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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Tussock Creek

Tussock Creek.

Tussock Creek district is known also as South Forest Hill, and lies between North Forest Hill and Grove Bush, on both sides of the creek after which it is named, which is a tributary of the river Makarewa. The locality is to the eastward of the Invercargill-Kingston line of railway, and the nearest railway station is at Wilson's Crossing, about four miles distant from the post office. There is a school known as the South Forest Hill school. The post office receives, and despatches, mails on Tuesdays and Fridays in each week, and is six miles from Grove Bush, and three miles from South Forest Hill school. There are two sawmills in the district. A good deal of fine bush yet remains to be cut out, and the land is of good quality and mostly flat. Tussock Creek is in the Winton riding of the county of Southland, and in the electorate of Awarua. The population, at the census of 1901, was recorded for the South Forest Hill district as 138. Presbyterian church services are held once a fortnight at Tussock Creek.

The South Forest Hill Public School was opened in the eighties. It is a wood and iron building, and stands on a ten-acre section, part of which is covered by native bush. The classroom and porch have accommodation for thirty pupils, and in 1904 there were twenty-two names on the roll, and an average attendance of sixteen. There is a schoolhouse of four rooms on the property.

Miss Margaret Irwin , who has been in charge of the South Forest Hill School since 1901, was born at Hokonai. She was educated at the Bluff, and served as a pupil teacher at the Middle School, Invercargill, for two years, before receiving her present appointment.

Mr. James Fraser , sometime of South Forest Hill, Tussock Creek, was born in 1836, in Inverness, Scotland, where he was brought up to farming. He arrived at Port Chalmers by the ship “Storm Cloud,” in 1861, and worked for some time at Molyneaux, and afterwards on the diggings. About 1865, Mr Fraser took up 160 acres of land at South Forest Hill, where he erected his homestead and afterwards increased his holding to 240 acres. The property was originally in a rough condition, but has since been brought into a good state of cultivation. Mr Fraser was for some time a member of the South Forest Hill school committee. He was married, on the 16th of June, 1870, to a daughter of the late Mr Donald McConachie, of Argyleshire. Scotland, and at his death on the 11th of January, 1890, left two sons and four page 979 daughters. The property is now worked by his sons for the widow and family.