During our drive from Dunedin to Wanaka two weeks ago, as we were approaching Alexandra, we made a detour up a dirt-and-gravel road to a site that The Pebbler had visited with his dad as a child and wanted to share with us, a house that a locally-famous stonemason had built with his brother. The Mitchells were Scottish immigrant gold miners 
and Andrew started it in the mid-1880s using stonemasonry techniques he had learned from his father in the Shetlands Islands, and it took him and John some 20 years 
to complete. John lived in the house and, with his wife Jessie, raised ten children there. The cottage and its grounds were purchased for a historic reserve in 1980 and were
restored to ensure preservation. It stands among large schist tors with a grand view over the Fruitlands Valley. The rainy weather seemed appropriate for this stark memorial.
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krikitarts 
Gorgeous captures!
Rather challenging conditions, but I do love a big softbox sky. I could have done without the spitting rain though, and I should have cleaned my lens between shots. Ah, well, it helps to remember the drama of the actual experience. Thanks, Cindy.
I agree with Cindy. Superb Captures. From your photos, the restoration looks like a great job. Could you go inside the dwelling?
Happily, yes, but none of the original furnishings were preserved. There was a mediocre table with a log for visitors, and the other cubicles were so dark that I didn’t try photographing them since I didn’t have a tripod. Actually, I can push my ISO up to 51,200, but I keep forgetting that, and I was more enchanted with the outside views.
My eyes were drawn to all those lichened boulders.
As were mine. I did a few studies of them and, thanks to your prompt, I’ll do a quick sequel to include one or two. Like minds, yet again.
Yes, you read my mind. I’d thought about adding a second sentence to my comment, noting that I’d have spent my time photographing details of the rocks.
Moody sky and patchy snow makes a perfect backdrop for this place and your photos look wonderful!
You are so right about the momentary meteorological mood serving to enhance the history–and the mystery–of this wonderful relic. I am certain that there are spirits there who could relate many memories for those who take the time to listen for them.
history and the mystery – I like that! just perfect!
;>)
What a wonderful place! :)
Thanks, Adrian. I know you’d love it, with your penchant for making time for the out-of-the-usual-path places and the memories they hold.
Yes, Gary, that’s it exactly – we think the same way, my friend! :)
Wonderful series!
Thanks, Belinda, it was so good to get afield again!
What a fab place; wonderful atmosphere. How lovely that you visited it.
It’s not very likely that I would ever have found this place on my own, and I have my son-in-law to thank for sharing his childhood memories with us. It’s so cool to have such a great relationship with all of the close family.
These places from the past are part of our history. I am so glad to hear that the area and the cottage have been preserved for future generations to see and to appreciate.
The restorers and caretakers have done an exemplary job, and their work helps a great deal to imagine how things were here in bygone days.
I think the weather added to the natural beauty of the place. Nice photos Gary.
I couldn’t agree more. I do have a secondary, waterproof camera, but didn’t quite have to resort to it. I don’t mind a few small squalls, so long as it’s not a roaring gale with a heavy downpour, and this was much more gentle than that. Glad you liked it, Scott.
The house is obvious, but are those outbuildings of some sort to the right? It looks as though there might have been a separate kitchen, or graineries, or some such. I’d love living in a place like that, but that might be the influence of my soddy-dwelling ancestors coming out (a Nebraska soddy, as a matter of fact).
The structures to the right, in the slight foreground, were for laundry, cleaning of the gold-panning efforts, and storage. There was also a separate structure down the slope for a toilet and more storage. As it happens, we paid an unforgettable visit to a sod house in southwestern Minnesota, and a quick search showed that I neglected to do a post about it. Must rectify that deficiency.
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These are some fine images of such an historic place. 10 children! It seems roomy enough for a couple but all those kids. Love those rocks.
I know–it’s so hard to imagine the obstacles they’d have had to overcome. And yes, those rock formations are, in my mind’s eye, the key factor that drew them to this desolate, formidably-challenging, and aesthetically-delightful site.