Gerry’s Rock (or Gerry's Hill) is a 311m hill in Burns Park Scenic Reserve, between Ravensbourne and Burkes. You’ll get superb views of the entire length of Otago Harbour, from Taiaroa Head around to the harbour basin. This reserve preserves a valuable area of unmilled podocarp-broadleaf forest with mahoe and fuchsia and some mature rimu, totara and miro trees.
The Friends of Burns Reserve Trust is working to enhance the Burns Park Scenic Reserve. See their website for further information: https://burnsreserve.nz/
Gerry’s Rock is named after the Gerry family, who owned the hill and the dairy farm bordering the hill from 1901 – 1946. Before that it was known as Burkes Hill; the Maori name is not recorded. The Gerry family themselves called it Rocky Hill. (“Gerry” is pronounced with a hard G, as for “Gertie Gumdrop”, not J for Jerry.)
There are no tracks inside the reserve, only routes lightly marked with yellow or pink tags. You will need to be confident finding your way in the bush. Boots recommended. Be prepared for steep slopes, slippery stones and roots, overhanging branches and mud.
There are two marked access routes to Gerry’s Rock – use the information in the waypoints for guidance.
(1) Public access from the Centennial Memorial in Signal Hill Reserve (entirely public access).
(2) Scott access route via Bryan’s Stile, off the driveway of 249 Signal Hill Road (crosses 100m of private property, by kind permission of the property owner). There is a map by the stile showing routes within the reserve.
The Scott Access route takes about 30 minutes each way - allow extra time to admire the view from Gerry's Hill. A loop walk from the Centennial Memorial to Gerry’s Rock, returning by the Scott Access route, then walking back to your car via Signal Hill Rd will take about 3 hours. NO DOGS.
You're welcome to wander at will within Burns Park Scenic Reserve, botanising or just exploring. However, please be aware that there is no public access from the reserve down to Ravensbourne, Burkes, or St Leonards. Although there is no legal public access between the southern and northern sections of Burns Reserve, the landowner Brian Scott has kindly allowed informal walking access across this gap.
You will find the Walking Access Commission's Pocket Maps smartphone app very helpful: Pocket Maps. Pocket Maps shows your location with a public land overlay, so you can be certain you stay within the public access areas.
Walking routes within Burns Reserve
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Like the rest of the harbour hills, Gerry’s Rock is a remnant of the eroded Dunedin volcano. Local geologist Dr Nick Mortimer tells us the igneous rocks here are phonolite, a variety of trachyte. According to the GNS Geology map it is aged between 11.3 and 12.2 million years old, from the volcano’s second eruptive phase.
Rocky Hill was once a popular walk for Ravensbourne residents (back then, farmers were happy to allow customary access for locals – these days you have to ask permission first). The rocks around the top of Gerry’s Rock have graffiti from visitors dating back to before the turn of the century. (How many engraved hearts can you find? What is the oldest date you can see?)
NOTE: This is a fully protected archaeological site (NZAA I44/1304). Obviously, “Toitu te whenua; take only photographs; leave only footprints”.
Rock engravings at Gerry's Hill
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The Gerry family of Rocky Hill Farm
Leonard Gerry and Mary Hambly were married on 17 October 1885, in St Austell, Cornwall, England. Along with members of the Hambly family, they travelled steerage class to New Zealand on the Rimutaka , arriving January 1890 ODT 13 Jan 1890 .
The Gerrys settled at Hamiltons in the Maniototo. Four sons were born at Hamiltons (Percy, 1890, Frederick, 1893, William, 1896 and Frank 1898). Leonard Gerry and his father-in-law William Hambly were goldminers and in 1895 were granted sections subdivided from Hamiltons run OW 5 Sept 1895. Leonard and Mary built a 5-roomed house and ran stock on their 73 acres of land. They were active in the Miners’ Association, school, church and Sunday School MIC 12 Apr 1901.
In 1901, Leonard and Mary sold their stock and farm at Hamiltons, and surrendered their mining claim MIC 12 Apr 1901; MIC 26 Jul 1901. The family moved to Hill Farm at 1 Albany St (now 1 Mark St) in Ravensbourne, previously owned by Frederickson. One mile from the railway station... ODT 14 Apr 1899
Leonard and Mary had two more sons in Dunedin – John, 1901 and then Stanley, 1907, who died when he was only two months old.
Comparing the bush edge shown on the 1907 Neill military topographic map (surveyed about 1901) with today’s map, the Gerry’s extended their farm paddocks by clearing trees from the western and northern sides of Burkes Hill. They probably sold the wood for firewood – maybe Percy was transporting firewood one Wednesday in 1905 before this happened…
On the afternoon of 31 January 1906, 15-year-old Percy had been using their bull (usually a placid animal) to pull a sledge transporting goods around the farm. When finished, he led it to a paddock by a chain attached to the bull’s nose. Without any warning the bull turned on Percy and gored him in the thigh. Percy was taken to hospital; luckily he recovered well. ODT 1 Feb 1906 ES 1 Feb 1906
In 1907, another hospital visit - Fred broke his collarbone playing rugby ODT 18 Apr 1907
All the sons would have helped to milk the cows in the morning, for the Ravensbourne milk run. In the Ravensbourne School Centennial booklet, a former pupil recollected: In the morning, the milkman walked round carrying a large milk can into which he dipped his pint measure, and filled our billy on a bench inside the back door.
