Biography

Richard Lean (1824-1906)

Richard Lean was born in Gwennap, Cornwall, England. His father worked as a miner in Redruth/Gwennap: the epicentre of copper and tin mining. He emigrated with his parents, Joseph and Grace and the rest of the family to Nairne, another mining centre, in South Australia. They arrived in Port Adelaide on the ship “Brightman” on 12 December 1840. Richard Lean was 16.

On 4 January 1844 he married Elizabeth Condie (born 1823, Stirling, Scotland) in the Church of Scotland, Pirie Street, Adelaide. Elizabeth and Richard Lean emigrated to New Zealand with their five children and Mrs Lean’s mother, Janet Condie 10 years later in 1854. They arrived in Port Chalmers on 3 July 1854 on the ship “Despatch”.

They lived in Sawyers Bay where a further three children were born until Richard Lean purchased a property from George Grey, the Governor of the Crown. He purchased 28 Acres, 30 Poles north of the harbour in the Blueskin district above Port Chalmers. This area was later known as ‘The Rocks’ and ‘Lean’s Rock’.

Here they cleared the land, built their home and introduced stock. After this, additional grants of lease could be obtained and the Lean family acquired another 100 Acres of land and an abattoir was established on the property. Meat was processed to supply the local domestic market. Richard’s sons John and Thomas had the occupations of butcher and slaughterman recorded on their death certificates.

Richards address at the time of his death in 1906 was Main Road, North East Valley, Dunedin. His occupation on his last will was recorded as a “Gentleman”. Although Richard had purchased a first class plot in the old Port Chalmers Cemetery, a number of other family members were buried there instead.

Stephen Lean (1855 – 1912) was the sole surviving son at the time of Richard’s death and was appointed an administrator of the estate together with a Dunedin Solicitor, Donald Reid Junior.

Others buried here: Richard’s son Stephen.