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Story: South Canterbury region

The Levels homestead

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The Levels homestead

In 1851 George Rhodes and his brothers William and Robert established the Levels, South Canterbury’s first pastoral run. George and his wife Elizabeth (seen here) built and lived in this two-roomed, 9- by 3-metre cottage. It had slab walls, a thatched roof, and a clay floor. The cottage was restored in 1951 and now stands on a private historic reserve.

Using this item

South Canterbury Museum

Reference: 1923

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How to cite this page

John Wilson, South Canterbury region – Early European history, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/11335/the-levels-homestead (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by John Wilson, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 February 2017.