homestead.jpg Photo: Mark PriceThe Cluden Homestead, near Tarras, has been destroyed by fire this evening. The fire quickly engulfed the two-storey, eight-bedroom house, giving volunteer firefighters no chance of saving it. The sole occupant, Lesley Purvis, was not home at the time. Son Ben, who lives nearby, told the Otago Daily Times his brother Sam was attending a ‘‘water meeting’’ in Tarras, saw the smoke about 5.30pm and raised the alarm. Ben Purvis said the family had been farming Cluden Station for five generations and many family memories were lost in the fire.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 16, 2016 08:05 UTC