Springfield, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
Springfield is a small town in the Selwyn District
of Canterbury, in the South Island
, of New Zealand. In 2001 it had a population of 219. At the foot of the Southern Alps
, 65 kilometres (40.4 mi) west of Christchurch
, it is the most westerly town of the central Canterbury Plains
. Springfield has a long association with the Midland railway line
.
Springfield is situated in the foothills, less than an hour from the center of Christchurch on State Highway 73
(The Great Alpine Highway).
The town has a Gothic Revival architecture
church dedicated to Saint Peter
, designed by the architect Cyril Mountfort
. It was the birthplace of Rewi Alley
, notable for his work in China in the mid 20th century. There is an extensive memorial dedicated to him, located in a small reserve off the main road. It includes a large stone carving and a number of panels giving details of his life.
On 15 July 2007, a non-edible giant pink doughnut
was erected to promote the upcoming movie, The Simpsons Movie
. It was subsequently set alight and destroyed by an arsonist on 25 September 2009.
Selwyn District
The Selwyn District is a predominantly rural area in central Canterbury, on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is named after the Selwyn River, which is in turn named after Bishop George Selwyn, the first Anglican bishop of New Zealand who, in 1843 and 1844, travelled the length of...
of Canterbury, in the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
, of New Zealand. In 2001 it had a population of 219. At the foot of the Southern Alps
Southern Alps
The Southern Alps is a mountain range extending along much of the length of New Zealand's South Island, reaching its greatest elevations near the island's western side...
, 65 kilometres (40.4 mi) west 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...
, it is the most westerly town of the central Canterbury Plains
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...
. Springfield has a long association with the Midland railway line
Midland Line, New Zealand
The Midland line is a 212 km section of railway between Rolleston and Greymouth in the South Island of New Zealand. The line features five major bridges, five viaducts and 17 tunnels, the longest of which is the Otira tunnel.-Freight services:...
.
Springfield is situated in the foothills, less than an hour from the center of Christchurch on State Highway 73
New Zealand State Highway 73
State Highway 73 is a major east-west South Island State Highway in New Zealand connecting Christchurch on the east coast with Greymouth/Hokitika on the west coast via the Southern Alps...
(The Great Alpine Highway).
The town has a Gothic Revival architecture
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
church dedicated to Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
, designed by the architect Cyril Mountfort
Cyril Mountfort
Cyril Julian Mountfort was a New Zealand ecclesiastical architect. He was educated at Christ's College and then studied architecture under his father, the prominent New Zealand architect, Benjamin Mountfort....
. It was the birthplace of Rewi Alley
Rewi Alley
Rewi Alley, 路易•艾黎, Lùyì Àilí, QSO, , was a New Zealand-born writer, educator, social reformer, potter, and member of the Communist Party of China....
, notable for his work in China in the mid 20th century. There is an extensive memorial dedicated to him, located in a small reserve off the main road. It includes a large stone carving and a number of panels giving details of his life.
On 15 July 2007, a non-edible giant pink doughnut
Doughnut
A doughnut or donut is a fried dough food and is popular in many countries and prepared in various forms as a sweet snack that can be homemade or purchased in bakeries, supermarkets, food stalls, and franchised specialty outlets...
was erected to promote the upcoming movie, The Simpsons Movie
The Simpsons Movie
The Simpsons Movie is a 2007 American animated comedy film based on the animated television series The Simpsons. The film was directed by David Silverman, and stars the regular television cast of Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Tress...
. It was subsequently set alight and destroyed by an arsonist on 25 September 2009.