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Alexandra, New Zealand

Alexandra (Māori: Manuherikia[3][4] or Areketanara[5]) is a town in the Central Otago district of the South Island of New Zealand. It is on the banks of the Clutha River (at the confluence of the Manuherikia River), on State Highway 8, 188 kilometres (117 mi) by road from Dunedin and 33 kilometres (21 mi) south of Cromwell. The nearest towns to Alexandra via state highway 8 are Clyde seven kilometers to the northwest and Roxburgh forty kilometers to the south. State highway 85 also connects Alexandra to Omakau, Lauder, Oturehua, Ranfurly and on to Palmerston on the East Otago coast.

Alexandra
Manuherikia or Areketanara (Māori)
Skyline of Alexandra in May 2022
Coordinates: 45°14′57″S 169°22′47″E / 45.24917°S 169.37972°E / -45.24917; 169.37972Coordinates: 45°14′57″S 169°22′47″E / 45.24917°S 169.37972°E / -45.24917; 169.37972
CountryNew Zealand
RegionOtago
Territorial authorityCentral Otago District
WardVincent Ward
Government
 • Local authorityCentral Otago District Council
 • Regional councilOtago Regional Council
Area
 • Total9.76 km2 (3.77 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2022)[2]
 • Total6,090
 • Density620/km2 (1,600/sq mi)
Postcode
9320
Local iwiNgāi Tahu
Websitewww.alexandra.co.nz

The town of Alexandra is home to 6,090 people as of June 2022.[2]

History

The town was founded during the Central Otago goldrush in the 1860s, and was named after Alexandra of Denmark by John Aitken Connell who surveyed the town. In a two-month period in 1862, two gold miners called Horatio Hartley and Christopher Reilly collected 34 kilograms of gold from the Cromwell Gorge, Hartley and Reilly travelled together to New Zealand after meeting in the Californian gold rush. They initially worked in secret to obtain as much gold as they could along the Cromwell gorge. In order to obtain the government's reward on offer for gold discoveries, they made the site public.[6]

This made the Clutha river and its tributaries famous for their gold.[7] In a short time, 2000 miners had descended on Alexandra. Conditions were uninviting initially with a lack of food, equipment and wood.[6] Many of the early miners were Chinese of Cantonese origin with some suggesting Chinese made as many as 50% of the mining population.[6] During the goldrush days, a gold dredge named the Lady Molyneux captured 1234 ounces of gold in just one week.[7] Goldmining the Clutha was a dangerous occupation. In 1863, there were 37 men who drowned in the Clutha river or its tributaries. Of these, 12 could not be named.[8] In the 1870s, Chinese miners moved in to re-work claims that others had sold on.[9] By 1889, most of the easy to access gold had been mined and leases were sold for virtually nothing. At this stage, stone fruit orchards gradually took over the local economy.[9]

 
The old Post Office, Alexandra

When the river had run out of gold, the river banks were dredged. This was termed ‘paddock dredging’. This continued day and night between 1896 and 1924 and again between 1951 and 1963.[10] The noise was ever present and loud and it also produced significant quantities of dust which plagued Alexandra. If the dredging hit hard rock, it interrupted the power supply to Alexandra and the lights of the entire town dimmed.[7] The tailings from all the dredging now cover 170 hectares in a historic reserve known as the Earnscleugh Dredge Tailings.[7]

In 1878, the Clutha river flooded many towns including Clyde and Alexandra. The Manuherikia valley "resembled an inland sea".[11] As a result of this event, the Alexandra suspension bridge was constructed between 1879 and 1882 after the bridge at Clyde failed in the 1878 flood.[12] The Otago Central Railway line from Dunedin into Central Otago reached Alexandra in December 1906.[13][14]

Originally referred to as "Alexandra South" to distinguish it from a North Island town with the same name, the word "South" was dropped in 1867 after the North Island town was renamed to Pirongia.[15] It was known to miners of the day by several names: the "Lower Township", the "Junction Township", and "Manuherikia".[16] (The "Upper Township" was Dunstan, now Clyde.)

 
Alexandra Bank of New Zealand

Many orchards were destroyed in the 1980s as a result of construction, 10 km upriver, of the Clyde High Dam, which is the country's third largest hydroelectric power station. The railway line was closed after the completion of the Clyde Dam in 1990 and the lines were removed in 1990. In 2000, the Otago Central Rail Trail was opened allowing mountain bikers and walkers to traverse the rail corridor from Clyde through Alexandra and on to Middlemarch.[14]

Geography

 
The 1958 steel truss arch bridge carrying State Highway 8 across the Clutha River at Alexandra

The town is a popular holiday destination mainly due to the hot and sunny climate during summer. There are many accommodation options in Alexandra.

Alexandra has had two bridges crossing the Clutha River, the current one opening in 1958.

Climate

Alexandra experiences a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk), that if just 0.6 millimetres wetter, would qualify for an oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb). The district is one of the farthest from a coastline in New Zealand and experiences cold winters and even some light snowfall and warm summers relative to the rest of the country. Temperatures regularly drop below zero in winter and will rise above thirty degrees Celsius in the summer months. Alexandra, along with other areas of Central Otago, experiences a near continental climate with a high annual temperature range compared to the rest of New Zealand. The hottest temperature of the year averages 35 degrees Celsius, while the coldest averages -8 °C. In spite of its southerly latitude, it is known to be one of the warmest areas in New Zealand during summer. The hottest and coldest temperatures recorded in Alexandra (between 1971 and 2019) are 38.7 °C (102 °F) (recorded on 30 January 2018) and −11.2 °C (12 °F) respectively.[17][18]

Climate data for Alexandra (1981–2010)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 39
(102)
39
(102)
34
(93)
28
(82)
26
(79)
21
(70)
20
(68)
22
(72)
29
(84)
30
(86)
33
(91)
36
(97)
39
(102)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 33.4
(92.1)
33.3
(91.9)
30.5
(86.9)
25.4
(77.7)
21.1
(70.0)
17.6
(63.7)
17.4
(63.3)
19.2
(66.6)
23.9
(75.0)
27.1
(80.8)
29.6
(85.3)
33.1
(91.6)
35.3
(95.5)
Average high °C (°F) 25.1
(77.2)
24.8
(76.6)
22.3
(72.1)
18.0
(64.4)
13.6
(56.5)
8.8
(47.8)
8.1
(46.6)
12.5
(54.5)
16.4
(61.5)
19.0
(66.2)
21.1
(70.0)
23.3
(73.9)
17.7
(63.9)
Daily mean °C (°F) 18.0
(64.4)
17.4
(63.3)
14.9
(58.8)
10.9
(51.6)
7.6
(45.7)
3.6
(38.5)
2.9
(37.2)
6.0
(42.8)
9.3
(48.7)
11.7
(53.1)
14.0
(57.2)
16.3
(61.3)
11.0
(51.8)
Average low °C (°F) 10.8
(51.4)
10.1
(50.2)
7.3
(45.1)
3.8
(38.8)
1.5
(34.7)
−1.5
(29.3)
−2.4
(27.7)
−0.5
(31.1)
2.2
(36.0)
4.4
(39.9)
6.7
(44.1)
9.3
(48.7)
4.3
(39.7)
Mean minimum °C (°F) 3.1
(37.6)
3.4
(38.1)
0.5
(32.9)
−2.8
(27.0)
−5.3
(22.5)
−6.9
(19.6)
−7.8
(18.0)
−6.7
(19.9)
−4.4
(24.1)
−2.6
(27.3)
−0.4
(31.3)
2.6
(36.7)
−8.3
(17.1)
Record low °C (°F) 0
(32)
1
(34)
−2
(28)
−5
(23)
−11
(12)
−10
(14)
−12
(10)
−9
(16)
−7
(19)
−4
(25)
−3
(27)
0
(32)
−12
(10)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 50.1
(1.97)
32.8
(1.29)
29.0
(1.14)
22.0
(0.87)
27.4
(1.08)
31.6
(1.24)
24.2
(0.95)
17.6
(0.69)
20.9
(0.82)
28.7
(1.13)
30.6
(1.20)
44.5
(1.75)
359.4
(14.15)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 6.7 5.2 4.9 4.0 6.9 5.8 4.3 4.4 5.4 5.5 4.8 7.7 65.7
Average relative humidity (%) 70.1 77.5 80.0 84.5 86.8 89.1 89.3 85.1 74.5 72.7 67.8 69.0 78.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours 231.4 199.8 193.7 158.2 121.2 87.1 90.7 135.9 164.7 193.9 214.1 215.0 2,005.8
Source 1: NIWA Climate Data[19]
Source 2: CliFlo[20]

