James (1845-1923) and Elizabeth Rowe (1846-1916)

Early Shirley Resident

James Rowe, farmer and miller, was born in Helston, Cornwall in 1845. He and his wife Elizabeth Jane arrived in New Zealand in 1874 on the Isles of the South when he was 28 and she was 27. Having disembarked in Lyttelton, James and Elizabeth opened a grocery store in Christchurch on the corner of Madras and Peterborough Streets, a business they operated for 23 years.

Four years after arriving in the colony he purchased 11 acres of land at Shirley, moved into the area, and began breeding pigs and in the process became known as 'Piggy Rowe'. Elizabeth was also a breeder, her speciality was in Indian Game fowl.

New Brighton Road in the north and Coopers Road in the south were the boundaries to the 11 acres. He called his homestead Windsor Park. In 2025, after restoring the homestead, new owners moved the house from Ajax Street one kilometre away to a section on Averill Street.  It is thought that the Rowe homestead’s name is how the area Windsor came about. Some said it was through the royal family but the dates do not match, as the area Windsor existed long before the royal Windsor came into being.

James devoted his attention to pig breeding and developed a stud of note. He farmed purebred Berkshires and Yorkshires, importing from the best English strains. He became so successful with breeding that he carried off most championships and principal prizes throughout New Zealand and Australia. Locally he won the President’s Cup from the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

Elizabeth was also involved in agricultural shows and took special prizes for her fancy butter making in Christchurch and Rangiora in 1880. In 1903 Elizabeth retired from the business and she and James took a trip back to England for her health. They returned to live in Shirley till she passed away in 1916.

The Rowe gravestone

James had a substantial involvement in local government. In 1899 he was selected for the city council for the North-East Ward and served for three years. Time was also served on the Avon Roads Board, New Brighton Borough Council and the Waimairi County Council. Not only did he involve himself in local body affairs, but he was also a founding member of the new Methodist Church in Shirley to which he donated a new Sunday School building in 1928. He was also involved with the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association.

James Rowe developed pneumonia after surgery and it proved to be fatal. He died in 1923. They left no family. Elizabeth and left no family, and they are both buried in the Linwood Cemetery. Rowe Place in Shirley bears his name.

Sources

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