Southbridge, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Southbridge is a small town with a population of 720 and approximately 260 houses, on the Canterbury Plains
in the South Island of New Zealand
. It is located 45 kilometres (28 mi) southwest of Christchurch
, between Leeston
, Dunsandel and the Rakaia River
. The town serves mainly as a centre for agricultural services, but also has nearly 70 small to medium sized businesses, a swimming pool, tennis courts, Southbridge Primary School
, and many other attractions.
On 13 July 1875, a branch line
railway was opened from Christchurch to Southbridge. Despite proposals to extend it further to Longbeach
and Waterton
, the line's terminus remained in Southbridge and it was thus known as the Southbridge Branch. Traffic was strong in the line's early decades; in 1914, two mixed train
s and a goods-only train ran each way daily. However, the line entered into decline after the late 1920s. Passenger services to Southbridge were cancelled on 14 April 1951, and the line closed entirely on 30 June 1962. Few remnants of the line remain, though locations of level crossings can be discerned.
Famous rugby first-five eighth Daniel Carter was born in Southbridge in 1982.
Canterbury Plains
The Canterbury Plains are an area in New Zealand centred to the south of the city of Christchurch in the Canterbury Region. Their northern extremes are at the foot of the Hundalee Hills in the Hurunui District, and in the south they merge into the plains of North Otago beyond the Waitaki...
in the South Island 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...
. It is located 45 kilometres (28 mi) southwest of Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, between Leeston
Leeston
Leeston is a small town on the Canterbury Plains in the South Island of New Zealand. It is located 40 kilometres southwest of Christchurch, between the shore of Lake Ellesmere and the mouth of the Rakaia River...
, Dunsandel and the Rakaia River
Rakaia River
The Rakaia River is in the Canterbury Plains in New Zealand's South Island. The Rakaia River is one of the largest braided rivers in New Zealand...
. The town serves mainly as a centre for agricultural services, but also has nearly 70 small to medium sized businesses, a swimming pool, tennis courts, Southbridge Primary School
Southbridge Primary School
Southbridge Primary School is a co-educational school based in Southbridge, New Zealand, for 5 to 11 year olds.The school is divided into seven to eight communities: Community 7 for year ones to Community 1 for year sixes, with Community eight for new entrants in terms three and four.- History...
, and many other attractions.
On 13 July 1875, a branch line
Branch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
railway was opened from Christchurch to Southbridge. Despite proposals to extend it further to Longbeach
Longbeach, New Zealand
Longbeach is a lowly populated locality in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located in a rural area of the Canterbury Plains on the shore of the Pacific Ocean on the northern side of the Hinds River's mouth....
and Waterton
Waterton, New Zealand
Waterton is a former town in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is still officially recognised as a locality.-Geography:...
, the line's terminus remained in Southbridge and it was thus known as the Southbridge Branch. Traffic was strong in the line's early decades; in 1914, two mixed train
Mixed train
A mixed train is a train that hauls both passenger and freight cars or wagons. In the early days of railways they were quite common, but by the 20th century they were largely confined to branch lines with little traffic. As the trains provided passengers with very slow service, mixed trains have...
s and a goods-only train ran each way daily. However, the line entered into decline after the late 1920s. Passenger services to Southbridge were cancelled on 14 April 1951, and the line closed entirely on 30 June 1962. Few remnants of the line remain, though locations of level crossings can be discerned.
Famous rugby first-five eighth Daniel Carter was born in Southbridge in 1982.
External links
- Southbridge at the Selwyn District Council