Demography

 
War Memorial on Tarbert Street in Alexandra, New Zealand

Alexandra's population was 1414 residents in 1951 and this had increased to 1823 residents in 1956 and then to 2292 residents in 1961.[21]

Alexandra is described by Statistics New Zealand as a small urban area, and covers 9.76 km2 (3.77 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 6,090 as of June 2022,[2] with a population density of 624 people per km2. It is the seventh-largest urban area in Otago, and the second-largest urban area in the Central Otago District behind Cromwell.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
20064,827—    
20134,803−0.07%
20185,472+2.64%
Source: [22]

Alexandra had a population of 5,472 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 669 people (13.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 645 people (13.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 2,331 households. There were 2,661 males and 2,811 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female, with 909 people (16.6%) aged under 15 years, 729 (13.3%) aged 15 to 29, 2,247 (41.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,590 (29.1%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 93.1% European/Pākehā, 9.8% Māori, 1.5% Pacific peoples, 2.5% Asian, and 1.4% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 12.3%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 51.8% had no religion, 38.4% were Christian, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 624 (13.7%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 1,083 (23.7%) people had no formal qualifications. 573 people (12.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,076 (45.5%) people were employed full-time, 810 (17.8%) were part-time, and 81 (1.8%) were unemployed.[22]

Individual statistical areas
Name Area (km2) Population Density (per km2) Households Median age Median income
Alexandra North 4.60 2,856 621 1,173 45.8 years $29,500[23]
Alexandra South 5.16 2,616 507 1,158 52.7 years $30,500[24]
New Zealand 37.4 years $31,800

Economy

Viticulture

Grape production is another major industry in the Central Otago Wine Region. The first plantings of grapes were in 1864. Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris are some of the varieties that are grown in the vicinity. Alexandra has a number of vineyards that potentially are the world's most southern. There are more than 25 vineyards in the vicinity of Alexandra. These include Three Miners Vineyard, Grasshopper Rock, Como Villa Estate, Rock'n'Pillar, Thyme Hill Vineyard, Leaning Rock Vineyard, Judge Rock, Immigrants Vineyard, Dunstan Road Wines, Alexandra Wine Company, Drumsara Wines, McArthur Ridge Vineyard and Perseverance Estate.[25][26][27] A cycling trail called Pedal for Pinot gives visitors the opportunity to cycle around the cellar doors and sample a variety of local wines.[28]

Horticulture

Alexandra is the service centre for a significant stone-fruit industry, which is celebrated by a blossom festival in the town each spring. The first orchards planted provided fruit for the mining community.[29] Now, nectarines, apricots, cherries, peaches, plums and apples are grown and sold for both New Zealand and export markets. Seasonal work picking fruit is available during the summer and many tourists and Pacific Islanders come to New Zealand to work in Alexandra.[30][31]

Pastoral farming

Sheep farming, particularly of merino sheep has occurred around Alexandra for many years.[32] One of the original sheep runs was Galloway Station. This was established by Watson and Alexander Shennan in 1858.The brothers, from Scotland imported various breeds of sheep. In particular they acquired 15 merino rams and 27 merino ewes in 1861 from the King of Prussia's Potsdam Stud, which cost the massive sum at that time of £2000. The Galloway Station was sub-divided in 1916.[33]

Airport

The Alexandra Aerodrome is Alexandra's only airport. SPANZ, NAC and Mount Cook Airlines were main users of the airport till the 1980s. It is home to the Central Otago Flying Club, and gliding. Commercial passenger flights are no longer scheduled; Queenstown International Airport is the nearest facility for those.

Education

Primary schools

The Terrace School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[34][35] with a roll of 331 as of November 2022.[36] It opened in 1965.[37]

Alexandra School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[38][39] with a roll of 192.[40] It opened in 1865, and became a district high school in 1912. After the opening of Dunstan High and The Terrace School, Alexandra School resumed its function solely as a primary school.[37]

St Gerard's School is a co-educational state-integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[41] with a roll of 132.[42] The school first opened in 1912.[43]

Secondary schools

Dunstan High School is a co-educational state secondary school for Year 9 to 13 students,[44][45] with a roll of 534 as of November 2022.[46] It opened in 1962.[37]

Events

Blossom festival

Alexandra is perhaps best known for the Alexandra Blossom Festival, an annual event that began in 1957. The Festival celebrates the advent of Spring in the Central Otago District as evidenced by the blooming of the fruit trees.

Great Easter bunny hunt

Sixty rabbits were introduced by the Acclimatisation Society of Otago in 1866 and it only took five years for them to get established and to start eating the pasture land bare.[47] They are prolific and a pest species around Alexandra. Each year at Easter, locals compete to shoot as many rabbits as possible to cull numbers. The event is run by the Alexandra Lions Club and it is also a great social occasion for the town. It has been run annually since the early 1990s.[48] The event was cancelled in 2018 to allow the Otago Regional Council's programme to introduce the rabbit virus RHDV1 K5.Unfortunately the virus did not have the desired impact on rabbit numbers that was expected and there are more rabbits around than ever.[49] Due to the dry conditions in 2019, the fire risk was deemed to be extreme and the event was cancelled.In 2020 it was again cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The bunny hunt took place in 2021 with over 10,000 rabbits shot. It was thought not to have a significant impact on the overall rabbit population around Alexandra.[50]

Amenities

Alexandra swimming pool

The Alexandra swimming pool complex is run by the Central Otago District Council. It was built in 2003 and replaced the previous swimming pool known as the Centennial Baths. The indoor complex includes a 25m lap pool, a learners' pool and a spa pool. An outdoor pool is also open during the summer months. The complex is located within Molyneux Park.[51]

Ice skating rink

An outdoor Olympic sized ice rink in Molyneux Park is run by the Alexandra Winter Sports Club. It is the largest one of its type in New Zealand. It was opened in 1993. It replaced the previous ice skating rink at the Manorburn Dam.[52][53]

Alexandra golf club

The Alexandra golf club was established in 1901. It moved to its present site alongside the Alexandra/Clyde highway in the mid-1960s and work started on the club house in 1970. Work occurred in 1974 redeveloping the layout of the 18 hole course.[54] The course is relatively flat with well irrigated tree lined fairways.[55] Rabbits were noted to be a problem at the golf course in 2019 and the golf club was in the process of exploring fencing options to keep the rabbits out.[56]

Molyneux park

Molyneux Park is located on state highway 8. It is home to the swimming pool complex, netball courts, a first class cricket venue, the ice skating rink, the Alexandra bowls club and the Alexandra toy library.

Central Stories museum and art gallery

 
Waterwheel at the Central Otago Art Gallery and Museum

The Alexandra Museum and Art Gallery is known as Central Stories. The museum focusses on local history, in particular, geology; early explorers; social history; gold mining; Chinese immigration during the gold mining years; stone fruit orchards, farming and viticulture.[57] It is located at 21 Centennial Avenue and is open Monday to Friday between 10am to 4pm and 11am to 2pm on weekends and public holidays.

