1888

The Weathersfield stranded on Waikawa Beach

Second flax boom-a number of mills are built on the Waikawa River

Arthur Drake sworn in as a JP

1892

The Weathersfield refloated off Waikawa Beach by diverting the river

1894

The telephone comes to Manakau

1897

Sawmill established on Waikawa Beach Road

1899

Ivan Drake born

1910

The Drakes begin a massive planting project to control erosion

1913

Arthur Drake becomes as a councillor for the Otaki Riding

1913

Thomas (2) Bevan dies at Manakau aged 77

© Catch 22, 1999, 2009