Lumsden, New Zealand

Lumsden

Lumsden is a town in Southland, New Zealand. Lying in a gap in the surrounding hills, it is the location of a major junction halfway along the north-south road from Queenstown to Invercargill, where it is crossed by the east-west road from Gore to Te Anau. The town had a population of 405 at the 2013 census.^[1]

History

Originally the district in general was known as The Elbow. When this name was given to the then new railway station, residents of Castlerock, then also known as The Elbow and on the opposite bank of the Oreti River, brought the matter to George Lumsden of the Otago Provincial Council. He referred that matter to the Railways Department who, in the absence of any other suggestion, chose the name Lumsden for the town.^[2]

Railways

Lumsden also used to be a major railway junction with lines departing to all four points of the compass. The Kingston Branch from Invercargill ran north-south through the town, while to the west was the Mossburn Branch and to the east was the Waimea Plains Railway that connected with the Main South Line in Gore. In 1971, most of the Waimea Plains Railway closed, but sixteen kilometres from Lumsden to Balfour remained open until 1978. In 1979, the line north to Kingston was closed after repairs to flood damage would not have been economic, and both the Mossburn Branch and the connection south to Invercargill closed in December 1982. The railway station is now preserved as a tourist information centre, but otherwise, little remains of the town's former prominent status in New Zealand's national rail network.

Amenities

Lumsden has both a primary and a secondary school (Northern Southland College).

Lumsden has a 4 square superette, cafe, post office, pub, dairy, veterinary centre and library.

Born in Lumsden

Cathy Baker (16 October 1957), New Zealand field hockey player
Bill English (30 December 1961), New Zealand politician

References

↑ http://www.stats.govt.nz/Census/2013-census/profile-and-summary-reports/quickstats-about-a-place.aspx?request_value=15117&parent_id=15113&tabname=
↑ Hamilton, G.A. History of Northern Southland. The Southland Times Company Ltd., Invercargill, 1952, reprinted 1971.

External links

Lumsden community website

Coordinates: 45°44′S 168°27′E / 45.733°S 168.450°E / -45.733; 168.450

Towns and communities in the Southland District territorial authority

Five Rivers Ward	Athol Castlerock Fairlight Five Rivers Garston Josephville Lowther Lumsden Mossburn Nokomai Parawa Saint Patricks

Riverton Ward	Colac Bay Gummies Bush Orepuki Pahia Riverton/Aparima Thornbury Waipango

Stewart Island Ward	Oban

Te Anau Ward	Cascade Creek Knobs Flat Manapouri Milford Sound Te Anau The Key

Te Tipua Ward	Brydone Edendale Glencoe Morton Mains Ota Creek Seaward Downs Te Tipua Waitane

Toetoes Ward	Curio Bay Fortification Fortrose Glenham Haldane Mokoreta Niagara Otara Pine Bush Pukewao Quarry Hills Redan Slope Point Titiroa Te Peka Tokanui Waipapa Point Waikawa Waimahaka Wyndham

Tuatapere Ward	Blackmount Clifden Merrivale Monowai Papatotara Piko Piko Pukemaori Te Tua Te Waewae Tuatapere

Waihopai Ward	Ashers Dacre Gorge Road Grove Bush Kapuka Kapuka South Longbush Mabel Bush Makarewa Mokotua Oteramika Rakahouka Rimu Roslyn Bush Timpanys Woodlands

Waikaia Ward	Ardlussa Balfour Kauhoe Riversdale Waikaia Wendon Wendonside

Wallace Ward	Drummond Fairfax Isla Bank Nightcaps Ohai Otahuti Otautau Wairio Wreys Bush

Wallacetown Ward	Branxholme Lochiel Ryal Bush Spar Bush Tussock Creek Waianiwa Wallacetown Waimatuku

Winton Ward	Benmore Browns Caroline Centre Bush Dipton Dipton West Hedgehope Kauana Lady Barkly Limehills Oreti Plains Otapiri South Hillend Springhills Winton

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