Culverden

Culverden is a small town in the northern Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. In the 2013 New Zealand census, the town had a usually resident population of 426.[2] Culverden has traditionally been surrounded by sheep farms. Dairy farms have now become more common as a result of irrigation schemes in the area. The Waiau Plains Irrigation Scheme was completed in 1980. It provides irrigation to 17,000 hectares of farmland and the Balmoral Scheme provides irrigation to a further 5500 hectares. The Rutherford Reserve and the Culverden Recreation Reserve are on the southern side of Culverden and the Culverden Golf Course in on the northern entrance to Culverden. There is a memorial in the Rutherford Reserve to Dr Charles Little who died in November 1918 from the Spanish Flu. He was the county doctor providing medical services from Waikari to Waiau.[3]

Culverden
town
Mountainview Road (New Zealand State Highway 7) in Culverden
Culverden
Coordinates: 42°46′S 172°51′E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionCanterbury
Territorial authorityHurunui District
Area
 • Total22.85 km2 (8.82 sq mi)
Elevation
179 m (587 ft)
Population
 (2013 census)[2]
 • Total426
 • Density19/km2 (48/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (New Zealand Standard Time)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (New Zealand Daylight Time)
Postcode
7392
Area code(s)03
Local iwiNgāi Tahu
Memorial to Dr Charles Little in Culverden

Local government

When provincial government was abolished in 1876, Culverden became the main centre for the newly established Amuri County. Counties were abolished in the 1989 local government reforms, and since then, Culverden has belonged to the Hurunui District.[4]

Transport

State Highway 7 passes through Culverden, forming the town's main street.

Culvenden was also once an important railway terminus, with the railway line extended from Medbury across the Hurunui River to Culverden on 8 February 1886. It was envisaged that this route would become the Main North Line to Nelson and Blenheim, but a coastal route via Parnassus and Kaikoura was chosen instead. Nonetheless, the branch line to Culverden was extended beyond the town to Waiau in 1919 and it became known as the Waiau Branch. At the line's peak, when it was considered to be part of the Main North Line, multiple trains ran daily between Culverden and Christchurch, including the Culverden Express and a number of slower mixed trains that carried both freight and passengers. However, regular passenger services were replaced by buses on 29 January 1939 and after becoming uneconomic, the railway through Culverden was closed entirely on 15 January 1978. Little now remains of the town's railway except a loading bank at the site of the old station.

Education

Amuri Area School is the sole school in Culverden, catering for Year 1 to 13 students (ages 5 to 18), with a roll of approximately 352 students.[5][6]

Notable Buildings

Amuri County Offices
Amuri County Office, Culverden

This was designed in a Georgian style. It was earthquake damaged and the Hurunui District Council was looking at repairing and strengthening the building.[7] It was for sale in October 2020.

Amuri Co-operating Church

The Amuri Co-operating Church, formerly Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church, Culverden, It has a stained glass window entitled "Christ the Shepherd and Sheep Farmer" It was designed by Beverley Shore Bennett and executed by Roy Miller in 1973.[8]

Amuri Co-operating Church

Mockett Motors

Mockett Motors is designed in a Art Deco style. The business has been present in Culverden for over 100 years, [9]

Mockett Motors, Built in an Art Deco Style.


Notable people

Cricketer Amy Satterthwaite (born 1986) grew up in Culverden.[10]

Sport

The Kaiwara Classic Mountain Bike Race starts in Culverden and Cheviot via the Kaiwara Road. [11][12]

References
  1. "2006 Census Meshblock Dataset". Archived from the original on 14 August 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  2. 2013 Census QuickStats about a place : Culverden
  3. "Dr Charles Little". my.christchurchcitylibraries.com. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  4. Wilson, John. "Canterbury places - Amuri district". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  5. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  6. "Amuri Area School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  7. "Hurunui Council applying for funding to fix historic trio of buildings". Stuff. 21 November 2017. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  8. "WS04 - Culverden - St Andrews Church". Capturing Light. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  9. "Mockett Motors (Culverden) - Petrol Station in Culverden, North Canterbury". www.challenge.net.nz. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  10. "Amy Satterthwaite". blackcaps. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  11. "Kaiwara Classic". Welcome to Cheviot, New Zealand!. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  12. "A day trip to Cheviot". Stuff. 17 April 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
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