McDonald Downs Tour

On Sunday we held the McDonald Downs to Birch Hill tour in support of the Canterbury West Coast Air Rescue Trust initiated by Bill Paterson of McDonald Downs Station.  Together with the tour, a presentation of the history of McDonald Downs and ownership of the area originating from the Horsley Down tenure of the region was given. 

The tour started from the impressive new woolshed of McDonald Downs (the previous one having burned down), after an address by Bill on the history of the station, travelling through the station to reach the public road to Lees Valley at the Brothers Block. Before crossing the Okuku River, Bill added more history of the land ownership, and Dereck Millton of Birch Hill Trust gave information on Birch Hill Station’s history and the purpose of the trust to support the children of Canterbury.  Lunch was held at the residential facility of Lees Valley Station, and after a talk by the station’s manager, the tour continued to Birch Hill Cemetery which has historical significance for the Millton family and the ANZAC horses of the 1^st World War.

The spectacular weather and scenery, together with the historical information of the region was enjoyed by all who contributed over $5000 to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.  Many thanks to our speakers, the Paterson family, and those who came on the tour for making the event a memorable one.