Rough roads made a daily milk run particularly difficult. Leonard regularly contacted the West Harbour Borough council about the state of the roads leading to his property, and the council did make improvements. ES 2 Aug 1905; ODT 7 Jun 1906; ODT 5 Sept 1907; ODT 8 July 1908; ES 3 Nov 1909
Leonard died aged 50 in 1910 ES 8 July 1910 He is buried in the Northern Cemetery.
Mary and her oldest son Percy continued running the farm. Times were hard – in 1912 she wrote to the West Harbour Council asking for a reduction of rates on her farm owing to the bad seasons experienced on the land at Rocky Hill. However she was informed that the council could not reduce rates. ES 3 Jul 1912
Third-oldest son William became a plumber – he received the Callander scholarship in plumbing for 1913 at Dunedin Technical School. ES 22 May 1913
Then came the cataclysm of World War. William was employed with Walker Brothers when he enlisted May 1916. William served in France, was wounded in action twice, promoted to Corporal, returned on the Carpentaria, and discharged June 1919. William's WW1 Service record.
Second-oldest Frederick Gerry owned a 7 hp Indian motorbike! ES 17 June 1916 He was a cabinetmaker, working at J&A Wilkinson, when he enlisted September 1916. His platoon was photographed at Featherston camp OW 6 Dec 1916. He embarked on the Ulimaroa January 1917, served in France and was promoted to Lance-corporal. Tragically, Frederick was killed in action on 21 November 1917 aged 25. He is buried at Bedford House cemetery in Belgium. NZ War Graves; Frederick's WW1 service record.
Mary’s oldest son Percy (“dairy farmer, Hill Farm”) was called up in the 8th conscription ballot in June 2017. He was not enlisted, no doubt because his labour was essential to keep the dairy farm operating. ES 6 June 1917
Fourth son Frank Gerry received a 1917 cabinetmaking scholarship at King Edward Technical College ES 19 Apr 1917. He was a cabinetmaker working at J&A Wilkinson in February 1918 when he turned 20 (the minimum recruitment age) and volunteered for service. Frank embarked for the UK July 1918, was promoted to Lance Corporal, returned from the UK on the Hororata and discharged Oct 1919. Frank later served in the Home Guard during WW2. Frank's WW1 Service record
As life went on, Mary kept an eye on the council's road maintenance: ODT 7 Jul 1920; ODT 4 Mar 1925; ODT 8 Jul 1925. Mary, and then Percy, occasionally had to take defaulting milk run customers to court to recover debts ES 10 Jun 1919; ODT 29 May 1936.
Methodist 50th Jubilee Choir 1930 (part). Percy Gerry at left; John Gerry (organist) at right.
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The family was active in the Methodist church – Mary was involved with the Methodist Centenary ODT 5 May 1921, and Frank helped to build the new Sunday School opened in 1932 ES 15 Feb 1932.
At some stage Percy started making his milk deliveries with a lorry, instead of a horse and cart. The disadvantage was that a lorry had to be driven, while a horse learnt the milk round and automatically stopped at each house. In 1943 Percy gained a Goods Service Licence to carry surplus stock to Burnside 25 Nov 1943.
All the four surviving Gerry brothers married, and John and William raised families. They did not forget their brother Frederick – one of the children was named after his fallen uncle.
With no children to pass the farm to, Percy and his wife Henrietta retired in 1946, selling their 62 acre farm and 22 gallon Ravensbourne milk run to Norman Ward for £1500 ODT 9 Feb 1946; ODT 12 Apr 1946.
The property at 1 Mark St is now reduced to 28 acres, but cattle are still run on the farm – as you will see when you pass the sign on the boundary gate above the Gerrys Hill paddock…
Burns Park Scenic Reserve
Burns Park Scenic Reserve preserves a valuable area of unmilled podocarp-broadleaf forest with mahoe and fuchsia and some mature rimu, totara and miro trees. Other parts of the reserve have broadleaved secondary forest. Areas regenerating after being cleared, such as around Gerry's Rock and the Centennial Memorial boundary, have kanuka scrub and invasive weeds - Darwin's barberry, gorse and broom. And pest animals-possums, feral cats, goats...
Until the Otago settlement in 1848, forest ran down to the water’s edge around almost all of Otago Harbour. By 1866 most of the bush on the lower slopes of the hills had given way to pasture. Naturalists worried about the loss of our unique flora and fauna, but, conservation was unproductive… and by 1900 virtually all land around the harbour not too steep for cattle had been cleared.
1873 bush cover - the Double-Fairlie Locomotive Rose passing Burkes Brewery 1873
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The steep, damp south-facing slopes of West Harbour retained their trees longer than many areas; however, once the railway to Port Chalmers opened in 1872, large numbers of people settled in the new Rothesay and Ravensbourne townships. Some made a living from cutting the bush and selling firewood in Dunedin, by clearing the hillside for farming, and by operating sawmills. There is a record from 1872 of two little spotted kiwi being killed by a dog in the bush near present-day St Leonards… Otago Witness, 9 November 1872.
