History of the Daffodils at Harts Black Horse Brewery

The daffodils on the north side of the brewery were first planted in 1895, sourced from as far as the Netherlands, with no expense spared. Prices as high as £100 were paid for a single bulb. This is astounding when you think that the average wage was less than £5 per week.

10 - 15 acres were planted with the help of the brewery workers. It is thought that a million bulbs were planted. Today they have cross-pollinated into uncounted varieties.

Following the Hart’s notable success cultivating daffodils, Alexander Wilson, rector of Otago Boys High School, gave a lecture in 1895 which resulted in aroused interest in daffodil propagation throughout the district.

The Tuapeka Horticultural Society carried out planting on the hillsides of the domain behind the town. This group was also responsible for holding Spring and Autumn shows where locals could exhibit their finest blooms. Three generations of Hart’s competed for honours.

J. J. Woods, also an acknowledged expert on daffodils, had a unique collection of over 300 varieties which included some rare specimens.

Keen competition thrived throughout the district on raising daffodils from seed, a process taking six years. One of Ben Hart’s creations selling for £5, a lot of money in those days.

CHARITIES

Renowned also for their philanthropy, the Hart’s historically picked the daffodils on the brewery site for charity.

The slopes of the brewery attracted people from far and wide, more than 1500 by road and rail in 1937. This enormous feat required 3 trains from Dunedin. School children would come to the site and pick the daffodils in aid of Dr Barnardos homes and Plunket.. These excursions ended in the late 1950’s.

During World War I, between thirty and forty thousand blooms were gathered and tied into bunches of 15 - 20 and sent to Dunedin by rail. This task, overseen by enthusiastic school teacher H. L. Darton, took about three hours and raised over £1000 for the Patriotic Fund.
We aim to continue this generosity once again selling the flowers for charity.