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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Canterbury Provincial District]

Old Colonists — Mr. John Gebbie,

Old Colonists.

Mr. John Gebbie, of Gebbie's Valley, was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1822, and came out to the Colony under the New Zealand Association in 1840, in the ship “Aurora.” After passing three years in Wellington he came to Riccarton in 1843. He settled at the head of Port Cooper, (now Lyttelton), in 1845, and leased land from the natives, as he could not get possession of, or a transfer for the land, which he had bought in London. He subsequently took up the valley, which came to be known by his name, and stocked the land with dairy cattle, the produce of which was sold chiefly in Wellington. Mr. Gebbie died in 1850, and the valley became the property of his second son, Mr. John Gebbie, who was born at Petone, Wellington, in 1840. He greatly improved the valley as a property. While doing this he also took an active part in public affairs, and was a member of the Akaroa County Council, and the road board, a director of the Saleyards Company, and chairman of the local school committee. In 1865 he married Miss Cryer, and when he died in 1888 he left a family of four sons and five daughters.