Gummies Bush is a typical 'bush' settlement that dotted Southland. Before the land was cleared of forest, most of Southland - 80% by some estimates - was covered in forest. Today very little forest remains however there are many places that are called Bush today.
Apparently "Gummies Bush … was named after whaler and later pig-farmer James Leader, nicknamed ‘Gummie’ because he had no teeth." (
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In 1901 there was a population of 24 and several substantial buildings -- "a co-operative dairy factory, a post office, public library, public school, and a small Presbyterian church" (
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This link provides an 1894 sketch of Gummies Bush (
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The New Zealand Geographic Placenames Database entry for Gummies Bush is here (
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