Menzies Ferry

Last updated
Menzies Ferry
Menzies Ferry
Coordinates: 46°21′S168°49′E / 46.350°S 168.817°E / -46.350; 168.817 Coordinates: 46°21′S168°49′E / 46.350°S 168.817°E / -46.350; 168.817
CountryNew Zealand
Region Southland
Territorial authority Southland District
Community boardWaihopai-Toetoe
Government
 • Territorial Authority Southland District Council
 • Regional council Southland Regional Council
Postcode(s)
9891, 9893

Menzies Ferry is a farming locality on the west side of the Mataura River in the east of Southland District, in the south of New Zealand. It gained its name from Dr. James Alexander Robertson Menzies, who supplied a boat to ferry passengers across the Mataura. [1] It was surveyed as a township in 1876. [2]

Surrounding communities are Edendale to the north-west, Wyndham to the north-east, Mataura Island to the south, and Seaward Downs to the south-west. The terrain of the locality is generally flat, with a measured elevation of 26 metres above sea level at the centre of the area. [3] There is no bridge across the Mataura here, the nearest bridges are upstream at Wyndham, and downstream on the road to Mataura Island. The main thoroughfare through Menzies Ferry, named Island Edendale Road, runs from the Edendale-Wyndham Road to the north, southwards to the Seaward Downs-Mataura Island Road just before the bridge.

There was a railway station named Menzies Ferry to the north on the Wyndham Branch, this closed to passengers in 1931, and to goods at or by the time the line closed in 1962. Edendale became the closest station for rail traffic thereafter. There was also a school [4] and dairy factory [5] in the centre of the locality. There still is a war memorial, which was erected in the school grounds, and unveiled on Anzac Day, 1922. [6]

In January 1911, two children and their father, who tried to rescue them, were burnt to death when their farmhouse caught fire during the early morning milking time. The mother, now without children and a husband, sold the property soon afterwards. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riverton / Aparima</span> Town in the South Island of New Zealand

Riverton / Aparima is a small town 30 kilometres (19 mi) west of Invercargill and located on the south-eastern shorelines of the Jacobs River Estuary. This is formed by the Aparima and Pourakino rivers, leading through a narrow outflow channel into Foveaux Strait. Accessible via State Highway 99 on the Southern Scenic Route, the main part of the town is on flat land and the northern end of Oreti Beach. South Riverton is built on the hills between the eastern shore of the estuary and Taramea Bay.

Mataura is a town in the Southland region of the South Island of New Zealand. Mataura has a meat processing plant, and until 2000 it was the site of a large pulp and paper mill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Catlins</span> Coastal region of the South Island of New Zealand

The Catlins comprises an area in the southeastern corner of the South Island of New Zealand. The area lies between Balclutha and Invercargill, straddling the boundary between the Otago and Southland regions. It includes the South Island's southernmost point, Slope Point.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wyndham, New Zealand</span> Town in Southland, New Zealand

Wyndham is a rural town of 579 people in the South Island of New Zealand in the Southland region, 45 km (28 mi) east of Invercargill and 25 km (15 mi) south of Gore. The original Māori name of the locality was Mokoreta.

The Tokanui Branch, also known as the Seaward Bush Branch, was a branch line railway located in Southland, New Zealand. It diverged from the Bluff Branch south of the main railway station in Invercargill and ran for 54 kilometres in a southeasterly direction. Construction began in 1883 and it operated until 1966.

The Wyndham Branch, also known as the Glenham Branch, was a branch line railway in Southland, New Zealand. The first section was opened in 1882 and it operated until 1962. Although its name would imply that it terminated in Wyndham, an extension to a terminus in Glenham operated for forty years. It was operated by the New Zealand Railways Department.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dacre, New Zealand</span>

Dacre is a small town in the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the Southland Plains between Invercargill and Edendale on State Highway 1. In Dacre, SH 1 is met by State Highway 98, which runs west to Makarewa via Rakahouka. Nearby villages include Mabel Bush to the northwest and Woodlands to the southeast. Dacre is 25 km north east of Invercargill, the closest city. The Main South Line railway passes just to the south of Dacre. It is a dairy farming community, that currently has a community hall and a small engine garage.

Edendale is a town in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. The township is situated on the Southland Plains just to the west of the Mataura River. Before the town was called Edendale, it was known by the names Maorirua, Mataura Plains and Stuart's Bush.

Woodlands is a small town in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island on the banks of the Waihopai River. It is northeast of Invercargill between Dacre and Longbush. Other nearby settlements are Rakahouka to the northwest and Rimu and Waituna to the south.

Titiroa is a locality in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. It is on the eastern bank of the lower Mataura River, inland from Toetoes Bay. Pine Bush is nearby to the northeast, and Waimahaka is to the southeast.

Gorge Road is a locality in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. It is on the Southern Scenic Route and is situated on the western bank of the Mataura River. Nearby settlements include Ashers to the west, and across the Mataura, Pine Bush and Titiroa to the east.

Kapuka is a locality in the Southland region of New Zealand's South Island. It is situated between Mokotua to the west and Ashers to the east on the Southern Scenic Route; Oteramika is to the north, and Kapuka South, Waituna Lagoon, and Toetoes Bay are to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southland Region</span> Region of New Zealand

Southland is New Zealand's southernmost region. It consists mainly of the southwestern portion of the South Island and Stewart Island/Rakiura. It includes Southland District, Gore District and the city of Invercargill. The region covers over 3.1 million hectares and spans over 3,400 km of coast.

Mataura Island is a farming community in Southland, New Zealand. It is located close to the east bank of the lower reaches of the Mataura River. Despite its name, it is no longer an island. Mataura Island is located some 40 kilometres (25 mi) east of the region's main city of Invercargill, and 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south of the town of Edendale, on the Awarua Plains and close to the western edge of The Catlins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brydone, Southland</span> Place in Southland, New Zealand

Brydone is a small farming locality in Southland, New Zealand, south west of Mataura. It was named after Thomas Brydone, the superintendent of Australia and New Zealand Land Company. He was the founder of the frozen meat and dairy industry in New Zealand and the dairy factory at Edendale, New Zealand, near Brydone, was established with his encouragement.

Ballance is a farming community in Tararua District and Manawatū-Whanganui region of New Zealand's North Island. The main settlement is located on the west back of the Mangahao River, south and west of Woodville and 11 km north-west of Pahiatua.

The Ensign is a regional newspaper based in Gore, New Zealand published on Wednesdays and Fridays by Allied Press Ltd. It was first published in 1878 as The Mataura Ensign and changed to its current name in 1973. The newspaper features coverage of local government, sports and recreation, arts and entertainment, education, farming and business news. It is currently distributed to approximately 12,000 homes over a circulation area that includes Gore and the surrounding area that stretches from Mandeville and Waikaka in the north to Mataura in the south.

Kaiwera is a rural settlement and community in Southland, New Zealand.

References

  1. ↑ New Zealand History: Menzies Ferry
  2. ↑ National Library, Township survey map
  3. ↑ Menzies Ferry: NZ Topo Map
  4. ↑ NZ Museums: school photograph
  5. ↑ NZ Museums: photograph of dairy factory workers
  6. ↑ eHive: War Memorial unveiling
  7. ↑ Southland Times: In Loving Memory
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.