Pictured is Moness surrounded by trees in the bottom centre of the photo.
The story of Moness begins with Hugh Sinclair’s arrival in New Zealand in 1839. About nine years later, he purchased land in Wainuiomata and built two houses. One house was called Glenhill which was located at about 136 Hine Road and the other, Moness, which was located around 99 Hine Road to 121 Hine Road.
Moness is the second house that Hugh Sinclair built on this site. The first house, constructed too close to the river, was destroyed in a flood around the 1850s. This led to the construction of a second home on higher ground, which was named Moness. It was here that Hugh and his wife Agnes raised their four children, two sons and two daughters.
As Hugh became more established, he expanded his land holdings to 2,500 acres and set up a timber mill, employing around 50 workers.
Source: Prouse Sinclair Cemetery.
