Halfway Bush
Encyclopedia
Halfway Bush is a suburb of the New Zealand
city of Dunedin
. It is located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the northwest of the city centre, close to the point at which Taieri Road becomes the winding rural Three Mile Hill Road. It was this road which gave the suburb its name, as this locality was halfway between the Taieri Plains
and central Dunedin in the early days of European settlement, when Three Mile Hill was the main route from Dunedin to the Otago
hinterland. This route was superseded by the route through the Caversham Valley in the 1860s.
The population was 1,893 in the 2006 Census
, a decrease of 36 from 2001.
Halfway Bush is the most inland of the suburbs which comprise Dunedin's main urban area, and is at an altitude of 280 metres (918.6 ft). For these reasons, it often receives harsher winter weather than much of the rest of the city. Whereas central Dunedin may only receive passing snow showers on average one or two days per year, snow will often settle on the streets of Halfway Bush for several days per year.
The suburb is connected to central Dunedin by Taieri Road, which runs through the suburb to the suburb of Wakari
to the southeast. From Wakari, the road rises to pass under the Roslyn Overbridge
before descending into the centre of the city as Stuart Street
. The smaller suburb of Helensburgh lies to the east of Halfway Bush, but the suburb is surrounded by rural land to the north and west. To the southwest lies Fraser's Gully, a scenic reserve, which separates Halfway Bush from the suburb of Brockville
. A popular alternative route to central Dunedin is via Maori Hill
and Drivers Road to George Street
.
Halfway Bush mainly consists of Taieri Road and a series of crescents which branch from it. Chief among these are Ashmore Street and Salmond Street, the latter of which connects with Wakari Road, a long, straight semi-rural road which links Taieri Road with Glenleith, 2.2 kilometres (1.4 mi) to the northwest, by way of Helensburgh and the forest plantations surrounding Ross Creek Reservoir
.
Prominent buildings in the Halfway Bush area include Halfway Bush School, the local primary school, and two health facilities - Wakari Hospital
, which is located at the eastern end of the suburb, and Ashburn Hall, a private psychiatric clinic, at the point where Taieri Road becomes Three Mile Hill Road, close to the suburb's western end.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
city of Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
. It is located 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the northwest of the city centre, close to the point at which Taieri Road becomes the winding rural Three Mile Hill Road. It was this road which gave the suburb its name, as this locality was halfway between the Taieri Plains
Taieri Plains
The Taieri Plains are an area of fertile agricultural land to the southwest of Dunedin, in Otago, New Zealand. The plains cover an area of some 300 square kilometres, with a maximum extent of 30 kilometres....
and central Dunedin in the early days of European settlement, when Three Mile Hill was the main route from Dunedin to the Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
hinterland. This route was superseded by the route through the Caversham Valley in the 1860s.
The population was 1,893 in the 2006 Census
New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings
The New Zealand government department Statistics New Zealand conducts a census of population and dwellings every five years. The census scheduled for 2011 was cancelled due to circumstances surrounding the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake, however, and legislation introduced to hold the next...
, a decrease of 36 from 2001.
Halfway Bush is the most inland of the suburbs which comprise Dunedin's main urban area, and is at an altitude of 280 metres (918.6 ft). For these reasons, it often receives harsher winter weather than much of the rest of the city. Whereas central Dunedin may only receive passing snow showers on average one or two days per year, snow will often settle on the streets of Halfway Bush for several days per year.
The suburb is connected to central Dunedin by Taieri Road, which runs through the suburb to the suburb of Wakari
Wakari
Wakari is a residential suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin. It is located to the northwest of the city centre, immediately to the west of the ridge which runs to the west of the city's centre. Wakari lies to the north of the upper reaches of the Kaikorai Valley, and is also north of the...
to the southeast. From Wakari, the road rises to pass under the Roslyn Overbridge
Roslyn Overbridge
The Roslyn Overbridge is a landmark in the New Zealand city of Dunedin. Located northwest of the city's centre , it allows for the passage of the arterial Upper Stuart Street under Highgate, the main suburban road which runs along the ridge of hills which surrounds the city centre.The bridge,...
before descending into the centre of the city as Stuart Street
Stuart Street, Dunedin
Stuart Street is one of the main streets of Dunedin, New Zealand. As with many of Dunedin's streets, it is named after a main street in Edinburgh, Scotland....
. The smaller suburb of Helensburgh lies to the east of Halfway Bush, but the suburb is surrounded by rural land to the north and west. To the southwest lies Fraser's Gully, a scenic reserve, which separates Halfway Bush from the suburb of Brockville
Brockville, New Zealand
Brockville is a residential suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin. It is located at the edge of the city's main urban area, to the northwest of the city centre, but separated from it by both a ridge of hills and the Kaikorai Valley....
. A popular alternative route to central Dunedin is via Maori Hill
Maori Hill
Maori Hill is a residential suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin. It is located at the northern end of the ridge which runs in a crescent around the central city's western edge, to the northwest of the city centre, immediately above and within the Town Belt...
and Drivers Road to George Street
George Street, Dunedin
George Street is the main street of Dunedin, the second largest city in the South Island of New Zealand. It runs for two and a half kilometres north-northeast from The Octagon in the city centre to the foot of Pine Hill. It is straight and undulates gently as it skirts the edge of the hills to its...
.
Halfway Bush mainly consists of Taieri Road and a series of crescents which branch from it. Chief among these are Ashmore Street and Salmond Street, the latter of which connects with Wakari Road, a long, straight semi-rural road which links Taieri Road with Glenleith, 2.2 kilometres (1.4 mi) to the northwest, by way of Helensburgh and the forest plantations surrounding Ross Creek Reservoir
Ross Creek Reservoir
The Ross Creek Reservoir is an artificial lake in Dunedin, New Zealand. One of the oldest artificial lakes in the country, and the oldest water supply reservoir still in use in the country, it was created in the 1860s to provide water for the city of Dunedin, at that time in the middle of rapid...
.
Prominent buildings in the Halfway Bush area include Halfway Bush School, the local primary school, and two health facilities - Wakari Hospital
Wakari Hospital
Wakari Hospital is a psychiatric hospital located in Dunedin, New Zealand.It is situated in the suburb of Wakari, about three kilometres north-west of the city centre...
, which is located at the eastern end of the suburb, and Ashburn Hall, a private psychiatric clinic, at the point where Taieri Road becomes Three Mile Hill Road, close to the suburb's western end.