John Faulks and Mary Ann MacKay
John FAULKS
Born 4 January 1871, Dunedin, died 13 January 1947, Omakau.
Mary Ann MACKAY
Born 3 October 1876, Alexandra, died 14 January 1936, Wānaka.
John Faulks and Mary Ann MacKay married 9 June1897, Albert Town. They had 5 children:
Jack (Ian) MacKay (1898-1978),
Dorothy Mary (1900-1962),
Catherine Constance (1902-1917),
Henry William Stewart (1908-1968),
Belle MacKay (1912-1998).
Early life
John Faulks was the 3rd of 6 children born to his parents, John Faulks Snr (c1830-1895), who emigrated from England and Catherine McLennan (c1838-1917), who emigrated from Scotland. They were married 1867 in Dunedin. John (Jnr) left school aged 14, to start work in Dunedin. Two years later he travelled to Central Otago, to work in a variety of jobs. Around 1895, he commenced work for William Stewart on Mt Albert Station, in the Makarora Valley.
Mary Ann MacKay was the 3rd of 6 children born to her parents, Henry MacKay (1836 -1915) and Jane MacKay (c1849-1906) who were married in 1874 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
John Faulks and Mary Ann MacKay were married in Albert Town on 9 June 1897. At that time Mary Ann was living with her family at Minaret Station northwest of Lake Wānaka. The couple commenced their married life at the Mt Albert Station.
Pastoral Activities
1902–1906 Mt Albert Station
John bought the Mt Albert Station in mid-1902, following the death of the owner William Stewart. The sale included 419 acres of freehold and 132,000 acres of leasehold, 3,700 merino sheep, 400 half-bred sheep, 100 head of cattle and 17 horses. John was also licenced to harvest flax. He sold the property in late 1906 to Messrs Hope and Barker and sold the lease on Run 99 (52,000 acres) to Samuel Barr Paterson in December 1916.
1904-1916 Makarora Station
John bought the Makarora Station in February 1904 from Malcolm Campbell, after which the Faulks family moved to live at the Station. Sheep comprised the major source of income on the Station, with bullocks to a lesser amount and the sale of rabbits. In 1913 John installed the first machine-shearing plant in the district. The sheep were sent to market by steamer and then railed to Dunedin. In late June 1916 John sold the Makarora Station to Messrs Patterson of Oamaru.
1916-1920 Argyle Station
John purchased the sheep pasture property at Waikaia from Major Bond in 1916. Mary Ann and John also bought two more smaller properties in the region, in 1917 and 1918. They sold all three properties in 1920.
1920–1941 Mt Barker Station
In 1920 John and Mary Ann purchased the 14-acre property near the Pisa Range on which they built a new residence. Mt Barker Station had 20 dairy cows, grew wheat, oats, peas and small seeds, and lucerne. Notable horse ownership started in October 1925 by purchasing Blue Dragon from W. Stone. Other horses associated with the stud included M’were, Silver Peak, Silver Paper, Aspiring, Paper Money and Jolly Time and Royal Chief (leased stud). John sold the Station to his son Stewart in 1941.
Other pastoral properties
1905-1912+ Wilkin River, (50+ acres), 1908-1916 Upper Haast (7.000 acres) and 1908-1916 Hāwea (13,270+ acres).
Non-Pastoral Activities
1911-1936 Pembroke residence
In 1910 John and his family moved to live in Pembroke (now Wānaka). The following year John purchased Block 44 in Dungarvon Street from Mary Millar. The Dungarvon Street property was sold to Alexander Smith Milne in July 1936.
1925- Wānaka Hotel Ltd
On 23 April 1925 the Wānaka Hotel Ltd was registered as a private company with shareholders J. Faulks and A. and F. McKegg. Objects were to acquire and take over the Pembroke Hotel and associated land owned by Hugh George Smith Glass.
Game hunting
John shot the first deer on the Makarora River flats (a 10 pointer). He was recognised for his skills in stalking and shooting deer and frequently set records for the size of the deer. He travelled to hunt in Alaska in 1919 (brown and black bear, moose and rocky mountain sheep trophies), and South Africa in 1922 (antelope, buffalo and zebra and elephant trophies).
Acclimatization Society
John supported the Society with the release of Mallard ducks (1913), the donation of materials, land and water for the Lake Wānaka trout hatchery (1921) and the release of Quinnat Salmon Ova (1920). The Acclimatization Society recognised his support, making him an Honorary Ranger at Makarora (1908) and a life member of the Otago Acclimatization Society (1920).
Community Support
John supported government lobbying groups (Railway, Mail services), community trusts (e.g. the Doctors Club), Public Library (post WWI reopening), Memorial Hall (donation of land and building support), and the Fallen Soldiers Memorial (planning and construction). He was proactive in the formation of the Wānaka Masonic Lodge in February 1925 and was installed as the initial Worshipful Master. Other groups which he supported include the Anglican Church, School Committees, Otago Central League, NZ’s Farmers Union, Lake Country A&P, Wānaka Progressive League and sports clubs (horse racing, athletics, cricket, golf, rifle club, bowls).
Family Life
John and Mary Ann attended the dances in the local halls and regularly supported community functions. They also engaged with visiting dignitaries including the Northern Politicians Tour (1913), the Governor General of New Zealand (1923), the Prince of Wales (1920) and the Duke of York (1927) who visited their Mt Barker property to see the stud and view the hunting trophies on the walls of the billiard room. In 1925 the Columba College in Dunedin named a new building Constance Hall after Catherine Constance, a daughter of John and Mary Ann who died in 1917 aged 14. The family made a financial contribution for the building.
Mary Ann died on 14 January1936, aged 59. She was renowned as an impressive hostess and for her support of the Plunket Rooms. John died on 13 January 1947, aged 77.
The Faulks family legacy includes their unpublicised financial assistance to other farmers, their service and financial contribution to the community of Upper Clutha, and the success of the Mt Barker stud.
