Ten Down (Canterbury) Traditional Cache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(small)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This cache was placed in recognition of our 10 year wedding anniversary which we spent at Stronechrubie. This is a drive up (or park nearby) cache and should be an easy find.
The size of this cache limits the 'swag' that can be left in here. Cache is a small rectangular cammo covered container. Our time in the area was very relaxing and the we would recommend it. There is great access to tramping in the area, skiing is not far away and there are a few caches scattered at different terrain levels to keep all levels busy. When visiting this cache please say hi to any friendly locals especially a very fun resident dog
Please read below for the Story of Stronechrubie
In the early days of New Zealand settlement, part of Erewhon station was called ‘Stronechrubie’. And so it happened…………
George McRae, born in Scotland on June 5th 1836, sailed from Gravesend on 11th June 1857 on ‘Glentanner’ and after a very rough trip when nearly all sails were carried away in a storm, arrived in Lyttleton on 3rd October 1857.
After several years as a shepherd and 13 years as a head shepherd and overseer on Mesopotamia station, took up a lease on a run in the Upper Rangitata on the confluence of the Clyde and Lawrence rivers and called it ‘Stronechrubie’ meaning in Gaelic, crooked promontory or spur – the name of a farm near his birthplace.
He built a homestead at the foot of a steep crooked spur leading from Mt McRae in the Jollie Ranges; lost most of his sheep in the big snow of 1889 after a disaster the previous year when he lost his wool cheque when his agents went bankrupt.
It was such a solitary place that 2 women visited Catherine McRae and told that she had not seen another women for 6 years. Poor Catherine went mad, leaving Stronechrubie behind and coming down to Ashburton. George McRae sold Stronechrubie is 1892.
Later on, the run Stronechrubie got amalgamated with other runs and a new homestead (which can still be visited) was built further down the valley. In the 1940’s the name was changed to Erewhon, meaning ‘No where’ spelt backwards, or nearly!
Erewhon is the name of a famous novel by Samuel Butler who owned Mesopotamia station and was most likely to have known George McRae. Butler left New Zealand in 1860 after making a considerable fortune on selling Mesopotamia.
The name ‘Stronechrubie’ links all us new settlers with the old settlers.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
abg qnex
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
Loading Treasures