Ferry Crossing Traditional Cache

This cache overlooks the site of the Ferry Hotel and the ferry which travelled across the Rangitata River. We are looking into the exact site of the origonal hotel and may place another geocache if we are able to find that information.

Great views of Mt Peel and surrounding mountains and the Rangitata River.

Please leaves gates across the roads as you find them.

Ferry Road

Tuesday, May 3, 1867
Rae and Goodwin, Upper Ferry, Rangitata
The Bench made an alteration in the Ferry charges, viz., 1s 6d for foot passengers, and 3s for a horse, were in future to be charged.

Robert Rae, Lower Ferry, Rangitata, was ordered to put up a sitting-room, and was given one month to comply with this order. Also, to keep two ferry-boats in working order from five a.m. to seven p.m. in the summer, and from seven a.m. to five p.m. in winter.

Evening Post, 7 December 1922, Page 9
The death of a Canterbury pioneer, who came to New Zealand seventy-three years ago, Mrs. Mary Ann Rae, occurred recently at Woodbury, South Canterbury. Mrs. Rae was born at Macclesfield, Cheshire, and came out to this country with her parents in the ship Duke of Portland, landing in 1851, when she was eleven years of age. Six years later she was married at St. Michael's Church to Mr. E. Marshall, and shortly after, with her husband started by bullock dray for the Rangitata River. At first they lived in a tent, the timber for their house being pit-sawn in the Peel Forest. It afterwards became well known to the early settlers at the Upper Rangitata ferry. Four years later Mrs. Marshall lost her
husband, being left with three children. In 1865 she was married to Mr. Robert Rae, and lived with him at the ferry for a while. Mr. Rae then built what was known as the Lower Rangitata Ferry House, which was on the direct line from Christchurch to the South. They ran this for a while and then took up land between Woodbury and Geraldine, building a house known as "Templer's." Later they built the present residence, "Raeburn," part of the material being taken from the original accommodation house at the ferry. Mr. Rae died about fifteen years ago, and lately his widow closed her long and adventurous life, and is buried in the Geraldine Cemetery. Mrs. Rae left a family of five sons and three
daughters, all of whom are settled in the South Island. [Mrs Rae, died at age 83 years, on 17 Nov. 1922, a Presbyterian].

Mary Ann Marshall married Robert Rae in 1866.
Robert Rae died 21 Feb. 1907 and is buried at Geraldine.