Carterton, New Zealand
Carterton
Taratahi | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Motto: Daffodil capital | |
 Location of Carterton District within Wellington Region | |
| Country |  New Zealand |
| Region | Wellington |
| Territorial Authoritiy | Carterton District |
| Town founded | 1857 |
| Electorate | Wairarapa |
| Government | |
| • MP | John Hayes (National) |
| • Mayor | Ron Mark |
| Area | |
| • Territorial | 1,180 km2 (460 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 77 m (253 ft) |
| Population (2006 Census) | |
| • Territorial | 7,098 |
| • Density | 6.0/km2 (16/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 4,122 |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode(s) | 5713, 5743, 5791, 5792 |
| Area code | 06 |
| Website | www.cartertondc.govt.nz |
Carterton is a small town in the Wellington Region of New Zealand and the seat of the Carterton District. It lies in a farming area of the Wairarapa in New Zealand's North Island. It is located 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) southwest of Masterton and 80 kilometres (50 mi) northeast of Wellington. The town's population at the 2006 census was 4,122, with a further 2,976 living in the surrounding rural district.
Carterton was founded in 1857. Originally known as Three Mile Bush, and served as housing for workers building the road between Wellington and Masterton. It was later renamed after Charles Rooking Carter. The town describes itself as New Zealand's daffodil capital, holding a Daffodil Festival each year on the second Sunday in September.
Carterton was named after Charles Rooking Carter, 26th July 1859. He is buried at Clareville Carterton Cemetery. He died in Wellington, July 1896.
Carterton claimed to be the first place in the world with a transsexual mayor, Georgina Beyer. Georgina went on to become the MP for Wairarapa.
Carterton was the birthplace of Sir Bob Charles, the first left-handed golfer to win a Major, the British Open in 1963.
Notable locations
Carterton's town clock is located on High Street next to the post office. The existing tower was put into operation in September 1962, replacing the original clock tower atop the post office that was damaged in the 1942 Wairarapa earthquake.
Historic Carterton Railway Station is located west of the town centre off Belvedere Road. The station building at the station is original, having been built when the railway opened in 1880, and has accepted passenger services ever since. It is currently leased from ONTRACK by the Wairarapa Railway Restoration Society.
The Carterton District library on Holloway Street is New Zealand's oldest purpose-built library that is still in use as a library today.
Education
Carterton has five primary schools; three in the township and two in the surrounding rural area, serving Years 1 to 8. Carterton District also has a Christian school serving Years 1 to 13; Ponatahi Christian School is located in the township itself.
There are no secondary schools in the Carterton District, with the exception of the Christian school named above. The township straddles the boundary between Kuranui College in Greytown and Wairarapa and Makoura College in Masterton for state secondary schools (distance-wise, the township is closer to Kuranui).
Transport
Road
The main street through Carterton is High Street - split on either side of Holloway Street into High Street North and High Street South. Other main streets include Park Road, Belvedere Road, Brooklyn Road, Pembroke Street and Holloway Street (which all run approximately east-west) and Lincoln Road (which runs approximately north-south). Other notable streets include Costley Street, Kenwyn Drive and Frederick Street.
Carterton is served by State Highway 2, the main highway between Wellington and Masterton. The highway runs the length of High Street.
Carterton is served by bus route 200, which connects Carterton with Masterton, Greytown, Featherston and Martinborough. The main bus stop is in Holloway Street, opposite the police station.
Rail
Carterton lies on the Wairarapa Line, and is served by the Wairarapa Connection operated by Tranz Metro, connecting Carterton to Wellington. The train serves both Carterton Railway Station and Matarawa Railway Station southwest of the township.
See also
- Carterton Railway Station
- Matarawa Railway Station
- Wairarapa
- Category:Mayors of Carterton, New Zealand
External links
References
- Reed, A. W. (2002). The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names. Auckland: Reed Books. ISBN 0-7900-0761-4.
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