Staveley, New Zealand Explained

Staveley
Pushpin Map:New Zealand
Coordinates:-43.65°N 197°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:New Zealand
Subdivision Type1:Region
Subdivision Name1:Canterbury
Subdivision Type2:Territorial authority
Subdivision Name2:Ashburton District
Unit Pref:Metric
Population Density Km2:auto
Postal Code Type:Postcode
Postal Code:7771
Area Code Type:Area code
Area Code:03

Staveley is a small township in the Ashburton District, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Geography

Staveley is named for Robert Staveley, who was a runholder in the area and who had his farm in this location.[1] [2] Staveley is located on the Inland Scenic Route, which is the former State Highway 72.[3] Staveley is located on the Canterbury Plains, in the foothills of the Southern Alps. Adjacent localities are Bushside to the north-east, Springburn to the south-east, and Buccleuch to the south, all between 2and away.[4] Springburn was the terminus of the Mount Somers Branch from 1889 to 1957.[5]

Town facilities

In the centre of the township, there is a shop and cafe, an old school that now functions as a museum, a small church, a hall, and a small number of houses. The museum holds photos and artefacts of settlements in the vicinity of Mt Somers / Te Kiekie,[6] a peak of that is the backdrop to this part of the Canterbury Plains.[7]

Staveley Camp is located on Sawmill Road and is available to groups only. The facility is owned by the Mid Canterbury District Bible group, who purchased the site in 1959 and constructed buildings (bunk houses, a kitchen, and meeting rooms) in 1971.[8]

Attractions

In 1949, locals built a natural ice rink. On busy days, the facility has hundreds of visitors.[9]

Staveley has two historic lime kilns. The older one, believed to have been constructed prior to 1890, was damaged in the 2010 Canterbury earthquake and has since been closed. The other one was built in 1898 and can be visited by the public, with sign posts in Staveley giving directions to the site.[10]

Ross Cottage at 63 Flynns Road is a historic cottage. In 1990, it was registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (since renamed to Heritage New Zealand) as a Category II structure with registration number 5121.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Reed, A. W. . Alexander Wyclif Reed

    . Alexander Wyclif Reed . Place Names of New Zealand . 2010 . Raupo . Rosedale, North Shore . 9780143204107 . Peter Dowling . 374.

  2. Book: Acland, Leopold George Dyke . The Early Canterbury Runs: Containing the First, Second and Third (new) Series . 1946 . Whitcombe and Tombs Limited . Christchurch . 325–326 . 15 January 2016.
  3. Web site: Touring Routes . Experience Mid Canterbury . 15 January 2016.
  4. Web site: Harriss . Gavin . NZ Topo Map . NZ Topo Map . 15 January 2016.
  5. Web site: The Plains Vintage Railway & Historical Museum History . Ashburton Railway & Preservation Society . 15 January 2016.
  6. Web site: Staveley Historical and Geological Centre. NZMuseums. 15 January 2016.
  7. Web site: Mt Somers Track. . 15 January 2016.
  8. Web site: Staveley Camp Site . Staveley Campsite . 15 January 2016 . see 'Rates' and 'History' tabs.
  9. News: Sandys. Susan. Bumper crowd at Staveley Rink. 15 January 2016. Ashburton Guardian. 28 June 2015.
  10. Web site: Historic Staveley lime kilns . . 15 January 2016.