Our government eventually became concerned about losing the tourism potential of scenic and historic sites around Aotearoa. The Scenery Preservation Act 1903 was New Zealand's first law specifically designed to protect sites of scenic and historical interest. Crucially, the Scenery Preservation Commission was funded for the compulsory purchase of private land.
The Mayor of West Harbour (Frederick Cray) wrote to the Scenery Preservation Commission suggesting preservation of bush behind Ravensbourne, ODT 27 Sept 1904
When the Committee visited Dunedin in November 1904, Alexander Bathgate from the Reserves Conservation Society listed The existing bush area, along the upper part of the hill in the Borough of West Harbour as a desirable scenic area; it was #9 in his list of 25 recommendations.
West Harbour Mayor Frederick Cray and Thomas Ross (a former West Harbour Mayor), forming a deputation from West Harbour, then addressed the commission on the desirability that reservation should be extended to the bush on the hillsides facing the water above West Harbour from Logan's Point downwards.
Mr Ross pointed out the loss in beauty on the hillside, that had already resulted in the past 30 years, but pointed out also that some fine native bush still remained, which was also a sanctuary for a great variety of beautiful ferns, including the treefern. ODT 18 Nov 1904
Edmund Allen, MP for Chalmers (and a past Mayor of Port Chalmers), asked a couple of questions in the House in 1905 - What steps have been taken to acquire lands on the wooded heights of Otago Harbour for scenic and climatic purposes; also for securing sanctuaries for the preservation of native birds? - The very fine scenery country overhanging Port Chalmers was in his own electorate... It was one of the finest pieces of native bush in that part of Otago. He would like to see a little more activity on the part of the Scenic Commissioners.. he had endeavoured to arrange with them to see some parts of his district…, who should let the country know that they were doing something... what people wanted was places of beautiful scenery preserved near where the people dwelt- where the people could get the benefit of it.
Advocates for the Scenic Reserve - Frederick Cray; Thomas Ross; Edmund Allen
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Later in 1905 the Otago Witness OW 27 Dec 1905 reported that William Hall , civil engineer and surveyor, has been entrusted with the duty of surveying a large area of natural bush country lying between Ravensbourne and Signal Hall, which the Government has been asked to acquire as a scenic reserve. The area, includes the summit of Signal Hill, whence a magnificent view of the city, the. whole of the harbour, and the surrounding country can be obtained. The hills and gullies are clothed with native shrubs, and the whole locality has long been the happy hunting ground of the botanist and geologist. Mr Hall and his staff are at present busily engaged surveying the proposed reserve, which will probably comprise 150 or 200 acres of some of the most attractive bush scenery to be found in the neighbourhood of the city.
On 7 February 1907, 221 acres 2 roods 22 perches of land on Signal Hill was gazetted as a reserve. AJHR 1907/I/2116
In 1910 the reserve was officially named Burns Park, in honour of the Rev Thomas Burns, the religious leader of the Otago colony (he was the nephew of poet Robert Burns) OW 1 Jun 1910 NZ Gazette 1910 p1587.
1922 Neill military topo map (surveyed about 1901) showing bush extent about 1901, Frederick's farm and Burkes Hill.
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The Ravensbourne Amenities Society saw the need for public access to the reserve: The greater part of it is covered with native bush and contains an abundance of tree and smaller ferns of all descriptions. There are hundreds, of majestic pine trees, some of great age. The late Mr Harry Matthews, Government Forester, considered that some of these were 500 years old. The bush contains red, white, and black pines, silver birch, miro, and totara, which are greatly admired by the robust and hardy who have had the privilege of rooming through the under-growth. There is, however, no way of getting to the reserve unless a path is out from the top of Manuka street. ODT 15 Jul 1922
In 1932 control of Dunedin’s Crown reserves were vested in the DCC. Despite the concerns of the Amenity Society and others about preserving native flora, the Council was given approval for silvicultural operations (pine plantations) up to 1500'. The Commissioner of Crown Lands decided that Signal Hill reserve (as it was known) was to be kept as a Scenic Reserve and, since it was under 1500', not used for forestry. However the open portion could be leased out with rental going towards the upkeep of the reserve ES 4 Jun 1932 ODT 6 June 1932 P8
After a 1981 dispute over management of the reserve – the DCC had leased some upper slopes of the reserve land for farming and had authorised bulldozer clearance of the leased area - control was returned to the Crown, managed by the Lands and Survey Department. It is currently managed by the Department of Conservation. The section including Gerry’s Rock was added to the Burns Reserve in 1986.
This 22 August 2022 ODT article publicised the Burns Park Scenic Reserve: A Forgotten Wilderness
The Friends of Burns Reserve Trust is now working to enhance the Burns Park Scenic Reserve.
See their website for further information: https://burnsreserve.nz/
- Species observations in Burns Park: inaturalist
- Otago Harbour : vegetation of the harbour catchment 1991
- DSIR report on Botanical report on possible extensions to Burns Park Scenic Reserve (Stevensons Bush)
