Most people who stay on the Island use the ‘St Martin Lodge’, an expanded cottage with an interesting history!
1872 to 1925
The first part of the house was first built in 1872 for the keeper of quarantine, John Dougall, and his family, who had lived on the Island since 1863. This meant the Keeper’s family then had a house separate from the people in quarantine. Two of their children had died from illness related to Quarantine on the island so the separation was a definite improvement!
The house was a standard government four-roomed house with a lean-to kitchen, it was similar to the cottage by the Marine Studies Centre across the channel. It forms the middle of today’s Lodge- the two bunkrooms. It was originally lined with painted timber, but in 1883 the ‘Sitting room’ was wallpapered, using newspapers as backing. The newspaper and original newspaper can be seen in one bunkroom, up above the door.
Three generations of the Dougall family lived in this house for 61 years. John was Keeper from 1861. Initially with his young family in an older building, then from 1872 in this house. When he died in 1890, his wife Elizabeth took over, then son Will became keeper. John Dougall and three of his children (died at ages 5, 7, 24) are buried in the Island cemetery.
Will Dougall lived here with his wife Hester and daughters Bell and Madge. The family were moved out for a time when the Island was used by the army as a military hospital during the first world war (1915-1919).
1926 to 1958
At the end of the quarantine period (1925) the buildings were sold and the island was leased to Bob Miller. He enlarged the Lodge in 1926 with materials brought from the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition at Logan Park 1925-1926.
Miller added leadlight windows, a new kitchen, lounge, and verandas reusing materials from the Exhibition. Notable recycled features are leadlight Joinery windows from an exhibition of ‘Modern Joinery’ and the fijian kauri in the ‘captains cabin’ bedroom.
The kitchen was partially built and lined with materials from the old Quarantine station. A feature of the ‘new’ 1920s kitchen was the ‘Zealandia’ range. The range was proudly built in Dunedin by Barningham and Co at the foundry just off George St (the last part of the foundry building was demolished to make way for the Dental school in 2016). In its heyday Zealandia ranges rivalled Shacklock’s Orion (from South Dunedin).
Shacklocks later merged into Fisher and Paykel. Bob Miller brought over the ferry Waikana and used her for excursions until the early 1930s. The Oreti was brought over for salvage/recycling and to shore up the causeway. Both ships are just hulks now. He had grand ideas for the island , but in the Depression years of the 1930s, it was not maintained and deteriorated over the next few decades.
1958 to Today
We now have composting toilets to replace the old toilet that flushed into the sea. Dave Collett re-piled the front of the lounge and reset the windows.
Graeme Furness built new benches and shelves in the kitchen using recycled timber. Graeme Furness also planned the extension of the kitchen roof and replacement of the old storerooms to make the ‘Mud room’ .
Builder Matt King did this work with much help from volunteers. When Gordon Douglas was Keeper, he did much needed painting. Wool insulation was installed above the lounge and kitchen, and batts over other rooms.
Today the lodge provides a basic and comfortable place to meet and stay. It is owned (as are all the structures on the island) by the QI/KT Community.