THE CARTER HOME FOR AGED MEN - 'CARTER                                                         HOME' 

                                                 Carter's Bequest

Probably Charles Rooking Carter's most generous and far-sighted bequest aligned with his well known liberal beliefs. he died in 1896 and in his will he left provision for the establishment of a home for, "a durable and substantial building to accommodate at least 20 inmates", The Carter Home for Aged Poor Men, the forerunner of Carter Court.  He bequeathed the land and funds to construct the home in Moreton Road on part of his Taratahi Plain South Run block and the income from the block helped to fund the running of the home, so that the residents could reside free of charge.

The design was by Wellington Architect William Crichton who was briefly in partnership Joseph Roe of Masterton.

                                          CARTER HOME IN ACTION

The Home was opened in 1900 and dedicated on 7 January 1901, five years after Carter's death. The single storied building resembled a large villa and included two large, well- ventilated dormitories, and a large dining and smoking room. The Master and Matron of the House were provided with a sitting room, bedrooms and an office.

It is said that between 7-10 residents resided here in the early years, though in 1901 the account book stated an expectation of 10-12.

Basic medical care was provided, but when a resident became chronically unwell they were often transferred to the Greytown Home for Incurables.

The Home had sufficient funds to employ the caretaker/manager and his wife, a cook and grounds-man/handyman. The staff developed a garden and the residents were encouraged to help in its cultivation. 

                                         Carter Home Residents

In those days many of the men had worked as labourers, so when they got old they had little or no savings and certainly no pension scheme to support them, and often, partly due to the nature of their former work, they had increasing ill health. One man had told of becoming a vagrant and was forced to resort to begging.

One of the residents kept a diary which has some interesting stories while living here from 1918-1925. Extracts from the diary can be found in Miles Fairburn's book on 38 years of diaries kept by James Cox, "Nearly out of Heart and Hope".

Due to the many societal changes occurring in New Zealand, and consequently falling numbers of residents, the Carter Home was closed in 1964. It was sold and was then used mainly as private residence. 

THIS DISPLAY WAS CREATED BY CARTERTON DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY

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We would like to thank the following people for their contribution and support:

• Nancy Blackman
• Elaine Brazendale
• Bernard Columbus
• Sally Fenwick
• Janice Loveday
• Faye Leveridge
• Jo McDonald
• And others too numerous to name

REFERENCES:

Bagnall, A G, A History of Carterton, The Carterton Borough Council, Carterton, 1953

Carter Court Archive, Carterton

Carterton District Historical Society sources

Carter Society Minute Book, 6/10/1959 to 27/7/1965

Doull, Kelvin, Carter Society History 1822 to 1993, Kelvin Doull, Carterton, 1993

Yerex, David, The Carter Legacy, Carter Society, Greytown, 2003