Alexandra public library

The Alexandra Public Library is located at 42 Tarbet Street. It is open Monday to Friday and on Saturday mornings.[58] It has a wide selection of adult and children's books, magazines, local newspapers and DVDs. It has free Wifi and a programme of regular events.[59]

Pioneer park

Pioneer Park was established in the late 1860s. There is a playground and botanic gardens located within it. There are also three artificial grass tennis courts located within the park.[60]

Lower Manorburn dam

Located in the hills just outside of Alexandra, this large irrigation dam was built in the 1900s. It is a well known body of water for fishing, canoeing and swimming. In winter ice skating is popular when the dam freezes over.[60]

Mountain biking

A portion of the Otago Central Rail Trail runs through Alexandra. The "Mountain bikers of Alexandra" club are active in building trails in the local area. There are a number of mountain bike trails at Alexandra Airport, Boot Hill, Clyde Lookout and Flat Top Hill. The award-winning trails at Flat Top Hill have been built in partnership with the Department of Conservation.[61][62][63]

Alexandra clock

A large clock was built on Knobbies Range overlooking Alexandra in 1968. Initially, there was some opposition to the proposal. A full size mock-up was placed on the proposed site for six weeks. Local reaction was assessed and it was overwhelmingly supportive of the idea. It cost around $3000 to build the clock. This included the foundations, steel markers, electrics, painting etc. The Jaycees club put in many hours of volunteer labour to the project. The clock has a diameter of 11 metres. The minute hand is 5.6m in length including the counterweight and the hour hand is 4m in length including the counterweight. It is lit up at night by 150 light bulbs (upgraded to LEDs in 2006 from the original torch bulbs). The LED lights have subsequently been upgraded to colour LEDs in 2018. At Easter an illuminated cross is placed on the hillside nearby.[64][65][66] In April 2020, damage caused the clock to stop working. It appeared that "someone swung on the hands’’ of the clock causing the clock to stop at 8:34.[67]

Air pollution

Alexandra suffers from air pollution, typically in winter. The main cause of air pollution in Alexandra is from domestic heating appliances that burn solid fuels (e.g. wood and coal). Air pollution peaks during winter mornings and evenings. The results from a study show that sub-freezing temperatures and still wind conditions at 8 am or 9 am can be used to predict high levels of PM10 that evening.[68] Alexandra is one of the least windy towns in New Zealand. This, combined with its geography, being an inland basin, means that the smoke generated from domestic heating appliances stays sitting within the town environs. Daily PM10 concentrations regularly exceed the national guidelines from the month of May through to the month of August each year.[69] Between 2005 and 2017 winter concentrations of PM10s have decreased about 30%.[70] Despite this, Alexandra has "some of the worst winter air quality in the country".[71]

Pupils at Alexandra primary school were helping scientists at NIWA learn more about pollution in their town in a four-month project that will track where smoke comes from and where it goes over winter in 2018.[72]

Alexandra had three high pollution nights, where PM10 particulate levels exceeded the national environmental standards, in winter 2021. This increased in winter 2022 to a total of four nights.[73]

Notable buildings

Shaky bridge

The Shaky bridge crosses the Manuherikia river and links Kerry Street and Graveyard Gully Road. It was completed in 1879. Leslie Duncan MacGeorge (1854–1939) designed the 60 metre long bridge.[74] It was the only bridge crossing the Manuherikia river for twenty years. In 1906 a road and rail bridge was completed making the shaky bridge obsolete. It did not receive the required upkeep and earned its nickname of the "shaky bridge". The small suspension bridge with its stone towers was saved by the Pioneer Bridge Committee. The Committee raised funds to restore the bridge. Today it is promoted as a tourist attraction and is only open to pedestrians.[75][76]

Simmond's boarding house

Simmond's boarding house was built in 1882 and provided accommodation for over ninety years until it was converted into an office building in the 1970s. It was built by James SImmonds who also served as mayor of Alexandra.[77]

 
Simmond's Boarding House Alexandra, New Zealand

Bendigo hotel

The Bendigo Hotel was situated on the corner of Tabert & Rivers streets. The original Bendigo Hotel, was a wooden, single storied structure built in the 1860s. This original building was demolished in 1900. This was required by the Tuapeka Licensing Commission who stated that the building should be replaced, or the license revoked. The Bendigo Hotel was then rebuilt in 1900. The new hotel was a two storied brick structure. It contained 30 bedrooms and was of the standard of a first class city hotel at the time. Numerous alternations occurred to the building over the next 100 years. The Bendigo was flooded in December 1995 and again in November 1999. This led to the hotel being demolished and the construction of a floodbank in 2001 to protect Alexandra from flooding.[78]

Alexandra courthouse

 
The former Alexandra Courthouse

The old courthouse located in Alexandra's Centennial Avenue was opened on 16 June 1879, it housed both the Warden's and Magistrate's Courts. it was built of stone. As mining was the main industry at the time the Warden's Court was kept busy dealing with issues relating to mining. These included registration of claims and dealing with matters such as water races, business, licenses, roads, forgeries and other similar issues relating to mining. The Magistrate's Court dealt with general legal matters.[79] It was used as a courthouse until 1972. It is a Category 2 Historic Building. In 2006 the chimneys were renovated and it was repainted.[79][80][81] It now operates as a cafe.[82]

Vallance cottage

Vallance Cottage is a mud brick house built in 1896.[83] It was home to a family of eleven at one stage. It is a category 2 listed building with Heritage New Zealand.[84][85][86] In the 1970s, Vallance Cottage still had no running water inside and only cold running water in the separate wash-house.[87]

Mokomoko dryland sanctuary

In 2005, a group of Alexandra residents formed the Central Otago Ecological Trust. They aimed to reintroduce fauna that has been lost from the Alexandra basin. They established, in partnership with a number of other organizations, the Mokomoko Dryland Sanctuary. This lies near Alexandra in the hilly county. They established a 1.6 kilometre long predator proof fence which surrounds 14 hectares of land. This is now allowing native dryland vegetation to reestablish itself and a number of species of lizards and invertebrates to repopulate the sanctuary.[88]

In 2018, around 150 skinks and geckos were introduced to the Mokomoko Dryland Sanctuary. Lizards that are endemic to the area include the Otago skink which can grow up to 300mm in total length [89] and the grand skink.[90] Jewelled Geckos have also been introduced to the sanctuary. These were transferred from the Lammermoor Range.[91]

Media

Radio stations

Following Mediaworks corporate 2013 decision to move all Central Otago and Lakes District live broadcast activity to Queenstown, Alexandra was left without a local radio station until the creation of independently owned Classic Gold Central in September 2013 on Blossom Festival Weekend. Tramsmitting from a co-site with Radio Rhema in the Waikerikeri Valley on 91.9FM, the station, owned by longtime broadcasters Chris Diack and Bill Willis, has re-established the service of providing local information for the district. Classic Gold Central was re-branded as Local Radio Central sometime before 2018. On April 1, 2018, the station was purchased by new owners, who again re-branded the station as Radio Central. From the 1st of April 2018 Radio Central had transmitters located at Waikerikeri Valley (91.9), Cromwell (91.9), Roxburgh (94.3) and Wedderburn (104.3).

Independently owned radio station Blue Skies FM was established in 2001 to serve the local community, broadcasting to the Alexandra basin, Cromwell, the Maniototo, Teviot Valley and beyond. Blue Skies FM ceased broadcasting at the end of September '08 following a move by Mediaworks, who successfully negotiated a deal to take on the frequency to rebroadcast its Easy Listening Brand, The Breeze.[92]

Alexandra once had its own local More FM station with the studios based in Alexandra. Previously, the station was known as Radio Central. Central Otago's More FM broadcasts into Roxburgh, Clyde and Cromwell. Wānaka also has More FM, relayed from the Queenstown More FM station formerly known as Resort Radio. Central Otago's More FM is now networked from Studios in Queenstown.

