Theodore Russell, an industrious early pioneer of the Upper Clutha, died too young. One wonders what he might have achieved if he had lived to a ripe age.

The following is an excerpt from the Upper Clutha Historical Records Society’s (UCHRS) quarterly newsletter (September 2020). Its author, and treasurer of the UCHRS, Ken Allan has graciously permitted the Wanaka App to republish excerpts from his original story.

Theodore Russell was born on 18 November 1843 in Hobart, Tasmania, to Henry and Sally (nee Powers) Russell. Theodore’s father Henry had been living in Auckland during its early days and had been managing sawmills in the Bay of Islands, but relocated to the goldfields of Dunolly in Victoria, Australia, where young Theodore was educated. 

Around 1862, Theodore sailed to New Zealand to explore the West Coast goldfields, where he met Elijah Charlton Hedditch (also known as Charles and later Captain Hedditch). They travelled together to Cardrona and thus begins their story in the upper Clutha.. 

Both men were among the principal owners of the Gin and Raspberry gold mining claim in the Cardrona Valley before they ventured into the timber milling trade, delivering timber, mainly from the Matukituki Valley, down the Clutha river to Cromwell. Alongside the milling operations they also built boats for transportation on the lake.

Theodore Russell PHOTO: UCHRS

In 1865, Theodore married Celia, one of Charles Hedditch’s sisters, and in a 10 year span between 1868 - 1878 they had six children, the last being born just after Theodore died.  

Tragically, their eldest son Theodore (junior) was accidentally killed when J B Ewing’s bullock cart ran over him. Apparently, the six-year-old had a habit of jumping up on the wagon pole between the beasts and it was thought he missed his footing. 

In 1867 Theodore acquired a 14 acre block of land overlooking Roys Bay, more or less where the current Wanaka Hotel is situated. In reality, he occupied the land as a squatter. He spent the rest of his life trying to obtain title or a lease to the property with a number of applications recorded and all declined. Approval was finally granted in 1878, not long after he died.

Theodore, in partnership with Charles Hedditch, built the first Wanaka hotel on this land, including stabling and paddocks. It was claimed to be the first building in Wanaka. 

Theodore Russell (snr), his wife and his first born son are buried together in the Wanaka Cemetery overlooking the western side of town. PHOTO: Wanaka App

Judging by the advertisements in the newspapers, it opened around November 1868 and while it was commonly reported in many publications that Theodore was the owner of the hotel from its inception until his death, the partnership between Theodore and Charles was dissolved less than two months after the hotel opened.

Instead, Charles Hedditch continued to operate the hotel for another couple of years in partnership with Thomas A. Russell, who was said to be Theodore’s cousin, but is more likely to have been Theodore’s younger brother, Thomas Augustus Russell.

But by March 1870, Theodore was advertising in local publications he was the sole proprietor of Wanaka’s hotel. What happened? Was there a falling out between Charles Hedditch and Thomas Russell? Did Theodore step in to settle matters?

It is noted that Theodore had built a 22 ton sailing boat Isabella in late 1869 and “shortly after” it was sold to Charles Hedditch, maybe as part of a settlement? Unfortunately for Charles Hedditch, the Isabella was wrecked in October 1870 at Damper Bay. 

Early on, Theodore had the foresight to see that Pembroke (as Wanaka was known back then) was a tourist attraction. The earliest advertisement found relating to tourism in Wanaka was placed by Theodore in the Dunstan Times newspaper on 18 December 1868 advising the attractions of the Wanaka Hotel and store on the edge of Roys Bay, including magnificent views of the lake, and splendid accommodation for visitors and boating parties.

That advertisement was carried more than eight years before the first families arrived in the area. 

Theodore was not a man to stand still and while still only in his late twenties, he and his wife Celia owned or leased a number of properties around Wanaka, including 160 acres in the Matukituki valley where he established a sawmill.

In the 1870s he raced the cutter Dart and a four-oared boat named the Makarora on Lake Wānaka, while participating in regattas, and also raced horses at the Albert Town racetrack.

He was secretary of the Racing Club; took the first mail which had arrived in Pembroke from the West Coast, via the Haast Pass, on down to Cromwell; and spoke on behalf of the Matukituki ratepayers at a meeting in Cardrona about separating from the Lake County. 

Theodore owned a company named Eureka Co. which included two ketchs, a jetty and land, a stonehouse and lumber, and he had contracts on hand for over 100,000 feet of timber to be rafted from Lake Wānaka to Cromwell.

He was also fined five pounds, plus court costs of nine shillings and sixpence, for permitting a raffle to be held at his hotel.

Theodore died on 14 November 1877 at Perriams, Lowburn, four days short of his 34th birthday. He had been on a trip to Cromwell and fell ill with enteric (a disease of the intestines), an ailment he apparently had suffered for quite some time. A doctor was called but was unable to save him. 

And so the Upper Clutha lost a very capable and valued citizen. His wife Celia, who was held in high-esteem in the Pembroke community, took over running the Wanaka hotel until she died in 1905. She was survived by four daughters and one son.

The surviving son, Theodore’s namesake, was also well known in the area. He owned Cattle Flat Station up the Matukituki valley before he sold up around 1914 and went to Oamaru where he purchased the well-known Alta Vady estate and other properties.

Theodore Russell (snr), his wife Celia and this first born son are all buried in the Wanaka Cemetery.