Theodore Russell – Pioneer, Entrepreneur and Citizen

Theodore was a valuable early pioneer of the Upper Clutha who died too young.

He was born on 18 November 1843 in Hobart, Tasmania, to Henry and Sally (nee Powers) Russell.[1] Theodore’s father, Henry, had arrived in Auckland in the early days of that district and had been engaged in managing sawmills in the Bay of Islands, but afterwards went to Dunolly in Victoria, Australia, in the middle of the goldfields where Theodore was educated.

About 1862, Theodore came over to the Westcoast goldfields and subsequently came to Cardrona together with Elijah Charlton Hedditch (known as Charles and later as Captain Hedditch). Both were among the principal owners of the Gin and Raspberry claim before they ventured into the timber milling trade. Charles and Theodore involved themselves in delivering timber, mainly from the Matukituki Valley, down the Clutha to Cromwell, over several years, as well as building boats for transport on the Lake. On 21 September 1867, Theodore married Celia, a sister of Charles Hedditch.

Theodore and Celia had 6 children, the last being born just after Theodore’s death.

Their children were:

• Theodore b 1868 d.1874

• Emily Clara 1870

• Celia Isabella 1872

• Sophia Blanche 1874

• Theodore 1876

• Edith May 1878

In May 1874, their 6 year old son Theodore was accidentally killed when J B Ewing’s bullock cart ran over him. Theodore Jnr had a habit of jumping up on the wagon pole as usual and it was thought he missed his footing.

In 1867 Theodore acquired a block of land overlooking Roys Bay, more or less where the current Wānaka Hotel is situated and towards the Bay. In reality, he occupied the land as a squatter. He spent the rest of his life trying to obtain title or a lease to the property with a number of applications recorded and all declined until approval finally came through just after he died.

In partnership with Charles Hedditch, they built the first Wānaka Hotel on this land. It was claimed to be the first building in Wānaka. Judging by the advertisements in the newspapers, it opened about November 1868. Whilst it is commonly reported in many publications that Theodore was the owner of the hotel from its inception until his death, the partnership between Theodore and Charles was dissolved on 1 January 1869, less than 2 months after the hotel opened. The hotel business was then carried on by Charles Hedditch in partnership with Thomas A Russell, who was said, at times, to be Theodore’s cousin. However, I believe that he is Theodore’s younger brother, Thomas Augustus Russell b. 11 September 1847. Later in the early 1880s, Thomas was an occupier of Run 468 jointly with J B Ewing and Celia I Russell, which suggests a close relationship.

However, back to Theodore’s story, over two months later, Theodore is advertising on 9 March 1870 that he is the sole proprietor. What happened? Was there a falling out between Charles Hedditch and Thomas Russell and Theodore has stepped in to settle matters? It is noted that Theodore had built the sailing boat Isabella (22 tons) in late 1869 and “shortly after” it was sold to Charles Hedditch, maybe as part of a settlement? Unfortunately for Charles Hedditch, the Isabella was wrecked in October 1870 at Damper Bay.

Early on, Theodore had the foresight to see that Pembroke was a tourist attraction.

The above advertisement is from the Dunstan Times on 18 December 1868 and is the earliest advertisement found relating to tourism in Wānaka. Note that this is dated no more than 8 years after the first family arrived in the area! There are other advertisements by the owners of sailing boats seeking customers and promoting the hotel.

But Theodore was not a man to stand still, and remember, at this stage he is only 27 years of age.

Early maps show that he and his wife Celia owned or leased a number of properties around Wānaka – even Theodore’s brother Thomas, had property interests including the land where the Caltex Station now stands.

 The following is a summary of some of the other events Theodore was part of:

1872: he raced the cutter Dart on Lake Wānaka as part of a regatta.

1872: he was racing his horses at the Albert Town racetrack and was Secretary of the Racing Club.

1872: he was advertising for shepherds and also teamsters to take wool to Dunedin.

1872: he was fined 5/- plus costs 9/6d for allowing a raffle at his hotel.

1873: he was advertising for the sale of all or part of the Eureka Co’s assets – the ketch Eureka, ketch Isabella, a jetty and land, a stonehouse, lumber etc.

1874: he had contracts on hand for over 100,000 feet of timber to be taken from Lake Wānaka to Cromwell. This was usually achieved as 3000 ft rafts, 2 at a time.

1875: he raced his 4-oared boat called the Makarora at the Lake Wānaka Regatta.

1876: with J B Ewing leased 160 acres in the Matukituki and proceeded to establish a sawmill there. It was opened in January 1877.

1876: took the first mail that had arrived in Pembroke from the West Coast via the Haast Pass, down to Cromwell.

1877: spoke on behalf of the Matukituki ratepayers at a meeting in Cardrona about separating from the Lake County.

The first Wanaka Hotel - this colourised photo is the oldest known photo in the Society’s collection.

Originally recorded as being “before 1923” (as the hotel burned down in 1922!), it was subsequently identified as being circa 1880, allowing for the young boy on the cart shafts (Alfred La Franchi) being in the photo. He was born about 1869 and looks like he could be about 7 to 10 years of age. Two months ago, it was realised that Theodore was in the photo (in front of the central door) and he died in November 1877. Therefore, it is likely that the photo was taken mid-1870s.

Theodore died, quite prematurely, aged 33, on 14 November 1877 at Perriams, Lowburn. He had been on a trip to Cromwell and fell ill with enteric (a disease of the intestines). A doctor was called but was unable to save him. Apparently, Theodore had suffered from this disease for quite some time.

And so, the Upper Clutha lost a very capable and valuable citizen. His wife, Celia, took over the hotel (she was probably running it anyway!) and she died on 27 August 1905. Celia was very well thought of in the Pembroke community.

Theodore’s name continued to feature as Charles Hedditch (commonly known as Captain Hedditch by now) captained the paddle steamer Theodore as it plied the Lake for many years from 1881.

Theodore’s namesake and surviving son was also well known in the area. He owned Cattle Flat Station before he sold up about 1914 and went to Oamaru where he purchased the well-known Alta Vady estate and other properties.[2]

[1] Australia Birth Index 1788-1922
[2] Obituary (Manawatu Standard, 15 Apr 1932)