Alexandra features a number of local FM stations that operate on the New Zealand Government's "low power FM" scheme, including Classic Gold on 107.3FM and XS80s on 106.7FM. These stations operate on short range covering the main township only.

Mayors

Alexandra is now administered by the Central Otago District Council, with the current mayor being Tim Cadogan.

Many streets in Alexandra are named after mayors of the former Alexandra Borough.[16]

1867–1897 1898–1940 1940–1989
Robert Finlay 1867–1870 and 1886–1889 James Kelman 1898–1899 and 1901–1903 Archibald McKellar 1940–1947
John Chapple 1871–1872 Henry Symes 1900–1901 Bert Fox 1947–1953
William Beresford 1872–1873 George Spencer 1903–1906 George Campbell 1953–1959
James Samson 1873–1878 Henry Schaumann 1906–1910 Keith Blackmore 1959–1980
James Rivers 1878–1879 and 1894–1896 J Gregg 1910–1911 Ross Close 1980–1986
George McDonald 1882–1884 Edward Marslin 1911–1915 Russell Poole 1986–1989
JE Thompson 1884–1886 Archibald Ashworth 1915–1917
William Theyers 1890–1892 and 1895–1896 William Black 1917–1927
James Simmonds 1880–1882, 1892–1894 and 1896–1897[93] William Bringans 1927–1940

Government

Alexandra is currently part of the Waitaki electorate which was held by Jacqui Dean in 2020 of the National Party.[94][95]

See also

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Subnational population estimates (RC, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2022 (2022 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2022. (regional councils); "Subnational population estimates (TA, SA2), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2022 (2022 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2022. (territorial authorities); "Subnational population estimates (urban rural), by age and sex, at 30 June 1996-2022 (2022 boundaries)". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2022. (urban areas)
  3. ^ The Cyclopedia of New Zealand: Alexandra
  4. ^ Teara 1966: Alexandra
  5. ^ "Place Names of New Zealand – Ingoa Wāhi o Aotearoa". Native Council. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
  6. ^ a b c "Alexandra, Central Otago District, Otago Region, New Zealand". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d "Lessons from the Wasteland". New Zealand Geographic. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  8. ^ Knight, Catherine (2016). New Zealand's Rivers An Environmental History. Christchurch, New Zealand: Canterbury University Press. p. 59.
  9. ^ a b "Conroys Gully, Alexandra, Central Otago District, Otago Region, New Zealand". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Alexandra & Immediate District Tour 2 Historic Sites VIEWING & WALKING" (PDF). 18 July 2003.
  11. ^ McLintock, A. H. (1966). "'Flood and Storm in Central Otago, 1878' in An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand". Te Ara. from the original on 28 May 2015. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  12. ^ Geoffrey Thornton, and Karen Astwood (29 November 2010). "Alexandra Bridge Piers and Towers" (PDF).
  13. ^ "Otago Central Rail Trail South Island NZ - History of the region - Off The Rails". www.offtherails.co.nz. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  14. ^ a b "History". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  15. ^ Teara – Encyclopedia of New Zealand: ALEXANDRA
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Sources
  • Reed, A.W. (2002) The Reed dictionary of New Zealand place names. Auckland: Reed Books. ISBN 0-790-00761-4.

External links

  Media related to Alexandra, New Zealand at Wikimedia Commons

  • Alexandra District Promotions website
  • Central Otago District Council
  • Alexandra Blossom Festival

