Waikoko – A Little Background Information

Waikoko. A little background info.

A garden that I was aware of since my early childhood so its not surprising that though my great grandfather died in 1932 – 5 yrs before I was born – he also has been quite a presence – a real part of my life.

He was William Nelson, known for establishing with 2 of his brothers – the Tomoana freezing works, helping to pioneer the freezing industry in N.Z. Also remembered in various street names such as Caroline Rd (his 2nd wife) Frederick St (brother) Nelson St & Nelson Park – Warwick Rd Coventry Rd an so on but to me – I always associated him with the gardens at his home – Waikoko.

We had at home a beautiful photograph of the lake with William & his 3rd wife seated to the side and two young women, Constance & Joceline my mother in the boat. Many many years later, I was to inherit most of the photographs you’ll see today from Constance, the eldest child of William’s eldest son, Harry.

Wm. Nelson was a huge prescence in the lives of his grandchildren and I imagine from family letters he was an adored and admired father. Ida writes of him picking violets and lilies of the valley to put on the coffin of his young daughter – weeping as he did so, thus giving a picture of a warm and affectionate relationship. He had nine children by his first wife Sarah and it was some time after her death [about a year] that he married his cousin Emma Caroline Williams and they moved to Waikoko.

Waikoko is said to mean calm water, but Guy Nelson, a grandson, disputed this translation saying that he grew up with the understanding that Koko translates as gurgle or rumble – anything but calm – more apt as describing the rushing bore that feeds the lake.