Tuatapere
Encyclopedia
Tuatapere is a small rural town in Southland, New Zealand (population 582 as of 2006 census). It is located eight kilometres from the southern coast. The Waiau River
flows through the town before reaching Te Waewae Bay
, where it has its outflow into Foveaux Strait
. The main local industries are forestry and farming.
Tuatapere has a logging museum and is located on the Southern Scenic Route
from Invercargill
to Te Anau
making it a well-travelled tourist stop. The Clifden Suspension Bridge
and Clifden War Memorial
are located near State Highway 96 outside of Tuatapere.
into the general population by the mid 20th century.
railway from Invercargill was opened to Tuatapere and it became known as the Tuatapere Branch
. On 20 October 1925, an extension was opened to Orawia, 14 kilometres to the north-east but the line continued to be known as the Tuatapere Branch and an engine depot
was established in the town. It was used as the base for most operations on the line and the branch was operated as essentially two sections, one from Invercargill to Tuatapere and one from Tuatapere to Orawia. Until 1968, steam locomotive
s ran all train
s to Tuatapere, but in June 1968, the line was dieselised
, resulting in the closure of the Tuatapere engine depot. On 1 October 1970, a lack of traffic meant the line was truncated to Tuatapere, and it was further cut on 30 July 1976 when the section between Riverton
and Tuatapere closed. Some relics from the railway have been preserved in Tuatapere, including structures in the station area such as the old station building and goods shed
.
which occurred on 15 July 2009, the largest in New Zealand since 1931. Despite the earthquake's huge force, little damage was sustained and no injuries were reported.
Waiau River, Southland
Waiau River is the largest river in the Southland Region of New Zealand. It is the outflow of Lake Te Anau, flowing from it into Lake Manapouri 10 kilometres to the south, and from there flows south for 70 kilometres before reaching the Foveaux Strait eight kilometres south of Tuatapere...
flows through the town before reaching Te Waewae Bay
Te Waewae Bay
Te Waewae Bay is the westernmost of three large bays lying on the Foveaux Strait coast of Southland, New Zealand, the others being Oreti Beach and Toetoes Bay...
, where it has its outflow into Foveaux Strait
Foveaux Strait
Foveaux Strait separates Stewart Island/Rakiura, New Zealand's third largest island, from the South Island. Three large bays, Te Waewae Bay, Oreti Beach and Toetoes Bay, sweep along the strait's northern coast, which also hosts Bluff township and harbour. Across the strait lie the Solander...
. The main local industries are forestry and farming.
Tuatapere has a logging museum and is located on the Southern Scenic Route
Southern Scenic Route
The Southern Scenic Route is a tourist highway in New Zealand linking Queenstown, Fiordland, Te Anau and the iconic Milford Road to Dunedin via, Riverton, Invercargill and The Catlins...
from Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
to Te Anau
Te Anau
Te Anau is a town in the South Island of New Zealand. It is on the eastern shore of Lake Te Anau in Fiordland. Lake Te Anau is the largest lake in the South Island and second only within New Zealand to Lake Taupo. The 2001 census recorded the town's population as 1,857...
making it a well-travelled tourist stop. The Clifden Suspension Bridge
Clifden Suspension Bridge
The Clifden Suspension Bridge is an historic suspension bridge near Clifden, New Zealand. Built in 1899, it spans the Waiau River and is 111.5 m long.The bridge has been accessible to pedestrians only since 1978...
and Clifden War Memorial
Clifden, New Zealand
The hamlet of Clifden, New Zealand is a small rural community on the Waiau River, Southland, New Zealand. It is notable for being the site of the Clifden Suspension Bridge and the Clifden Limestone Caves, well-known since early European settlers made it a "must see" place to visit.-Clifden war...
are located near State Highway 96 outside of Tuatapere.
First European Settlers
A group of Hungarians settled in Tuatapere, but were assimilatedCultural assimilation
Cultural assimilation is a socio-political response to demographic multi-ethnicity that supports or promotes the assimilation of ethnic minorities into the dominant culture. The term assimilation is often used with regard to immigrants and various ethnic groups who have settled in a new land. New...
into the general population by the mid 20th century.
Railway
On 1 October 1909, a branch lineBranch line
A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line...
railway from Invercargill was opened to Tuatapere and it became known as the Tuatapere Branch
Tuatapere Branch
The Tuatapere Branch, including the Orawia Branch, was a branch line railway in Southland, New Zealand. Although the Tuatapere and Orawia Branches look like a single line, operationally they were considered separate lines. The first section opened to Riverton in 1879 and reached Tuatapere three...
. On 20 October 1925, an extension was opened to Orawia, 14 kilometres to the north-east but the line continued to be known as the Tuatapere Branch and an engine depot
Motive power depot
Motive power depot, usually abbreviated to MPD, is a name given to places where locomotives are stored when not being used, and also repaired and maintained. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine sheds", or, for short, just sheds. Facilities are provided for refuelling and...
was established in the town. It was used as the base for most operations on the line and the branch was operated as essentially two sections, one from Invercargill to Tuatapere and one from Tuatapere to Orawia. Until 1968, steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s ran all train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
s to Tuatapere, but in June 1968, the line was dieselised
Dieselisation
Dieselisation or dieselization is a term generally used for the increasingly common use of diesel fuel in vehicles, as opposed to gasoline or steam engines.-Water Transport:...
, resulting in the closure of the Tuatapere engine depot. On 1 October 1970, a lack of traffic meant the line was truncated to Tuatapere, and it was further cut on 30 July 1976 when the section between Riverton
Riverton, New Zealand
Riverton or Aparima is a small town at the south of the South Island of New Zealand. It is in the Southland region and lies at the western end of Oreti Beach, 30 kilometres west of Invercargill on the Southern Scenic Route. It is approx. 45 km from Stewart Island and provides a safe harbour...
and Tuatapere closed. Some relics from the railway have been preserved in Tuatapere, including structures in the station area such as the old station building and goods shed
Goods shed
A goods shed is a railway building designed for storing goods before or after carriage in a train.A typical goods shed will have a track running through it to allow goods wagons to be unloaded under cover, although sometimes they were built alongside a track with possibly just a canopy over the door...
.
2009 Fiordland earthquake
Tuatapere was one of the closest settlements to the 7.8 magnitude earthquake2009 Fiordland earthquake
The 2009 Fiordland earthquake was a magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck the South Island of New Zealand at 9:22 pm on 15 July 2009. The earthquake was centred in the remote region of Fiordland, with the epicentre located west-north-west of Invercargill near Dusky Sound in Fiordland National...
which occurred on 15 July 2009, the largest in New Zealand since 1931. Despite the earthquake's huge force, little damage was sustained and no injuries were reported.