Carterton, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Carterton is a small town in the Wellington Region
of New Zealand
and the seat of the Carterton District. It lies in a farming area of the Wairarapa
in New Zealand's North Island
. It is located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) southwest of Masterton
and 80 kilometres (49.7 mi) northeast of Wellington
. The town's population at the 2006 census was 4,122, with a further 2,976 living in the surrounding rural district.
Carterton was founded in 1857. Originally known as Three Mile Bush, and served as housing for workers building the road between Wellington
and Masterton. It was later renamed after Charles Rooking Carter
who was in charge of the building of the Black Bridge
over the Waiohine River
. The town describes itself as New Zealand's daffodil capital, holding a Daffodil Festival each year on the second Sunday in September.
Carterton was named after Charles Rooking Carter, 26 July 1859. He is buried at Clareville Carterton Cemetery. He died in Wellington, July 1896.
Carterton claimed to be the first place in the world with a transsexual mayor, Georgina Beyer
. Georgina went on to become the MP for Wairarapa.
Carterton was the birthplace of Sir Bob Charles
, the first left-handed golfer to win a Major, the British Open
in 1963.
Historic Carterton Railway Station
is located west of the town centre off Belvedere Road. The station building at the station is original, having been built when the railway opened in 1880, and has accepted passenger services ever since. It is currently leased from ONTRACK
by the Wairarapa Railway Restoration Society
.
The Carterton District library on Holloway Street is New Zealand's oldest purpose-built library that is still in use as a library today.
There are no secondary schools in the Carterton District, with the exception of the Christian school named above. The township straddles the boundary between Kuranui College
in Greytown
and Wairarapa and Makoura College
in Masterton for state secondary schools (distance-wise, the township is closer to Kuranui).
Carterton is served by State Highway 2
, the main highway between Wellington and Masterton. The highway runs the length of High Street.
Carterton is served by bus route 200, which connects Carterton with Masterton, Greytown, Featherston
and Martinborough
. The main bus stop is in Holloway Street, opposite the police station.
, and is served by the Wairarapa Connection operated by Tranz Metro
, connecting Carterton to Wellington. The train serves both Carterton Railway Station
and Matarawa Railway Station
southwest of the township.
Wellington Region
The Wellington region of New Zealand occupies the southern end of the North Island.-Governance:The official Wellington Region, as administered by the Wellington Regional Council covers the conurbation around the capital city, Wellington, and the cities of Lower Hutt, Porirua, and Upper Hutt, each...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and the seat of the Carterton District. It lies in a farming area of the Wairarapa
Wairarapa
Wairarapa is a geographical region of New Zealand. It occupies the south-eastern corner of the North Island, east of metropolitan Wellington and south-west of the Hawke's Bay region. It is lightly populated, having several rural service towns, with Masterton being the largest...
in New Zealand's North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
. It is located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) southwest of Masterton
Masterton
Masterton is a large town and local government district in the Wellington Region of New Zealand. It is the largest town in the Wairarapa, a region separated from Wellington by the Rimutaka ranges...
and 80 kilometres (49.7 mi) northeast of Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
. The town's population at the 2006 census was 4,122, with a further 2,976 living in the surrounding rural district.
Carterton was founded in 1857. Originally known as Three Mile Bush, and served as housing for workers building the road between Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
and Masterton. It was later renamed after Charles Rooking Carter
Charles Rooking Carter
Charles Rooking Carter was an New Zealand contractor, politician, and philanthropist from England.-Biography:Carter was born in Kendal, Westmorland, the son of a builder, John Carter. Carter lived in London from the age of 21 and through adult education classes at the Westminster Institution,...
who was in charge of the building of the Black Bridge
Black Bridge
Black Bridge is an independent 2007 drama/comedy film from Canada and was written and directed by Kevin Doherty. It was shot over the course of 2002 and 2003 with practically no budget...
over the Waiohine River
Waiohine River
The Waiohine River is a river of the Wellington Region of New Zealand's North Island. It flows generally south from its origins in the Tararua Range southeast of Levin, turning southeast once it reaches the plains to the north of Lake Wairarapa...
. The town describes itself as New Zealand's daffodil capital, holding a Daffodil Festival each year on the second Sunday in September.
Carterton was named after Charles Rooking Carter, 26 July 1859. He is buried at Clareville Carterton Cemetery. He died in Wellington, July 1896.
Carterton claimed to be the first place in the world with a transsexual mayor, Georgina Beyer
Georgina Beyer
Georgina Beyer was the world's first openly transsexual mayor, as well as the world's first openly transsexual Member of Parliament, and from 27 November 1999 until 14 February 2007 was an MP for the Labour Party in New Zealand.-Early life:Georgina Bertrand was born and assigned male at birth, and...
. Georgina went on to become the MP for Wairarapa.
Carterton was the birthplace of Sir Bob Charles
Bob Charles (golfer)
Sir Robert James Charles, ONZ, KNZM, CBE is a New Zealand professional golfer whose achievements over five decades rank him among the most successful left-handed golfers of all time, being the first lefty to win a golf major, winning more than 70 titles, and beating his age twice during a...
, the first left-handed golfer to win a Major, the British Open
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
in 1963.
