 Three buildings in the township remain from the time of its founding . In addition , there is the historic gatehouse some 2 @.@ 2 kilometres ( 1 @.@ 4 mi ) northwest of Barrhill . Those buildings remain partly because they were built in concrete , with some of the walls 30 centimetres ( 12 in ) thick . The cement was landed in barrels on Kaitorete Spit , barged across Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora , and then transported by dray overland and along the bed of the Rakaia River . All four buildings are registered as Category A ( " high value " ) heritage structures by Ashburton District Council . 
