Swannanoa, New Zealand
Encyclopedia
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...
, New Zealand. The area has an estimated population of 1,000 with around 200 pupils enrolled in the primary school, established in 1873. The population of Swannanoa is slowly increasing due to new subdivisions being developed in Swannanoa and neighbouring Mandeville North.
One of the biggest attractions to Swannanoa is the school's Country Fair which is held every March. The 2009 fair was attended by over 15,000 people and raised $63,000.
NZ motorcycle speed record holder Russell Wright gained the World Land Speed Record at Swannanoa reaching 184.83 m.p.h. on a Vincent HRD motorcycle on 2 July 1955, on the Tram Road. A plaque has been built to commemorate the achievement. Tram Road, the main road through Swannanoa, is an almost dead-straight, ten-mile-long public two-lane highway. It has proven a popular location for speed trial events. This World Record is unusual as most that were officially recognised were achieved in the USA where presumably more financial incentives and space existed.
The name Swannanoa originated from American John Evans Brown
John Evans Brown
John Evans Brown was a 19th century Member of Parliament in New Zealand. Born in Pennsylvania, he came to New Zealand after spending time in Australia, where he was a farmer and US Consul. He farmed in Canterbury, where he was known as "Yankee" Brown. Three of his brothers in law, through his...
(Yankee Brown) who settled on land and named it after a North American Indian settlement from his homeland. The Swannanoa Homestead has for many years been farmed by the Petrie Family.
There is a subdivision on the corner of Tram Road and Two Chain Road called Swannanoa Fields, which is in close proximity to the school, a Methodist church, and cricket ground, where the fair is held.