Grahams Road in Burnside and Bishopdale and Ilam – Named after Douglas Graham (1818-1872). Graham arrived in Canterbury in 1852 and was the manager of John Deans’ cattle from 1854 until his death. Grahams Road was cut through his holding of 141 acres which he leased to William Boag. His home was near the corner of Grahams Road where Flay Park is now located. The Star in 1892 refers to a sale of land at Graham’s Estate and describes it as the largest and most important sale of suburban properties held in Canterbury for many years. First appears in street directories in 1912, running from Greers Road to Wairarapa Road (later Wairakei Road). Two residents are listed – both farmers.
A reasonable amount of information from the library website. I did find out that his widow when she died was living at a property called Springbank which explains one of the street names in the area. This street covers at least three suburbs and possibly four suburbs if you included Avonhead.
I found Grahams Rd mentioned in Papers Past as early as 1884 when the road board had to consult the trustees of Douglas Graham’s estate. In 1885 the contactor building the road asked for extension for completing the road. I found Grahams Rd on a map dated 1879. In 1906 there is talk of acquiring land for a cemetery. In 1932 Waimairi Council requested that the name of Grahams Rd be retained. There was a Grahams St in Woolston. In 1938 property owned by Mr Royds with frontages on Grahams Rd was sold and it had been a Suburban Stud Farm. Most entries in Papers Past is in the 1950s and 1960s as the government acquired large section of land for housing especially for state housing. There were at least three estates they took over. In 1969 Crown land from the Flay estate was intended to be Flay Park but 10 acres went to Burnside High School and the rest used for housing. Flay Park is still there but much smaller than the original plan.
In 1956 the Burnside Rd property belonging to the University of Canterbury was taken over as Crown Land. This was 56 acres bounded by Greers Rd, Burnside Rd ( Memorial Ave) and Grahams Rd. The college council agreed to surrender the land to offset the new Riccarton site. Also in 1956 it was recorded that 400 houses to be built on land taken over by the state and this was the Gregan Housing Block. Most of the housing was state houses and it was said that the population of the area would increase by 13,000.
Most of the houses on the street were built in the 1960s but there are a few houses built in other later decades. Walking the street none of the houses stood out for me. Many still have a state look about them and a big block of state houses from 1950s have been demolished. They will be rebuilding more state houses and I can’t remember the current name of this government dept. I am showing my age by calling them state houses. There is a cemetery on this street plus a modern church. Flay Park is at the Memorial Ave end of the street. I then had to cross Memorial Ave and even with lights it isn’t my favourite street to cross. I eventually end up at the roundabout where Grahams Rd becomes Merrin St. Returning to where I had left my car I stopped briefly at Bullock Reserve which has an entrance on Grahams Rd. There is a medical centre in an interesting looking building that almost looked Art Deco. I crossed Memorial Ave again having another good look at the houses but again none really stood out for me. I am amused that my friend’s house is built on land that originally belonged to the University of Canterbury. Fed the cat who was hiding from me and then went home.
Lytteltonwitch's Walking the streets of Christchurch Project 