HistoryEdievale is located between Tapanui and Raes Junction. Goldminer John Edie took up a smallholding in the area in the 1860s in the vicinity of Dunrobin and Admore Stations. The population increased as more goldminers turned to the land following the end of the goldrush. Runholders were reluctant to subdivide to allow these miners to make a go of it. They attempted to restrict the financial viability of smallholdings by selling only even sections and retaining the odd sections. The theory was that the section owners would build cottages and wouldn’t be able to farm the remaining land instead having to work for the large runholders as cheap labour. This theory did not work out as the smallholders planted oats from which they initially made a profit. This did not last as the oat market down turned. Following this the smallholders, who usually had large families, were simply struggling to keep a roof over their head. Overtime these smallholdings were absorbed into larger farms. Today the Edievale area remains a farming area with Tapanui and Lawrence the main service centres.