Notable locations
Carterton's town clock is located on High Street next to the post office. The existing tower was put into operation in September 1962, replacing the original clock tower atop the post office that was damaged in the 1942 Wairarapa earthquake.Historic Carterton Railway Station
Carterton Railway Station
Carterton Railway Station, in the Wairarapa district of New Zealand, is a single platform railway station in the town of Carterton. It is located at the corner of Cnr Broadway, Davy and Wheatstone Streets, near the main shopping precinct on State Highway 2...
is located west of the town centre off Belvedere Road. The station building at the station is original, having been built when the railway opened in 1880, and has accepted passenger services ever since. It is currently leased from ONTRACK
OnTrack
OnTrack was a regional rail line that operated in Syracuse, New York from 1994 to 2007. During its operation, Syracuse was the smallest city in the United States to have regional train service. The line ran from Colvin Street on the city's south side via Syracuse University and Armory Square to the...
by the Wairarapa Railway Restoration Society
Wairarapa Railway Restoration Society
The Wairarapa Railway Restoration Society is a railway heritage and preservation community group in the town of Carterton, in the Wairarapa district of New Zealand's North Island...
.
The Carterton District library on Holloway Street is New Zealand's oldest purpose-built library that is still in use as a library today.
Education
Carterton has five primary schools; three in the township and two in the surrounding rural area, serving Years 1 to 8. Carterton District also has a Christian school serving Years 1 to 13; Ponatahi Christian School is located in the township itself.There are no secondary schools in the Carterton District, with the exception of the Christian school named above. The township straddles the boundary between Kuranui College
Kuranui College
Kuranui College is a state co-educational secondary school in Greytown, New Zealand. It is the only secondary school in the South Wairarapa District, and serves the towns of Greytown, Featherston, Martinborough, and the majority of Carterton....
in Greytown
Greytown, New Zealand
Greytown or Te Hupenui, population 2,001 , is a town in the Wellington region of New Zealand. It lies in the Wairarapa, in the lower North Island...
and Wairarapa and Makoura College
Makoura College
Located in Masterton, New Zealand, Makoura College is a state co-educational secondary school, founded in 1968.-History:Makoura College was established in 1968 to cope with an expanding youth population in the Masterton district...
in Masterton for state secondary schools (distance-wise, the township is closer to Kuranui).
Road
The main street through Carterton is High Street - split on either side of Holloway Street into High Street North and High Street South. Other main streets include Park Road, Belvedere Road, Brooklyn Road, Pembroke Street and Holloway Street (which all run approximately east-west) and Lincoln Road (which runs approximately north-south). Other notable streets include Costley Street, Kenwyn Drive and Frederick Street.Carterton is served by State Highway 2
New Zealand State Highway 2
State Highway 2 is one of New Zealand's eight national highways. With the exception of State Highway 1, which runs the length of both of the country's main islands, SH 2 is the longest highway in the North Island...
, the main highway between Wellington and Masterton. The highway runs the length of High Street.
Carterton is served by bus route 200, which connects Carterton with Masterton, Greytown, Featherston
Featherston
Featherston is a name of English origin, at least as old as the 12th century. The link with "Featherstone" is probably not traceable, but people researching both spellings contribute to the collection of pages in the website called "The Featherstone Society".The name is applied to people and...
and Martinborough
Martinborough
Martinborough is a town in South Wairarapa, a district in the Wellington region on the North Island of New Zealand. It is 65 kilometres east of Wellington and 35 kilometres south-west of Masterton...
. The main bus stop is in Holloway Street, opposite the police station.
Rail
Carterton lies on the Wairarapa LineWairarapa Line
The Wairarapa Line is a secondary railway line in the south-east of the North Island of New Zealand, connecting the capital city of Wellington with the Wairarapa region. The line ends at Woodville, where it joins the Palmerston North - Gisborne Line...
, and is served by the Wairarapa Connection operated by Tranz Metro
Tranz Metro
Tranz Metro, part of KiwiRail, is the operator of Metlink suburban trains owned by the Greater Wellington Regional Council in the Wellington Region of New Zealand....
, connecting Carterton to Wellington. The train serves both Carterton Railway Station
Carterton Railway Station
Carterton Railway Station, in the Wairarapa district of New Zealand, is a single platform railway station in the town of Carterton. It is located at the corner of Cnr Broadway, Davy and Wheatstone Streets, near the main shopping precinct on State Highway 2...
and Matarawa Railway Station
Matarawa Railway Station
Matarawa railway station is a single-platform railway station on the Wairarapa Line that serves the small rural community of Matarawa in the Wairarapa district of New Zealand...
southwest of the township.
See also
- Carterton Railway StationCarterton Railway StationCarterton Railway Station, in the Wairarapa district of New Zealand, is a single platform railway station in the town of Carterton. It is located at the corner of Cnr Broadway, Davy and Wheatstone Streets, near the main shopping precinct on State Highway 2...
- Matarawa Railway StationMatarawa Railway StationMatarawa railway station is a single-platform railway station on the Wairarapa Line that serves the small rural community of Matarawa in the Wairarapa district of New Zealand...
- WairarapaWairarapaWairarapa is a geographical region of New Zealand. It occupies the south-eastern corner of the North Island, east of metropolitan Wellington and south-west of the Hawke's Bay region. It is lightly populated, having several rural service towns, with Masterton being the largest...
- :Category:Mayors of Carterton, New Zealand