Emily Weddell Acland ( Harper, 1830 – 24 July 1905) was a pioneer settler in New Zealand and a watercolour artist. Her paintings of early

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon River / ...

are held in the collection of the

Christchurch Art Gallery The Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, commonly known as the Christchurch Art Gallery, is the public art gallery of the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. It has its own substantial art collection and also presents a programme of New ...

Biography

Acland was born in 1830, the eldest daughter of 15 children of her parents Henry Harper, who became Bishop of Christchurch, and Emily Harper (née Woolridge). The family arrived in Christchurch on 23 December 1856 on the ''Egmont.'' On 17 January 1860, she married politician John Acland at St Michael's Church in Christchurch. John Acland owned land in the Canterbury high country at

Mount Peel Mount Peel is a mountain located in South Canterbury, New Zealand. It consists of three peaks, Mount Peel (often referred to as Big Mt Peel), Middle Mt Peel () and Little Mt Peel/Huatekerekere (). Mt Peel is tall and is owned by the Department ...

, and the couple farmed there together. They had 11 children of whom two died in infancy. Acland became a keen mountaineer and the Emily Falls in

Peel Forest Peel Forest is a small community in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. It is located near the Peel Forest Park Scenic Reserve and about north of Geraldine. The town features a Cafe & Bar, a camping ground and an outdoor recreation facility. ...

are named after her. Acland also went on fern collecting expeditions. Acland died in Christchurch on 24 July 1905 after a short illness. She was survived by her three sons and five daughters.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Acland, Emily 1830 births 1905 deaths 19th-century New Zealand artists English emigrants to New Zealand Women watercolorists New Zealand watercolourists Harper family Emily