alexandra, zealand, north, island, town, formerly, called, alexandra, pirongia, alexandra, māori, manuherikia, areketanara, town, central, otago, district, south, island, zealand, banks, clutha, river, confluence, manuherikia, river, state, highway, kilometres. For the North Island town formerly called Alexandra see Pirongia Alexandra Maori Manuherikia 3 4 or Areketanara 5 is a town in the Central Otago district of the South Island of New Zealand It is on the banks of the Clutha River at the confluence of the Manuherikia River on State Highway 8 188 kilometres 117 mi by road from Dunedin and 33 kilometres 21 mi south of Cromwell The nearest towns to Alexandra via state highway 8 are Clyde seven kilometers to the northwest and Roxburgh forty kilometers to the south State highway 85 also connects Alexandra to Omakau Lauder Oturehua Ranfurly and on to Palmerston on the East Otago coast Alexandra Manuherikia or Areketanara Maori Minor urban areaSkyline of Alexandra in May 2022Coordinates 45 14 57 S 169 22 47 E 45 24917 S 169 37972 E 45 24917 169 37972 Coordinates 45 14 57 S 169 22 47 E 45 24917 S 169 37972 E 45 24917 169 37972CountryNew ZealandRegionOtagoTerritorial authorityCentral Otago DistrictWardVincent WardGovernment Local authorityCentral Otago District Council Regional councilOtago Regional CouncilArea 1 Total9 76 km2 3 77 sq mi Population June 2022 2 Total6 090 Density620 km2 1 600 sq mi Postcode9320Local iwiNgai TahuWebsitewww wbr alexandra wbr co wbr nzThe town of Alexandra is home to 6 090 people as of June 2022 2 Contents 1 History 2 Geography 2 1 Climate 3 Demography 4 Economy 4 1 Viticulture 4 2 Horticulture 4 3 Pastoral farming 4 4 Airport 5 Education 5 1 Primary schools 5 2 Secondary schools 6 Events 6 1 Blossom festival 6 2 Great Easter bunny hunt 7 Amenities 7 1 Alexandra swimming pool 7 2 Ice skating rink 7 3 Alexandra golf club 7 4 Molyneux park 7 5 Central Stories museum and art gallery 7 6 Alexandra public library 7 7 Pioneer park 7 8 Lower Manorburn dam 7 9 Mountain biking 8 Alexandra clock 9 Air pollution 10 Notable buildings 10 1 Shaky bridge 10 2 Simmond s boarding house 10 3 Bendigo hotel 10 4 Alexandra courthouse 10 5 Vallance cottage 11 Mokomoko dryland sanctuary 12 Media 12 1 Radio stations 13 Mayors 14 Government 15 See also 16 References 17 External linksHistory EditThe town was founded during the Central Otago goldrush in the 1860s and was named after Alexandra of Denmark by John Aitken Connell who surveyed the town In a two month period in 1862 two gold miners called Horatio Hartley and Christopher Reilly collected 34 kilograms of gold from the Cromwell Gorge Hartley and Reilly travelled together to New Zealand after meeting in the Californian gold rush They initially worked in secret to obtain as much gold as they could along the Cromwell gorge In order to obtain the government s reward on offer for gold discoveries they made the site public 6 This made the Clutha river and its tributaries famous for their gold 7 In a short time 2000 miners had descended on Alexandra Conditions were uninviting initially with a lack of food equipment and wood 6 Many of the early miners were Chinese of Cantonese origin with some suggesting Chinese made as many as 50 of the mining population 6 During the goldrush days a gold dredge named the Lady Molyneux captured 1234 ounces of gold in just one week 7 Goldmining the Clutha was a dangerous occupation In 1863 there were 37 men who drowned in the Clutha river or its tributaries Of these 12 could not be named 8 In the 1870s Chinese miners moved in to re work claims that others had sold on 9 By 1889 most of the easy to access gold had been mined and leases were sold for virtually nothing At this stage stone fruit orchards gradually took over the local economy 9 The old Post Office AlexandraWhen the river had run out of gold the river banks were dredged This was termed paddock dredging This continued day and night between 1896 and 1924 and again between 1951 and 1963 10 The noise was ever present and loud and it also produced significant quantities of dust which plagued Alexandra If the dredging hit hard rock it interrupted the power supply to Alexandra and the lights of the entire town dimmed 7 The tailings from all the dredging now cover 170 hectares in a historic reserve known as the Earnscleugh Dredge Tailings 7 In 1878 the Clutha river flooded many towns including Clyde and Alexandra The Manuherikia valley resembled an inland sea 11 As a result of this event the Alexandra suspension bridge was constructed between 1879 and 1882 after the bridge at Clyde failed in the 1878 flood 12 The Otago Central Railway line from Dunedin into Central Otago reached Alexandra in December 1906 13 14 Originally referred to as Alexandra South to distinguish it from a North Island town with the same name the word South was dropped in 1867 after the North Island town was renamed to Pirongia 15 It was known to miners of the day by several names the Lower Township the Junction Township and Manuherikia 16 The Upper Township was Dunstan now Clyde Alexandra Bank of New Zealand Many orchards were destroyed in the 1980s as a result of construction 10 km upriver of the Clyde High Dam which is the country s third largest hydroelectric power station The railway line was closed after the completion of the Clyde Dam in 1990 and the lines were removed in 1990 In 2000 the Otago Central Rail Trail was opened allowing mountain bikers and walkers to traverse the rail corridor from Clyde through Alexandra and on to Middlemarch 14 Geography Edit The 1958 steel truss arch bridge carrying State Highway 8 across the Clutha River at AlexandraThe town is a popular holiday destination mainly due to the hot and sunny climate during summer There are many accommodation options in Alexandra Alexandra has had two bridges crossing the Clutha River the current one opening in 1958 Climate Edit Alexandra experiences a semi arid climate Koppen climate classification BSk that if just 0 6 millimetres wetter would qualify for an oceanic climate Koppen climate classification Cfb The district is one of the farthest from a coastline in New Zealand and experiences cold winters and even some light snowfall and warm summers relative to the rest of the country Temperatures regularly drop below zero in winter and will rise above thirty degrees Celsius in the summer months Alexandra along with other areas of Central Otago experiences a near continental climate with a high annual temperature range compared to the rest of New Zealand The hottest temperature of the year averages 35 degrees Celsius while the coldest averages 8 C In spite of its southerly latitude it is known to be one of the warmest areas in New Zealand during summer The hottest and coldest temperatures recorded in Alexandra between 1971 and 2019 are 38 7 C 102 F recorded on 30 January 2018 and 11 2 C 12 F respectively 17 18 Climate data for Alexandra 1981 2010 Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high C F 39 102 39 102 34 93 28 82 26 79 21 70 20 68 22 72 29 84 30 86 33 91 36 97 39 102 Mean maximum C F 33 4 92 1 33 3 91 9 30 5 86 9 25 4 77 7 21 1 70 0 17 6 63 7 17 4 63 3 19 2 66 6 23 9 75 0 27 1 80 8 29 6 85 3 33 1 91 6 35 3 95 5 Average high C F 25 1 77 2 24 8 76 6 22 3 72 1 18 0 64 4 13 6 56 5 8 8 47 8 8 1 46 6 12 5 54 5 16 4 61 5 19 0 66 2 21 1 70 0 23 3 73 9 17 7 63 9 Daily mean C F 18 0 64 4 17 4 63 3 14 9 58 8 10 9 51 6 7 6 45 7 3 6 38 5 2 9 37 2 6 0 42 8 9 3 48 7 11 7 53 1 14 0 57 2 16 3 61 3 11 0 51 8 Average low C F 10 8 51 4 10 1 50 2 7 3 45 1 3 8 38 8 1 5 34 7 1 5 29 3 2 4 27 7 0 5 31 1 2 2 36 0 4 4 39 9 6 7 44 1 9 3 48 7 4 3 39 7 Mean minimum C F 3 1 37 6 3 4 38 1 0 5 32 9 2 8 27 0 5 3 22 5 6 9 19 6 7 8 18 0 6 7 19 9 4 4 24 1 2 6 27 3 0 4 31 3 2 6 36 7 8 3 17 1 Record low C F 0 32 1 34 2 28 5 23 11 12 10 14 12 10 9 16 7 19 4 25 3 27 0 32 12 10 Average precipitation mm inches 50 1 1 97 32 8 1 29 29 0 1 14 22 0 0 87 27 4 1 08 31 6 1 24 24 2 0 95 17 6 0 69 20 9 0 82 28 7 1 13 30 6 1 20 44 5 1 75 359 4 14 15 Average precipitation days 1 0 mm 6 7 5 2 4 9 4 0 6 9 5 8 4 3 4 4 5 4 5 5 4 8 7 7 65 7Average relative humidity 70 1 77 5 80 0 84 5 86 8 89 1 89 3 85 1 74 5 72 7 67 8 69 0 78 9Mean monthly sunshine hours 231 4 199 8 193 7 158 2 121 2 87 1 90 7 135 9 164 7 193 9 214 1 215 0 2 005 8Source 1 NIWA Climate Data 19 Source 2 CliFlo 20 Demography Edit War Memorial on Tarbert Street in Alexandra New Zealand Alexandra s population was 1414 residents in 1951 and this had increased to 1823 residents in 1956 and then to 2292 residents in 1961 21 Alexandra is described by Statistics New Zealand as a small urban area and covers 9 76 km2 3 77 sq mi 1 It had an estimated population of 6 090 as of June 2022 2 with a population density of 624 people per km2 It is the seventh largest urban area in Otago and the second largest urban area in the Central Otago District behind Cromwell Historical populationYearPop p a 20064 827 20134 803 0 07 20185 472 2 64 Source 22 Alexandra had a population of 5 472 at the 2018 New Zealand census an increase of 669 people 13 9 since the 2013 census and an increase of 645 people 13 4 since the 2006 census