William Martin reserve is named a pioneering Dunedin horticulturalist. He was born in Lanarkshire Scotland and served his apprenticeship at the Edinburgh Botanical Garden.
When he arrived in Dunedin, he leased and cleared land around Dunedin, planting vegetables and other plants from seeds he had brought with him. He purchased land just beyond Green Island bush and planted out a nursery, naming it 'Fairfield' and thus naming this suburb.
He imported fruit trees and conifers from America and was also a member of the first Otago Horticultural Society committee.
William's garden at Fairfield was recognised as Otago's finest for a number of decades. Remnants of the nursery are found in the reserve.
Source: Sign at posted coordinates
Read the sign to work out the location of the cache
S 45° 5A.BAC′
E 170° 2A.BDE′
A = William had A children
B = William purchased 1B6 acres of land
C = He planted out X acres. C = X-1
D = William was a member of the first Otago Horticultural Society committee in 185D
E = His nursery was selling more than E00 species of plants.
Bring your own pen
Checksum A+B+C+D+E = 27