Richard Fleming (1819-1894) and family arrived on the Randolph in 1850 and took up land, calling their property Fernlea. Part of the original homestead can be seen in the centre of the photograph. Cheese was produced here and the chimney of the cheese factory can be seen. However, grass seed was found to be more profitable than cheese and Fleming was one of the farmers who pioneered the commercial cultivation of cocksfoot in Canterbury. His first harvest was in 1853-1854
This material has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. Please contact Christchurch City Libraries if you have any questions relating to the use of this material or wish to order a hi resolution copy for commercial purposes. It is the responsibility of the user to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.
