Archibald Anderson was born at Stirling in Scotland in 1817. Following the death of his father he took ship for New Zealand, landing at Wellington in 1840 with his friend George Crawford and two servants. Archibald was a cabin class passenger and had purchased land in advance. Unfortunately his land was still to be surveyed so Archibald paid off his men and set up a store on a site near the present-day Wellington Railway Station. Seeking new opportunities to expand, he sailed for Otago on a reconnoitring mission in 1844. On his return he despatched a partner south in charge of 500 sheep and 40 head of cattle. When his partner subsequently debunked with profits from this enterprise, Archie decided to head to Otago himself and take over.
Archibald had married Hannah Miller in 1844 and the young couple were among the earliest settlers to live on the site of what would become Dunedin. By the time the Scottish pioneers arrived in 1848 Archibald was again operating a store, as well as running stock, and was well placed to profit from the growth of the town. In the early 1850s, however, he opted to head further south, taking up land at Inchclutha. He kept up his Dunedin interests for some time, also serving on the Provincial Council, including a brief period as its Speaker. Eventually, however, Archibald and Hannah built a substantial homestead at Inchclutha and became heavily involved in the development of South Otago.
No photograph survives of Hannah who died in 1860 giving birth to her tenth child. Poor Archibald would spend the next 51 years as a widower, farming and playing a leading role in community affairs. As his children and grandchildren proliferated around him, he became something of a patriarchal figure in South Otago. Stirling township was named in honour of his birthplace. He died in 1910 just short of his 93rd birthday, one of the grand old men of Otago’s pioneer period.
Mr Archibald Anderson