‘Peat hole’ became a village green

The simple pleasure of a neighbourhood park such as Russell Square with its mature oak and ash trees is plain to see with obvious advantages for residents of all ages.

Its appearance now doesn’t really tell the tale of how it came to be set aside and left as a recreational area.

When Mr Lough laid out his plans for Rhodes town he regrettably omitted to set aside spaces for recreational areas. Luckily for Timaru, nature has, over time, taken care of this with the reclamation of many hectares of land in Caroline Bay thereby fulfilling that need.

When Mr Hewlings laid out Government town he did anticipate the needs of the future population in regards to free spaces. He laid off a wide ‘‘Belt’’ along the southern and western sides of his squaremile town, and marked off one space as a market reserve, Alexandra Square as well as the area for the Botanic Gardens and a sports ground at Anzac Square.

Russell Square was also in the mix and owes its reservation status to its being, in its original state, a deep peat hole apparently unfit to build upon.

It was therefore surveyed off to reserve as a recreation ground and the Provincial Government accepted the proposal.

There is an eclectic and appealing collection of houses all facing the square and a slow drive around the park reveals the varied collection of dwellings including Trinity Manse at one end and a selection of pretty cottages, villas and bungalows.

There are a couple of deco houses and some modern functional homes added in there too.

How lucky are the residents of this corner of Timaru, to have a communal park in front of their homes. Over time it seems the ‘‘deep peat hole’’ situation has resolved itself and it now has the appearance of a perfectly neat and orderly village green.

Easy to picture a game of cricket here during the summer months.

– Karen Rolleston