Karamana (1872) Homestead

The Cadman Homestead

Exactly who commissioned the construction of the Cadman homestead seems to be uncertain. It is a fact however, that Jerome Cadman, who was a well known Auckland builder and contractor, moved to Coromandel sometime around 1870 but reference to the property in legal titles only makes reference to Jerome's son, Alfred Jerome, who went on to distinction as a Cabinet Minister in the Government of the Day.

Jerome Cadman was born in 1816 in Shropshire and emigrated to New South Wales, Australia in 1840 and on to New Zealand in 1848. He was identified with early Coromandel goldfields and owned a sawmill from 1855. Jerome Cadman moved to Auckland where he followed his trade as a builder and he was responsible for much of the construction of the Queen Street wharf. He was a member of the Auckland City Council in 1854-55. As a member of the Provincial Council, he represented the Northern Division from 1859-67 and represented Coromandel from 1870.

Jerome Cadman and his wife Anne(Hildyard) had five children born between 1839 and 1854, Tragically and a sign of the times, Jerome and Anne also had five other children all of whom died within two years.

Alfred Jerome was born in 1847 and married Fanny Bell in 1886. The couple had three children before Fanny died in 1892. Alfred followed in his fathers footsteps and completed a carpenters apprenticeship before moving to Coromandel in 1868 to work in the sawmilling business. Whether this was his own or his father's existing business is not known but some four years later when Jerome was 25, the building now known as Karamana (1872) Homestead was under construction.

The family lived in the building still situated on the property and now referred to as the Stables or Cottage, while the new homestead was being built. There is no definite information available as to the origins of the Stables, but it is believed to have been built around 1850 and has been added to since that date.

Alfred did well in the sawmilling business and rose rapidly to prominence in local politics becoming Chairman of the Tiki Road Board and of the Coromandel County Council.

By 1881 at the age of 33, Alfred was on his way and he was elected to represent Coromandel in Parliament that year and again in 1884 and 1887. In 1890 he was again returned to Parliament in the new Thames electorate and he was invited by Prime Minister Ballance to join Cabinet as Commissioner of Stamp Duties. He soon acquired the extra duties of Native Affairs and Justice. In 1893, Alfred became Minister of Mines and later Railways, but by 1896 he was beginning to show signs of ill health. He retired in 1898 but was called to the Legislative council in 1899 and was awarded the CMG in 1901. Alfred was promoted to KCMG in 1903 and was elected to Speaker of the Council in 1904. His continuing poor health prevented him from assuming his duties and Sir Alfred Jerome Cadman died on March 23, 1905. With Alfred, the Cadman association with Coromandel and the Cadman homestead ended after 33 years.

The record shows that the property was rented out for various terms in the years following by the Public Trustee before being sold to the Denize family in 1917. The Denize family were well known in the Whangapoua, Coromandel, Colville districts and were long term owners of the property before the homestead became the subject of a series of relatively short term ownerships. By the 1980's Karamana was falling in to a sad state of repair and badly needed both maintenance and restoration.

The present owner is committed to maintaining this Category 2 Historic building as an example of New Zealands Colonial Victorian heritage.
If you have any queries pleas telephone 866 7138 or email.

Karamana (Maori for "Person of Distinction") as the Cadman homestead is now known is one of the oldest buildings in the Coromandel which is available for public access. Although some additions and alterations have been made over the years, the building is essentially as it was when constructed as a homestead for the Cadman family.

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