There were 2 331 households There were 2 661 males and 2 811 females giving a sex ratio of 0 95 males per female with 909 people 16 6 aged under 15 years 729 13 3 aged 15 to 29 2 247 41 1 aged 30 to 64 and 1 590 29 1 aged 65 or older Ethnicities were 93 1 European Pakeha 9 8 Maori 1 5 Pacific peoples 2 5 Asian and 1 4 other ethnicities totals add to more than 100 since people could identify with multiple ethnicities The proportion of people born overseas was 12 3 compared with 27 1 nationally Although some people objected to giving their religion 51 8 had no religion 38 4 were Christian 0 4 were Hindu 0 2 were Muslim 0 2 were Buddhist and 1 8 had other religions Of those at least 15 years old 624 13 7 people had a bachelor or higher degree and 1 083 23 7 people had no formal qualifications 573 people 12 6 earned over 70 000 compared to 17 2 nationally The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2 076 45 5 people were employed full time 810 17 8 were part time and 81 1 8 were unemployed 22 Individual statistical areas Name Area km2 Population Density per km2 Households Median age Median incomeAlexandra North 4 60 2 856 621 1 173 45 8 years 29 500 23 Alexandra South 5 16 2 616 507 1 158 52 7 years 30 500 24 New Zealand 37 4 years 31 800Economy EditViticulture Edit Grape production is another major industry in the Central Otago Wine Region The first plantings of grapes were in 1864 Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris are some of the varieties that are grown in the vicinity Alexandra has a number of vineyards that potentially are the world s most southern There are more than 25 vineyards in the vicinity of Alexandra These include Three Miners Vineyard Grasshopper Rock Como Villa Estate Rock n Pillar Thyme Hill Vineyard Leaning Rock Vineyard Judge Rock Immigrants Vineyard Dunstan Road Wines Alexandra Wine Company Drumsara Wines McArthur Ridge Vineyard and Perseverance Estate 25 26 27 A cycling trail called Pedal for Pinot gives visitors the opportunity to cycle around the cellar doors and sample a variety of local wines 28 Horticulture Edit Alexandra is the service centre for a significant stone fruit industry which is celebrated by a blossom festival in the town each spring The first orchards planted provided fruit for the mining community 29 Now nectarines apricots cherries peaches plums and apples are grown and sold for both New Zealand and export markets Seasonal work picking fruit is available during the summer and many tourists and Pacific Islanders come to New Zealand to work in Alexandra 30 31 Pastoral farming Edit Sheep farming particularly of merino sheep has occurred around Alexandra for many years 32 One of the original sheep runs was Galloway Station This was established by Watson and Alexander Shennan in 1858 The brothers from Scotland imported various breeds of sheep In particular they acquired 15 merino rams and 27 merino ewes in 1861 from the King of Prussia s Potsdam Stud which cost the massive sum at that time of 2000 The Galloway Station was sub divided in 1916 33 Airport Edit The Alexandra Aerodrome is Alexandra s only airport SPANZ NAC and Mount Cook Airlines were main users of the airport till the 1980s It is home to the Central Otago Flying Club and gliding Commercial passenger flights are no longer scheduled Queenstown International Airport is the nearest facility for those Education EditPrimary schools Edit The Terrace School is a co educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students 34 35 with a roll of 331 as of November 2022 36 It opened in 1965 37 Alexandra School is a co educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students 38 39 with a roll of 192 40 It opened in 1865 and became a district high school in 1912 After the opening of Dunstan High and The Terrace School Alexandra School resumed its function solely as a primary school 37 St Gerard s School is a co educational state integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 8 students 41 with a roll of 132 42 The school first opened in 1912 43 Secondary schools Edit Dunstan High School is a co educational state secondary school for Year 9 to 13 students 44 45 with a roll of 534 as of November 2022 46 It opened in 1962 37 Events EditBlossom festival Edit Alexandra is perhaps best known for the Alexandra Blossom Festival an annual event that began in 1957 The Festival celebrates the advent of Spring in the Central Otago District as evidenced by the blooming of the fruit trees Great Easter bunny hunt Edit Sixty rabbits were introduced by the Acclimatisation Society of Otago in 1866 and it only took five years for them to get established and to start eating the pasture land bare 47 They are prolific and a pest species around Alexandra Each year at Easter locals compete to shoot as many rabbits as possible to cull numbers The event is run by the Alexandra Lions Club and it is also a great social occasion for the town It has been run annually since the early 1990s 48 The event was cancelled in 2018 to allow the Otago Regional Council s programme to introduce the rabbit virus RHDV1 K5 Unfortunately the virus did not have the desired impact on rabbit numbers that was expected and there are more rabbits around than ever 49 Due to the dry conditions in 2019 the fire risk was deemed to be extreme and the event was cancelled In 2020 it was again cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic The bunny hunt took place in 2021 with over 10 000 rabbits shot It was thought not to have a significant impact on the overall rabbit population around Alexandra 50 Amenities EditAlexandra swimming pool Edit The Alexandra swimming pool complex is run by the Central Otago District Council It was built in 2003 and replaced the previous swimming pool known as the Centennial Baths The indoor complex includes a 25m lap pool a learners pool and a spa pool An outdoor pool is also open during the summer months The complex is located within Molyneux Park 51 Ice skating rink Edit An outdoor Olympic sized ice rink in Molyneux Park is run by the Alexandra Winter Sports Club It is the largest one of its type in New Zealand It was opened in 1993 It replaced the previous ice skating rink at the Manorburn Dam 52 53 Alexandra golf club Edit The Alexandra golf club was established in 1901 It moved to its present site alongside the Alexandra Clyde highway in the mid 1960s and work started on the club house in 1970 Work occurred in 1974 redeveloping the layout of the 18 hole course 54 The course is relatively flat with well irrigated tree lined fairways 55 Rabbits were noted to be a problem at the golf course in 2019 and the golf club was in the process of exploring fencing options to keep the rabbits out 56 Molyneux park Edit Molyneux Park is located on state highway 8 It is home to the swimming pool complex netball courts a first class cricket venue the ice skating rink the Alexandra bowls club and the Alexandra toy library Central Stories museum and art gallery Edit Waterwheel at the Central Otago Art Gallery and Museum The Alexandra Museum and Art Gallery is known as Central Stories The museum focusses on local history in particular geology early explorers social history gold mining Chinese immigration during the gold mining years stone fruit orchards farming and viticulture 57 It is located at 21 Centennial Avenue and is open Monday to Friday between 10am to 4pm and 11am to 2pm on weekends and public holidays Alexandra public library Edit The Alexandra Public Library is located at 42 Tarbet Street It is open Monday to Friday and on Saturday mornings 58 It has a wide selection of adult and children s books magazines local newspapers and DVDs It has free Wifi and a programme of regular events 59 Pioneer park Edit Pioneer Park was established in the late 1860s There is a playground and botanic gardens located within it There are also three artificial grass tennis courts located within the park 60 Lower Manorburn dam Edit Located in the hills just outside of Alexandra this large irrigation dam was built in the 1900s It is a well known body of water for fishing canoeing and swimming In winter ice skating is popular when the dam freezes over 60 Mountain biking Edit A portion of the Otago Central Rail Trail runs through Alexandra The Mountain bikers of Alexandra club are active in building trails in the local area There are a number of mountain bike trails at Alexandra Airport Boot Hill Clyde Lookout and Flat Top Hill The award winning trails at Flat Top Hill have been built in partnership with the Department of Conservation 61 62 63 Alexandra clock EditA large clock was built on Knobbies Range overlooking Alexandra in 1968 Initially there was some opposition to the proposal A full size mock up was placed on the proposed site for six weeks Local reaction was assessed and it was overwhelmingly supportive of the idea It cost around 3000 to build the clock This included the foundations steel markers electrics painting etc The Jaycees club put in many hours of volunteer labour to the project The clock has a diameter of 11 metres The minute hand is 5 6m in length including the counterweight and