TIMARU IS IN RUINS. In the same year Timaru became a Borough, an accidental fire got picked up by a warm and blustery nor west wind in 1868, destroying 39 wooden buildings, two thirds of the business part of town. What had contributed to the advance in trade and prosperity of the port and district was now reduced to brick chimneys and embers. Unfortunately not everyone was insured. There were about 1250 dwellings in the borough.
TIMARU BUILT STRONGER. The fire transformed the town to more fire resistant Bluestone, brick and stone. Tenders were won to design and build our significant architectural heritage of our city which you can appreciate on a stroll through town.
Learn more about the great fire here Free colourful facts download and history about the event
Behind the building at the right was where William Nicoholls (1856-1884) worked. He was employed by cabinet maker Daniel Munro. He was sent to the workshop to heat some glue. He lit the fire in the stove and when the flue was heated he took it to Munro. A few minutes later the workshop was on fire.
The fire started behind the shop on the far right. Looking across Strathallan Street from site of P.G.G.. Hocken Snapshop. hocken.recollect.co.nz/24022
The Ship Hotel on the corner of Strathallan and Stafford Street, Timaru, sometime in the 1860s prior to the fire of 1868. A copy negative, believed to have been taken by William Ferrier, of an original print. South Canterbury Museum - CN: 2019/049.34
Timaru Volunteer Fire Brigade parade, led by a brass band, on an unidentified street which includes the business premises of W Healey Sanitary plumber and gasfitter, Timaru, to celebrate the coronation of George V. The Press (Newspaper) :Negatives. Ref: 1/1-008617-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/29947016
The same year a furious gale was reported, Timaru Herald 5 Feb 1868 P2 The steamer William Misken driven ashore and wrecked 4th February 1868. One of her crew was drowned, the rest scrambled ashore. The master was on the shore at the time and witnessed the complete destruction of the vessel.
South Canterbury also saw a devastating flood damage farmsteads and crops, along with great loss of life. See Parrs Mill where Mr Salter lost his wife and four children when their house was swept away in the Opihi River flood.