Rock Hill Drive in Kennedys Bush – Named because Rock Hill was the original name of the Halswell Quarry site. Named in 2003.

A tiny amount of information from the library website and nothing that I can add about the name of the street.

There are 25 houses here built between 2012 and 2020 with about 3 or 4 built in 2000s. There is an entry to Quarry Hill Playground and Reserve here. The houses are very modern looking and the gardens are very green with lawns and shrubs and no flowers.

Quarrymans Lane in Kennedys Bush – Named because of an association with the old Halswell Quarry. Named by the developers, Rockhill Ltd. Named on 31 March 1999.

A small amount of information from the library website and nothing that I can add about the name of the street. Only 10 houses here and half were built in 2000s and the rest were built between 2010 and 2014. Very expensive houses here.

Quarry Hill Tce in Kennedys Bush – Named because of an association with the old Halswell Quarry. Named by the developers, Rock Hill Ltd. Named on 6 August 2003.

A tiny amount of information from the library website and nothing that I can add about the name of the street. Most houses here were built in 2000s with a few built in 2014/ 2015.

There is a playground and reserve here known as Quarry Hill Reserve. Below the reserve and houses on the lower side of the street there is a small track.

Kapuka Lane in Kennedys Bush – In a subdivision at 28 Kennedys Bush Road by Contract Construction. Named in 2015.

A tiny amount of information from the library website. The valuation website said that there are 6 properties here but only one house has been built. It was well beyond my budget. Kapuka is a NZ broadleaf plant. The footpath hasn’t been formed properly yet. Another street with great views.

Kokomea Street in Kennedys Bush – the sunsets as seen from this subdivision can be amazing. Kokomea is Maori for “glow” – in this case the glow of the sunset. The word also has a pleasing sound to it. The local Rūnanga were consulted and no concerns were raised.

A small amount of information from council minutes. I thought that there was a house here but the house I saw had a Kennedys Bush Rd address. There wasn’t anything on the valuation website. There would be great views here. The house that I saw was unbelievable.

Minsons Lane in Kennedys Bush – the subdivision is bounded on two sides by Minsons Drain. These drains run into the Halswell River and then Lake Ellesmere.

A small amount of information from the council minutes. The valuation website says that there will be 11 sections here and 3 houses are being built. I had a chat with the builders here. I checked the ancestry website for the Minson family but they lived in Opawa. Anyone here old enough to remember the Minsons Stores. I found a map which had Minsons Drain on it and it wasn’t anywhere near this subdivision.

Larnder Lane in Kennedys Bush – This subdivision is being developed by Andrew and Bridget Thomas. They have owned the property for 28 years. They have taken it from a gorse and broom filled paddock to what it is today with extensive native plantings. Bridget Thomas’s maiden name is Larnder. She is one of four daughters of Prue and the late Dr Derek Larnder O.B.E. (1922-2009). Dr Larnder was a very well-known and respected dermatologist in Christchurch from 1958 to 1992. He did a lot of voluntary work in the community including launching Christchurch’s first free clinic for skin cancer checks in 1989. The popularity and success of these clinics led to their extension throughout the South Island. His participation in professional associations included the President of the New Zealand Dermatological Society. He was the only doctor in Australasia to become an honorary overseas member of the British Association for Dermatologists, and was fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. In 1989 he was awarded an O.B.E. for services to dermatology.

A reasonable amount of information from the council minutes and nothing that I can add to the name of the street. There aren’t any houses here yet but the valuation website says that there are 9 sections. They will have great views.

Whites Tramway Road in Halswell – In 1862 William White first obtained approval to build a tramway from Christchurch to Little River which included a tramway line from the Halswell Quarry to Christchurch. The tramway was used to take rubble stone from the Halswell Quarry to the old Addington Prison site. The tramway remained in use until 1873.

Note: Council Officers preferred Whites Tramway without the inclusion of ‘Road’ in the name much like ‘The Runway’ in the former Wigram Airfield redevelopment area. LINZ do not support this name as it does not meet their addressing and roading standards. The decision on this ultimately lies with the Community Board.

A reasonable amount of information from the council minutes about the naming of streets in the subdivision.

I found at least three men named William White in Papers Past but couldn’t figure out exactly which one was the one who this William White. In 1874 the tramway was mentioned as being allowed to follow the reserve as agreed to in the ordinance of 1866. I find the ordinance online and the document was too long to copy. The tramway from Christchurch to Halswell Quarry was to be built within 6 months. He had 18 months to build it from Prices Long Pond on Lake Ellesmere to the terminus at Little River. William White had the right to convoy passengers and goods by water between certain points. White was to be responsible for the Lincoln Rd toll bar. The ordinance was called White’s Little River Tramway. It sounds like it was trains rather than trams. Found an online map at the library which showed the tramway.

The street is too new to be on maps and there are a few houses being built here. The River Stone Reserve and playground is on the corner of Whites Tramway Road and River Stone Drive.

Edited to say that I found the correct William White. He was born in 1821 and died in 1899. He came to NZ in 1852 on the William Hyde. He had the Kaikainu Hotel from 1856 to 1862. In 1860s he had the Commercial Hotel in the Square. This hotel was later known as Warners Hotel. He then worked as an engineer on roads and bridges including the Waimakariri and Rakaia Bridges. In his later years he was a coal and timber merchant with several branches including Leeston and Southbridge.

Waterford Farm Road in Halswell – In the late 1800’s Thomas Kennedy leased 60acres in the area and built a thatched sod cottage which became known as “Waterford Farm”. Upon Mr Kennedy’s death the family were unable to maintain the mortgage and the property was sold as “Kennedy’s Farm”.

A small amount from council minutes about the naming of the streets in the subdivision.

Not as much information on Papers Past as I expect and I couldn’t find an obituary. Thomas Kennedy died in 1881 aged 62 years. In 1881 the farm was for sale as Kennedy’s Farm. Interestingly it was advertised as freehold yet in 1876 it was described as leasehold. In 1976 Gordon Ogilvie wrote an article about Thomas Kennedy and he said that he came to NZ in 1838 from the US as a whaler. Various online information can’t decide if he was from Ireland or the US.

The street is too new to be on maps yet and the road isn’t fully formed yet.

Edited to say that Thomas Kennedy purchased the freehold of his property only a few days before he died. He had originally leased the land from Ernest Gray and the land was previously owned by Dr A C Barker. This information was from Gordon Ogilvie but he had Dr Barker dying in 1876 but he actually died in 1873.

River Stone Drive in Halswell – River Stone is the developers name for the subdivision, which has taken its name from the stones that are found in numerous waterways and rivers around the area.

A small amount of information from the council minutes about the naming of streets in the subdivision.

Not a lot that I can say about the name of this street and as this area was a swamp I am not surprised that there were waterways here.

This street is too new to be on maps and the street was a bit confusing as there seemed to be two separate streets with this name going by the sign posts. Part of the street is still being developed and possibly will curve around to meet the other River Stone Drive but it would make for a strangely shaped street. There is a playground and reserve being developed on the corner of River Stone Drive and Whites Tramway Road.