One of the things I like about our region is the pockets of difference.
There are many places that, though they stay in close proximity, are somehow far from the mainstream existence nearby. Parallel to the Hutt Valley is Whiteman’s Valley, named for the Whiteman family who started farming there from 1871. Though just a ten minute drive overt the hill from the Hutt Valley, this place is almost a different country. There is a lot of rust-red corrugated iron and dry unpainted timber in the farm buildings.
Indeed some of the older dwellings are almost as quaint. This one at least is no longer inhabited. I met the former owner who had lived in the house for decades before building a new house further up the hill. Her description of the house definitely belonged to a different century.
On the road that crosses from the valley to Upper Hutt at Wallaceville, there is a set of farm buildings that are being slowly absorbed by the landscape. I have made pictures of it before but it has never seemed to have looked as frail as this, especially the middle building. You shouldn’t get the impression it is all hillbilly stuff over there. Many large expensive new houses exist, but they are less interesting.
From the same spot I looked over my shoulder and loved the tree I saw. It belonged in a Halloween setting, so I confess to adding a bit of “grunge” to heighten the illusion.
That’s all for now.
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