Bulls, New Zealand
| Bulls | |
|---|---|
| Minor urban area | |
  Bulls | |
| Coordinates: 40°10′S 175°23′E / 40.167°S 175.383°ECoordinates: 40°10′S 175°23′E / 40.167°S 175.383°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Manawatu-Wanganui |
| Territorial authority | Rangitikei District |
| Population (June 2015 estimate)[1] | |
| • Total | 1,630 |
| Postcode(s) | 4818 |
Bulls is a small town near Palmerston North on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is in a thriving farming area in the Rangitikei District at the junction of State Highways 1 and 3 about 160 kilometres north of Wellington. In the 2001 census it had a population of 1755.
The eastern end of the SH1 bridge over the Rangitikei River south-east of the town collapsed suddenly in 1973 while being crossed by a bus. No-one was killed and the collapsed part was rebuilt.
Many Air Force personnel from RNZAF Base Ohakea used to live in Bulls however in recent years a number of defence houses are being sold to civilian buyers which has seen a steady decline of serviceman from the area. Former Formula One racing driver Chris Amon was born in the region and until recently ran the Amon family farm in the nearby village of Scotts Ferry. Nowadays he lives in the lakeside town of Taupo.
The former Lake Alice Psychiatric hospital is 8 km north of Bulls, the hospital closed in 1999. Lake Alice was a large contributor to the Bulls and Marton economy.
Recent marketing makes puns with the name, for example "New Zealand gets its milk from Bulls" or the sign for the local police station "Const-a-bull".
The town's sister city is Cowes, England.[2]
The town is named after James Bull, who founded the town and owned the first general store there. The town was originally called Bull Town, but this was changed to Clifton and then renamed back to Bulls at the urging of Sir William Fox.[3]
Notable people
References
- ↑ "Subnational Population Estimates: At 30 June 2015 (provisional)". Statistics New Zealand. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015. For urban areas, "Infoshare; Group: Population Estimates - DPE; Table: Estimated Resident Population for Urban Areas, at 30 June (1996+) (Annual-Jun)". Statistics New Zealand. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
- ↑ Easther, Elisabeth (13 December 2013). "Kia ora: Bulls". The New Zealand Herald.
- ↑ Reed, A. W. (2002). The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names. Auckland: Reed Books. ISBN 0-7900-0761-4.
External links
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