Longbeach, New Zealand

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Longbeach

Longbeach is a lowly populated locality in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. [1] 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.

Nearby settlements include Waterton and Eiffelton to the north, and on the other side of the Hinds River, Lowcliffe to the west. The small township of Hinds is to the northwest, while the nearest significantly sized town is Ashburton, further north.

There is a Longbeach School, though it is actually located in nearby Willowby rather than Longbeach. It was formed when three local schools amalgamated in 2000 and caters for students in grades 1 to 8. [2]

In the 1860s, there was a proposal to build the Main South Line railway between Christchurch and Dunedin on a coastal route that would have passed through Longbeach, but this was abandoned in favour of a more inland route through Ashburton that had easier river crossings. [3] However, Longbeach continued to lobby for a railway. In 1878, a proposal was made to extend the Southbridge Branch from Southbridge across the Rakaia River to Longbeach and Waterton. It was primarily intended to serve agricultural interests in the area. Although an appropriate location for a bridge was found, the government never acted on the proposal and it lapsed. [4]

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Hinds, New Zealand human settlement in New Zealand

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Lynnford human settlement in New Zealand

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Lowcliffe Locality in New Zealand

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Willowby, New Zealand human settlement in New Zealand

Willowby is a lightly populated locality in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is situated in Mid-Canterbury, south of Ashburton, the major town of the area. Other nearby settlements include Hinds and Lynnford to the southwest, Eiffelton to the south, and Huntingdon to the east.

Huntingdon, New Zealand human settlement in New Zealand

Huntingdon is a lightly populated locality in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is situated on the southern bank of the Ashburton River, south of Ashburton. Other nearby settlements include Willowby to the west, Wheatstone, Flemington, and Ashton to the south, and Wakanui to the east across the river.

Wheatstone, New Zealand human settlement in New Zealand

Wheatstone is a locality in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located on the Canterbury Plains south of Ashburton, on the banks of the Ashburton River. Other nearby settlements include Huntingdon to the north, Eiffelton and Flemington to the west, Ashton and Waterton to the south, and Riverside and Wakanui to the east on the opposite side of the Ashburton River. Wheatstone is slightly inland from the coastline of the Pacific Ocean.

Ashton, New Zealand human settlement in New Zealand

Ashton is a lightly populated locality in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand's South Island. It is situated on the Canterbury Plains south of Ashburton, on the Pacific Ocean coastline. It is on the southern side of the Ashburton River's mouth. Nearby settlements include Huntingdon and Wheatstone to the north, Waterton to the southwest, and across the Ashburton River, Riverside to the northeast.

Waterton, New Zealand human settlement in 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.

Flemington, Canterbury human settlement in New Zealand

Flemington is a lightly populated locality in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island.

References

  1. "Place name detail: Longbeach". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand . Retrieved 20 March 2007.
  2. Longbeach School, About Us Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine , accessed 20 March 2007
  3. Churchman, Geoffrey B; Hurst, Tony (2001) [1990, 1991]. The Railways of New Zealand: A Journey through History (Second ed.). Transpress New Zealand. p. 179. ISBN   0-908876-20-3.
  4. "Proposed Extension: The Proposed Extension of the Southbridge Branch Line", New Zealand's Southbridge Branch Line, accessed 13 November 2007.

Coordinates: 44°06′S171°42′E / 44.100°S 171.700°E / -44.100; 171.700