Woodville cemetery tours planned

The historic Woodville Gorge Cemetery. Tours will be held over the next year as part of Woodville's 150th.

In 1876, Joseph Sowry was called upon by Member of Parliament John Davies Ormond to form the Woodville Small Farm Association.

The first meeting was held in Waipawa and members had to be married and over the age of 21.

Sowry would go on to own one of 35 sections balloted and an electoral roll for 1878/79 showed 18 of that number were on the land and wanting their right to vote.

Sowry’s lot was section 11, opposite what is now the racecourse (which was allocated at the time to Edward Harding).

His story and what he achieved in Woodville will be told as part of the Historic Gorge Cemetery Tours to be held throughout 2025, starting December 2029.

Co-ordinator Joan McIntyre says with 2025 being Woodville’s Sesquicentennial (150 years), the cemetery tours will concentrate on the early pioneers of the district.

Another pioneer she highlights is Henry Hawkin.

Prior to joining the Small Farm Association, Hawkin served in the Taranaki Volunteers and the Hawke’s Bay Militia.

In 1863 he took up a blacksmithing business in Clive.

In 1865 he received a Crown Grant of sections 230, 231 Clive.

His balloted land was section 27, on Woodlands Rd near Bushmills Rd.

The rest of his story and many others can be heard on the tour.

Come along and listen to the rest of their stories and many others.

Anyone with ancestors in the Historic Gorge Cemetery, the friends of the cemetery are always interested in additional information for their growing records, please get in touch.

Families are also asked to tidy up the graves if possible for the special year.

Tours will be conducted on Sunday, December 29, 2024, then in 2025 on March 30, June 29, August 31 and November 20.

The tours will start at 2pm.

A cuppa will be available at the Rinitawa Gallery at the end of the tour and if it’s too wet, a virtual tour will be held at the gallery instead.

For more information phone Joan McIntyre 06 3765690.