Stephen Philip Ryder - Konini Farm, Riwaka

The papers consist of:

History of the Ryder family and farm at Riwaka; memories of Riwaka by W A A Ryder (1883-1968); photographs of original and second homestead, aerial view of Konini Farm (pre 1950); William and Ann Ryder; family group taken in 1903 on the occasion of William & Ann's 50th wedding anniversary; land documents.

The original owner of the property was William Ryder who arrived in Nelson in 1854 with his wife Ann Elizabeth (nee Cousins), and took up land at Riwaka in 1860. They called the property Fuschia Hill Farm, and engaged in a butchery business. The farm was taken over by his grandson William Albert Arnold Ryder in 1910. He built a new home on the site of the old homestead and renamed it Konini. At the outset the farm was devoted solely to stock but in 1919 a small area was set out with raspberries and other small fruits, and a considerable area devoted to tobacco growing. In 1946 the old farm was taken over by two sons, Alexander William and Jack Ryder. Jack later took up land further up the Riwaka Valley. The present owners, Stephen Ryder (and his wife Joanne), took over the family farm in 1980. They continued to grow tobacco until the close of the tobacco factory in 1989. They had already diversified into other crops, and by 1998 the farm had entirely developed into apples.

Quantity: 1 folder(s).

Physical Description: Mss, typescript, photographs (copies)

Copies of family photographs