Blenheim, or The Beaver

The Wairau Affray in 1843 badly frightened potential European settlers of the Wairau and it was to be several more years before the Nelson settlers again began to consider the potential of the wide plains.

In 1845 some hardy Nelson settlers returned and were very impressed with the suitability of the Wairau for settlement. By 1847, a few European settlers had trickled across from Nelson and become involved in pastoral pursuits.¹

James Wynen, Marlborough Historical Society - Marlborough Museum Archives
Click to enlarge

Blenheim's early river port, 1872, Marlborough Historical Society - Marlborough Museum Archives, 0000.900.0631
Click image to enlarge

James Wynen was the region's first shopkeeper. With his brother William, he set up a highly lucrative business in 1847 at the entrance of the Wairau Bar.² Their virtual monopoly included shipping and receiving goods,³ a store, accommodation house and drinking shanty. Boats from Wellington and Nelson moored outside the Wairau River mouth, not wanting to cross the Bar.  Cargo was discharged into Wynen's whale boats and taken up the river to be stored at his large raupo warehouse located on the banks of the Omaka River, which he eventually converted into a shop.⁴

In 1852, a rival arrived and set up shop nearby. Scotsman James Sinclair was to become one of the most influential men in the Wairau and became known as the King of the Beaver.⁵  He was the principal land agent in the area, owned a store and a hotel and acted as banker and merchant to the pastoral runholders.⁶

The early settlement, located at the junction of the Omaka, now known as Taylor, and Opawa Rivers was dubbed The Beaver, Beaver Town or Beaverton because of frequent floods.  At first, buildings were clustered around the two stores and two hotels of James Wynen and James Sinclair. The fledgling township, located in what is now lower High Street⁷ also had a blacksmith, wheelwright and shoemaker, supplying the basic needs of the European settlers.⁸

Blenheim's earliest Europeans were very isolated with no roads, fences or bridges and mail just twice a month. Bullock teams would camp on the banks of the Wairau or Waihopai Rivers waiting for the high waters to subside. It was a day's journey to Waitohi (now Picton), with horses swimming across the Wairau and people following in canoes.⁹

First courthouse and post office, 1866, Marlborough Historical Society - Marlborough Museum Archives, 19950150073
Click image to enlarge

James Sinclair, Marlborough Historical Society - Marlborough Museum Archives, 0001
Click image to enlarge

The earliest days of The Beaver were also known for their informality and friendliness. ".....then the little community was simply like one large family, entering readily into each other's joys and sorrows.....There were no luxuries, but a plentiful supply of substantial necessaries..."  wrote T.L Buick in Old Marlborough.¹⁰

In 1857, Dr Stephen Muller arrived from Nelson as resident magistrate and postmaster.¹¹  By this time, The Beaver had a Court House, Post Office and plans for a Customs House. One hundred coastal vessels sailed up the river in 1857, and took away 2,288 bales of wool to the value of £51,450.¹²

The settlers in Waitohi had nurtured hopes of the town becoming the provincial port, if not its capital. In 1849, Governor George Grey had promised that a road linking Waitohi to the Wairau would be constructed and the township would become the Wairau district's port. However, the rapid rise of The Beaver and its river port saw bitter rivalry between the two towns throughout the provincial government years.¹³  Picton remained the provincial capital until 1866, when it changed to Blenheim.¹⁴

Plan of blocks and holdings on the south side of the Wairau River. Marlborough Historical Society - Marlborough Museum Archives. Click image to enlarge

Blenheim and Picton formally gained their names when the Wairau was gazetted as the new province of Marlborough in 1859. The Beaver locals had tired of the jokes about floods and beavers and dams, and urged the Government of the day to change the town's name to something more dignified.¹⁵

[2009. Updated Dec. 2020] 

Permission should be sought from the Marlborough Museum prior to any reuse of these images.

Plan of blocks and holdings on the south side of the Wairau River, Marlborough Historical Society - Marlborough Museum Archives.
Click to enlarge

Plan of blocks and holdings on the south side of the Wairau River. Marlborough Historical Society - Marlborough Museum Archives. Click image to enlarge

Sources used in this story

Want to find out more about the Blenheim, or The Beaver ? View Further Sources here.

Related Stories

Do you have a story about this subject? Find out how to add one here.