the hour hand is 4m in length including the counterweight It is lit up at night by 150 light bulbs upgraded to LEDs in 2006 from the original torch bulbs The LED lights have subsequently been upgraded to colour LEDs in 2018 At Easter an illuminated cross is placed on the hillside nearby 64 65 66 In April 2020 damage caused the clock to stop working It appeared that someone swung on the hands of the clock causing the clock to stop at 8 34 67 Air pollution EditAlexandra suffers from air pollution typically in winter The main cause of air pollution in Alexandra is from domestic heating appliances that burn solid fuels e g wood and coal Air pollution peaks during winter mornings and evenings The results from a study show that sub freezing temperatures and still wind conditions at 8 am or 9 am can be used to predict high levels of PM10 that evening 68 Alexandra is one of the least windy towns in New Zealand This combined with its geography being an inland basin means that the smoke generated from domestic heating appliances stays sitting within the town environs Daily PM10 concentrations regularly exceed the national guidelines from the month of May through to the month of August each year 69 Between 2005 and 2017 winter concentrations of PM10s have decreased about 30 70 Despite this Alexandra has some of the worst winter air quality in the country 71 Pupils at Alexandra primary school were helping scientists at NIWA learn more about pollution in their town in a four month project that will track where smoke comes from and where it goes over winter in 2018 72 Alexandra had three high pollution nights where PM10 particulate levels exceeded the national environmental standards in winter 2021 This increased in winter 2022 to a total of four nights 73 Notable buildings EditShaky bridge Edit The Shaky bridge crosses the Manuherikia river and links Kerry Street and Graveyard Gully Road It was completed in 1879 Leslie Duncan MacGeorge 1854 1939 designed the 60 metre long bridge 74 It was the only bridge crossing the Manuherikia river for twenty years In 1906 a road and rail bridge was completed making the shaky bridge obsolete It did not receive the required upkeep and earned its nickname of the shaky bridge The small suspension bridge with its stone towers was saved by the Pioneer Bridge Committee The Committee raised funds to restore the bridge Today it is promoted as a tourist attraction and is only open to pedestrians 75 76 Simmond s boarding house EditSimmond s boarding house was built in 1882 and provided accommodation for over ninety years until it was converted into an office building in the 1970s It was built by James SImmonds who also served as mayor of Alexandra 77 Simmond s Boarding House Alexandra New Zealand Bendigo hotel Edit The Bendigo Hotel was situated on the corner of Tabert amp Rivers streets The original Bendigo Hotel was a wooden single storied structure built in the 1860s This original building was demolished in 1900 This was required by the Tuapeka Licensing Commission who stated that the building should be replaced or the license revoked The Bendigo Hotel was then rebuilt in 1900 The new hotel was a two storied brick structure It contained 30 bedrooms and was of the standard of a first class city hotel at the time Numerous alternations occurred to the building over the next 100 years The Bendigo was flooded in December 1995 and again in November 1999 This led to the hotel being demolished and the construction of a floodbank in 2001 to protect Alexandra from flooding 78 Alexandra courthouse Edit The former Alexandra Courthouse The old courthouse located in Alexandra s Centennial Avenue was opened on 16 June 1879 it housed both the Warden s and Magistrate s Courts it was built of stone As mining was the main industry at the time the Warden s Court was kept busy dealing with issues relating to mining These included registration of claims and dealing with matters such as water races business licenses roads forgeries and other similar issues relating to mining The Magistrate s Court dealt with general legal matters 79 It was used as a courthouse until 1972 It is a Category 2 Historic Building In 2006 the chimneys were renovated and it was repainted 79 80 81 It now operates as a cafe 82 Vallance cottage Edit Vallance Cottage is a mud brick house built in 1896 83 It was home to a family of eleven at one stage It is a category 2 listed building with Heritage New Zealand 84 85 86 In the 1970s Vallance Cottage still had no running water inside and only cold running water in the separate wash house 87 Mokomoko dryland sanctuary EditIn 2005 a group of Alexandra residents formed the Central Otago Ecological Trust They aimed to reintroduce fauna that has been lost from the Alexandra basin They established in partnership with a number of other organizations the Mokomoko Dryland Sanctuary This lies near Alexandra in the hilly county They established a 1 6 kilometre long predator proof fence which surrounds 14 hectares of land This is now allowing native dryland vegetation to reestablish itself and a number of species of lizards and invertebrates to repopulate the sanctuary 88 In 2018 around 150 skinks and geckos were introduced to the Mokomoko Dryland Sanctuary Lizards that are endemic to the area include the Otago skink which can grow up to 300mm in total length 89 and the grand skink 90 Jewelled Geckos have also been introduced to the sanctuary These were transferred from the Lammermoor Range 91 Media EditRadio stations Edit Following Mediaworks corporate 2013 decision to move all Central Otago and Lakes District live broadcast activity to Queenstown Alexandra was left without a local radio station until the creation of independently owned Classic Gold Central in September 2013 on Blossom Festival Weekend Tramsmitting from a co site with Radio Rhema in the Waikerikeri Valley on 91 9FM the station owned by longtime broadcasters Chris Diack and Bill Willis has re established the service of providing local information for the district Classic Gold Central was re branded as Local Radio Central sometime before 2018 On April 1 2018 the station was purchased by new owners who again re branded the station as Radio Central From the 1st of April 2018 Radio Central had transmitters located at Waikerikeri Valley 91 9 Cromwell 91 9 Roxburgh 94 3 and Wedderburn 104 3 Independently owned radio station Blue Skies FM was established in 2001 to serve the local community broadcasting to the Alexandra basin Cromwell the Maniototo Teviot Valley and beyond Blue Skies FM ceased broadcasting at the end of September 08 following a move by Mediaworks who successfully negotiated a deal to take on the frequency to rebroadcast its Easy Listening Brand The Breeze 92 Alexandra once had its own local More FM station with the studios based in Alexandra Previously the station was known as Radio Central Central Otago s More FM broadcasts into Roxburgh Clyde and Cromwell Wanaka also has More FM relayed from the Queenstown More FM station formerly known as Resort Radio Central Otago s More FM is now networked from Studios in Queenstown Alexandra features a number of local FM stations that operate on the New Zealand Government s low power FM scheme including Classic Gold on 107 3FM and XS80s on 106 7FM These stations operate on short range covering the main township only Mayors EditAlexandra is now administered by the Central Otago District Council with the current mayor being Tim Cadogan Many streets in Alexandra are named after mayors of the former Alexandra Borough 16 1867 1897 1898 1940 1940 1989Robert Finlay 1867 1870 and 1886 1889 James Kelman 1898 1899 and 1901 1903 Archibald McKellar 1940 1947John Chapple 1871 1872 Henry Symes 1900 1901 Bert Fox 1947 1953William Beresford 1872 1873 George Spencer 1903 1906 George Campbell 1953 1959James Samson 1873 1878 Henry Schaumann 1906 1910 Keith Blackmore 1959 1980James Rivers 1878 1879 and 1894 1896 J Gregg 1910 1911 Ross Close 1980 1986George McDonald 1882 1884 Edward Marslin 1911 1915 Russell Poole 1986 1989JE Thompson 1884 1886 Archibald Ashworth 1915 1917William Theyers 1890 1892 and 1895 1896 William Black 1917 1927James Simmonds 1880 1882 1892 1894 and 1896 1897 93 William Bringans 1927 1940Government EditAlexandra is currently part of the Waitaki electorate which was held by Jacqui Dean in 2020 of the National Party 94 95 See also EditMolyneux ParkReferences EditNotes a b ArcGIS Web Application statsnz maps arcgis com Retrieved 7 December 2021 a b c Subnational population estimates RC SA2 by age and sex at 30 June 1996 2022 2022 boundaries Statistics New Zealand Retrieved 25 October 2022 regional councils Subnational population estimates TA SA2 by age and sex at 30 June 1996 2022 2022 boundaries Statistics New Zealand Retrieved 25 October 2022 territorial authorities Subnational population estimates urban rural by age and sex at 30 June 1996 2022 2022 boundaries Statistics New Zealand Retrieved 25 October 2022 urban areas The Cyclopedia of New Zealand Alexandra Teara 1966 Alexandra Place Names of New Zealand Ingoa Wahi o Aotearoa Native Council Retrieved 20 February 2018 a b c Alexandra