After their farewell, Willam. and Frances Rees moved on to manage a series of South Island sheep stations – at Benmore, then Otekaieke, Tekapo, and Galloway near Alexandra.

W.G. took up the position of Government Stock Inspector at Timaru, then further postings – to Greymouth, Ashburton, and finally Wellington – before his retirement in 1897.

William Gilbert Rees died in Wairau Hospital, Marlborough, on 31 October 1898. Frances lived on for a further 28 years – dying at Stoke in 1926.

Today, they are remembered most for the achievements of their eight meteoric years in Queenstown.

The Rees, Arrow, Dart and Shotover Rivers. Coronet, Cecil, and Walter Peaks, The Mounts – Nicholas, Alfred, Ben Lomond – Jack’s Point, Arthur’s Point, and Frankton (for Frances) are named by them, or after them and others who worked for them.

William and Frances have left an enduring mark on The Promised Land of Rees – the True South.

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