DescriptionJohn Lomas was born in Derbyshire, England in 1836 to Mary Ayer and George Lomas. He worked as a farm labourer until he sailed from London to Lyttleton. He arrived in May 1860 with a pre-arranged labourer position on a Canterbury farm.
The goldrush of 1861 drew John south, and after spending time at Gabriel's Gully, he shifted to the Shotover.
In 1866 John purchased a store at Waipori near Lammerlaw Creek. Here, he combined storekeeping with goldmining.
On 3 February 1870 John married Elizabeth Atkinson. Elizabeth, the daughter of Richard Atkinson, was born in Portadown, County Amagh, Ireland in 1847. She immigrated to New Zealand with her father and her sister, Margaret, in 1864. John gifted Elizabeth a side saddle upon their marriage. The couple had eight children, however, four died as infants.
In March 1876 John purchased the Dunrobin Hotel. He served on the first Dunrobin school committee.
In March 1880 John applied for bankruptcy. In 1892, John was granted an Occupation Licence for 22 acres of land at Waipori at 1 shilling per acre.
John died on 17 April 1910 at the home of his daughter Margaret Gare, in Lawrence, after a long illness. His obituary described him as 'a fine type of the sturdy pioneer, a man of more than ordinary intelligence and scrupulously honourable in all his dealings and highly respected by all who had the privilege of his acquaintance.'
John is buried with his wife, Elizabeth, and their four infant children at the Waipori Cemetery.
This information comes from pages 191-192 of 'Gold Beneath Dark Waters | The People of Waipori,' by David Still.
