Hornby: The Development Phase

It appears that Hornby was the second choice of name for this area, as the original railway station was known as Southbridge Junction. Subsequent postal confusion with the Township of Southbridge led to a new name being gazetted in September 1878 - Hornby Junction. Further confusion with the existing Horndon Junction disappeared when that area was re-named Darfield!

Hornby was different from other settlements of the time in that it had a name before any subdivision took place. There was an attempt at development in October 1878, but it did not eventuate and it was to be another 20 years before Hornby became more than a farming area with its few large houses and scattered cottages.

The growth of Hornby at the turn of the century was due almost entirely to the development and extension of the frozen meat industry. In 1896 the area known as Jersey Town (because of the dairy farm), was sold and subsequently divided into 82 sections. A year later more land was subdivided across the railway line by Carmen Road.

Hornby was also the site of one of the village settlements meant to provide allotments for town workmen, which were established by the Liberal Government of 1891-1912. In 1909 the Government bought 75 acres which was subdivided into 3 acre sections, and offered on 33 year leases. There was however no great demand for these.

Various institutions also became established at this time. The first Hornby school opened in 1895; the Baptists were the first to establish their church in 1897 but were soon followed by the Roman Catholics and Anglicans. After much debate a recreation ground was opened in 1910 and soon became the centre for a number of sports.

In April 1911, the Paparua County came into existence and took over administrative responsibility from the road districts which had been set up in the 1860s.

Sources

• McBride, I. The Paparua County. Canterbury Public Library 1990
• The Press (no date)