Central Otago District Otago Region New Zealand www mindat org Retrieved 9 January 2021 a b c d Lessons from the Wasteland New Zealand Geographic Retrieved 27 December 2020 Knight Catherine 2016 New Zealand s Rivers An Environmental History Christchurch New Zealand Canterbury University Press p 59 a b Conroys Gully Alexandra Central Otago District Otago Region New Zealand www mindat org Retrieved 9 January 2021 Alexandra amp Immediate District Tour 2 Historic Sites VIEWING amp WALKING PDF 18 July 2003 McLintock A H 1966 Flood and Storm in Central Otago 1878 in An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand Te Ara Archived from the original on 28 May 2015 Retrieved 28 December 2020 Geoffrey Thornton and Karen Astwood 29 November 2010 Alexandra Bridge Piers and Towers PDF Otago Central Rail Trail South Island NZ History of the region Off The Rails www offtherails co nz Retrieved 9 January 2021 a b History www doc govt nz Retrieved 9 January 2021 Teara Encyclopedia of New Zealand ALEXANDRA a b Alexandra Borough Council Central Otago District Council Retrieved 30 January 2017 1 from the NIWA website Augutis Maria The heatwave in numbers NIWA Retrieved 25 July 2019 Climate Data and Activities NIWA Science 28 February 2007 Retrieved 15 October 2013 CliFlo Database NIWA Science Retrieved 1 June 2020 McLintock Alexander Hare Brian Newton Davis M A Taonga New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu ALEXANDRA An encyclopaedia of New Zealand edited by A H McLintock 1966 Retrieved 23 September 2021 a b Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census Statistics New Zealand March 2020 Alexandra North 345500 and Alexandra South 345600 2018 Census place summary Alexandra North 2018 Census place summary Alexandra South Alexandra Basin Winegrowers Wine Map and Directory of Central Otago Vineyards www alexandrabasinwines co nz Retrieved 9 January 2021 10 Best Wineries in Alexandra NZ Pocket Guide 1 New Zealand Travel Guide 11 September 2019 Retrieved 9 January 2021 Wineries amp Vineyards Central Otago Retrieved 9 January 2021 Fox Rebecca 7 October 2020 Touring Alexandra s new cycling wine trail Otago Daily Times Online News Retrieved 9 January 2021 Alexandra Central Otago History alexandra co nz Retrieved 9 January 2021 Pacific workers could be too late for Central Otago orchards NZ Herald Retrieved 9 January 2021 Fruit picking jobs going begging Who is really to blame Stuff 21 October 2020 Retrieved 9 January 2021 Central Otago farming family s merino passion recognised NZ Herald Retrieved 9 January 2021 Merino sheep with royal blood in their veins Stuff 20 March 2018 Retrieved 9 January 2021 The Terrace School Official School Website theterrace school nz The Terrace School Ministry of Education School Profile educationcounts govt nz Ministry of Education The Terrace School Education Review Office Report ero govt nz Education Review Office a b c Following in family footsteps Otago Daily Times 27 March 2015 Alexandra School Official School Website alexprim school nz Alexandra School Ministry of Education School Profile educationcounts govt nz Ministry of Education Alexandra School Education Review Office Report ero govt nz Education Review Office St Gerard s School Ministry of Education School Profile educationcounts govt nz Ministry of Education St Gerard s School Education Review Office Report ero govt nz Education Review Office Archived from the original on 24 May 2019 Retrieved 3 July 2020 Our History St Gerard s School Retrieved 7 December 2021 Dunstan High School Official School Website dunstan school nz Dunstan High School Ministry of Education School Profile educationcounts govt nz Ministry of Education Dunstan High School Education Review Office Report ero govt nz Education Review Office Bunny hunt New Zealand Geographic Retrieved 9 January 2021 Alexandra hunter takes second place for the tenth time at Easter Bunny Hunt Stuff 17 April 2017 Retrieved 9 January 2021 O Hara Yvonne 17 March 2020 Easter Bunny Hunt postponed until Queen s Birthday Otago Daily Times Online News Retrieved 9 January 2021 Hunt Elle 5 April 2021 New Zealand town where Easter is all about wiping out bunnies The Guardian ISSN 0261 3077 Retrieved 6 April 2021 Central Otago Swim Centres Central Otago District Council www codc govt nz Retrieved 9 January 2021 Go NZ Best places to ice skate in New Zealand NZ Herald Retrieved 9 January 2021 Alexandra Ice Rink alexicerink co nz Retrieved 9 January 2021 Alexandra Golf Club Home alexandragolf co nz Retrieved 9 January 2021 Alexandra Golf Club Central Otago Retrieved 9 January 2021 Nightmare rabbit problem for Central Otago golf courses NZ Herald Retrieved 9 January 2021 Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery Central Otago s regional Museum Art Gallery and Gift Shop Retrieved 10 January 2021 Interactive https www nvinteractive com N V Alexandra Library codc qldc govt nz Retrieved 10 January 2021 Alexandra Library Central Otago Retrieved 10 January 2021 a b Alexandra Clyde Area Parks amp Reserves Central Otago District Council www codc govt nz Retrieved 9 January 2021 Home Mountainbikers of Alexandra MOA www mtbofalex co nz Retrieved 6 April 2021 Mountain Bike Trails Central Otago Retrieved 6 April 2021 Alexandra mountain bike trails make the top 10 for NZ Central Otago District Council www codc govt nz Retrieved 6 April 2021 Alexandra Clock on the Hill Central Otago Retrieved 26 December 2020 Clock on the hill strikes 50 years Otago Daily Times Online News 15 December 2018 Retrieved 26 December 2020 Central Otago New Zealand Heart of the South The Alexandra Clock www nzsouth co nz Retrieved 26 December 2020 Well known clock only right twice a day after damage www thenews co nz Retrieved 27 December 2020 Tate A Spronken Smith RA May 2008 A Preliminary Investigation of the Air Pollution Meteorology of Alexandra Central Otago New Zealand Clean Air and Environmental Quality 42 2 May 2008 Alexandra Land Air Water Aotearoa LAWA Retrieved 27 December 2020 Air quality monitoring continues in Alexandra www orc govt nz Retrieved 27 December 2020 Gibb John 11 February 2017 Air pollution issues remain Otago Daily Times Online News Retrieved 27 December 2020 Scientists bring in Alexandra pupils to help with air quality research Stuff 21 May 2018 Retrieved 27 December 2020 Air quality on the rise pollution complaints down Otago Daily Times Online News 13 September 2022 Retrieved 16 September 2022 Shaky Suspension Bridge Engineering New Zealand www engineeringnz org Retrieved 23 September 2021 Search the List Shaky Bridge Heritage New Zealand www heritage org nz Retrieved 23 September 2021 Do You Dare Walk Over Shaky Bridge Archived from the original on 10 March 2005 Retrieved 23 September 2021 Search the List Simmond s Boarding House Former Heritage New Zealand www heritage org nz Retrieved 28 October 2021 Bendigo Hotel Alexandra New Zealand Signs of History on Waymarking com www waymarking com Retrieved 27 December 2020 a b History of Alexandra Courthouse www doc govt nz Retrieved 27 December 2020 Search the List Alexandra Courthouse Former Heritage New Zealand www heritage org nz Retrieved 27 December 2020 NZPlaces nzplaces nz Retrieved 27 December 2020 Back Your Backyard 12 hour guide to Central Otago Stuff 3 July 2020 Retrieved 27 December 2020 Community orchard to be planted at Vallance Cottage www thenews co nz 5 December 2018 Vallance Cottage South Island Southproud co nz www southproud co nz Retrieved 27 December 2020 Historical significance recognised Otago Daily Times Online News 9 December 2017 Retrieved 27 December 2020 Search the List Vallance Cottage Heritage New Zealand www heritage org nz Retrieved 27 December 2020 Hard but happy life in little cottage Stuff 20 February 2013 Retrieved 27 December 2020 Mokomoko Dryland Sanctuary Mokomoko Retrieved 27 December 2020 Otago skink Mokomoko Retrieved 27 December 2020 Henderson Simon 3 February 2019 Skinks in Mokomoko Sanctuary a first Otago Daily Times Online News Retrieved 27 December 2020 Sanctuary raises profile of endemic lizards Predator Free NZ 10 December 2017 Retrieved 27 December 2020 Central community radio going off air The Southland Times 25 September 2008 Archived from the original on 15 October 2012 Obituary James Simmonds Alexandra Herald Alexandra New Zealand 20 June 1923 p 5 Retrieved 6 January 2021 Waitaki Electorate Profile New Zealand Parliament www parliament nz Retrieved 27 December 2020 Election 2020 Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean delighted to survive Labour swing Stuff 18 October 2020 Retrieved 27 December 2020 SourcesReed A W 2002 The Reed dictionary of New Zealand place names Auckland Reed Books ISBN 0 790 00761 4 External links Edit Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Alexandra Media related to Alexandra New Zealand at Wikimedia Commons Alexandra District Promotions website Central Otago District Council Alexandra Blossom Festival Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Alexandra New Zealand amp oldid 1134941953, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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