Balclutha, New Zealand

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Looking across the Clutha towards the town centre. The distinctive road bridge is visible in the centre of the picture

Balclutha

Balclutha is a town in Otago, it lies towards the end of the Clutha River on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is about halfway between Dunedin and Invercargill on the Main South Line railway, State Highway 1 and the Southern Scenic Route. Balclutha has a population of 4104 (2001 census), and is the largest town in South Otago.

A service town for the fertile farming region around the lower reaches of the Clutha River, it is also the nearest large centre to the Catlins, a scenic region of forest, wildlife, and rugged coastline.

[edit] Origins

Known locally as The Big River Town, Balclutha's name - and that of the river on which it stands - reflects the Scottish origin of the town's settlement, and translates from Scottish Gaelic as "Town on the Clyde". The Māori name for the area is Iwikatea, literally "Bleached bones".

[edit] Landmarks

The Clutha flows through the town. The Clutha is the largest river in New Zealand by volume of water, and the country's second longest after the Waikato. It provides the town with various recreational facilities, including fishing (brown trout), water skiing and power boating.

The most prominent structure in the town is the concrete road bridge across the river, which was built in 1938. The South Island Main Trunk Railway crosses the river some 800 metres downstream. Most of the town lies on the flat land which lies within a wide loop in the river to the south of the distinctive Balclutha Road Bridge, but North Balclutha perches on the hill to the north of the bridge and Rosebank on the hill to the South.

Government-funded educational facilities include:

• South Otago High School
• Balclutha Primary School
• Rosebank Primary School
• St. Joseph's Primary School

[edit] Natural history

There are a number of natural features in and near Balclutha. Nearby is Matai Falls, a natural waterfall and scenic feature.^[1] The Yellow-eyed Penguin also comes ashore for breeding in the Balclutha area at the edge of the Catlins.

[edit] Noted people from Balclutha

• Tony Brown, New Zealand rugby union footballer
• Ivor Endicott-Davies (b. c1950) - 6th dan in judo. Former New Zealand national champion and Australian national Masters champion^[2]
• Morgan Endicott-Davies - Judo Player
• Barbara Tilden (26 November 1955) New Zealand field hockey player

[edit] References

• Bette Flagler. 2005. Adventure guide: New Zealand, Hunter Publishing, Inc, 800 pages ISBN 1588434052

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Balclutha

• Reed, A.W. (2002) The Reed dictionary of New Zealand place names. Auckland: Reed Books. ISBN 0-790-00761-4.

[edit] Line notes

Coordinates: 46°14′S 169°45′E / 46.233°S 169.75°E / -46.233; 169.75