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Milton, New Zealand

April 14, 2024

Milton, formerly known as Tokomairiro or Tokomairaro, is a town of over 2,000 people, located on State Highway 1, 50 kilometres to the south of Dunedin in Otago, New Zealand. It lies on the floodplain of the Tokomairaro River (until 2016 called the Tokomairiro), one branch of which loops past the north and south ends of the town. This river gives its name to many local features, notably the town's only secondary school, Tokomairiro High School.

Milton
Town
Milton Union Street in 2012
Coordinates: 46°07′S 169°58′E / 46.117°S 169.967°E / -46.117; 169.967
CountryNew Zealand
RegionOtago
Territorial authorityClutha District
WardBruce
Electorates
Government
 • Territorial authorityClutha District Council
 • Regional councilOtago Regional Council
 • Mayor of CluthaBryan Cadogan
 • Taieri MPIngrid Leary
 • Te Tai Tonga MPTākuta Ferris
Area
[1]
 • Total4.16 km2 (1.61 sq mi)
Population
 (June 2023)[2]
 • Total2,240
 • Density540/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode
9220
Area code03
Local iwiNgāi Tahu

Founded as a milling town in the 1850s, there has long been dispute as to the naming of the settlement. The town's streets are named for prominent British poets, and it is possible that the town's original intended name of Milltown became shortened by association with the poet of the same name. It is equally possible, however, that the name Milton inspired the choice of poets' names for the streets.

History edit

Milton's early history was strongly affected by the discovery of gold by Gabriel Read at Gabriel's Gully close to the nearby township of Lawrence. As Milton stood close to one of the most easily accessible routes to the interior, it grew greatly during the goldrush years of the 1860s and was a major staging post for prospectors heading for the goldfields.

 
Lawson's impressive church dominates the old road to Fairfax (Tokoiti).

The town was originally established at Fairfax, a settlement nestling at the foot of the hills which lie to the southeast of the town. As communication with the goldfields in the interior became more important, and the desirability of the town becoming a staging post increased, it spread down onto the plains around the river. A Gothic church, Tokomairiro Presbyterian Church, was built at this time by the architect R A Lawson. At the time of its construction, this church was the tallest building at such a southern latitude in the world. The church is still the town's most obvious landmark, and is visible across the Tokomairiro Plains from several kilometres away. It was located as a terminating vista at the end of the main road connecting Fairfax with the main route south from Dunedin to the goldfields, and as such is an imposing structure dominating this road. Milton was an important town in early Otago – much more so than it is today – mainly due to its location on the route to the goldfields, and also for the Bruce Woollen Mills, which were among the province's largest factories. Other prominent industries included the Kiwi Bacon Factory, which had a branch in Milton until the early 1980s. The town's importance in communication in the early years of New Zealand settlement is emphasised by it being one of the two centres first linked by long-distance telephony, with a pioneering line set up between Milton and Dunedin in February 1878. It was not until the early twentieth century that it was superseded in size by the now considerably larger local town of Balclutha. The town was also important in education in early Otago – the Tokomairiro School – now split into Tokoiti School (still on the site of the original school) and Tokomairiro High School – was founded in 1856, only eight years after the founding of the province itself, and was one of the province's leading schools for many years thereafter. Electric lighting was installed in 1919.[3]

 
Milton railway station in 1926

Railway edit

Milton was connected to the national railway network in the early 1870s when the Main South Line was built through the town and goods were first carried in October 1874.[4] The official opening from Green Island to Balclutha was on 1 September 1875.[5] Milton station was 3.13 km (1.94 mi) east of Clarksville, 5.87 km (3.65 mi) south of Milburn, 434.37 km (269.91 mi) from Christchurch[6] and 35 mi 30 ch (56.9 km) from Dunedin.[7]

In 1907, the town became a railway junction when an extension of the Roxburgh Branch was constructed alongside the Main South Line from its original junction at nearby Clarksville into Milton to facilitate better operations. In 1960, Milton lost this status when the extension was removed and the Roxburgh Branch's junction reverted to being in Clarksville. The Main South Line still runs through the town, though the station closed to passengers on 1 December 1970, when the South Island Limited was replaced by the Southerner, which didn't stop at Milton.[8]

Milton had an engine shed for two engines, a 161 ft (49 m) passenger platform[9] (later extended to 485 ft (148 m)), a 3rd class station, cart approach to the platform, 100 ft (30 m) by 30 ft (9.1 m) goods shed, loading bank, cattle yards, stationmaster's house, a refreshment room from 1895 to 1957 and a bookstall from 1897.[10]

A 70 ft (21 m) turntable was added in 1927. There were fires at the engine shed in 1938 and in 1959, when both A Class locomotives in the shed were undamaged. There was also a fire at the station in 1942 in a large shed in 1944.[10]

The stockyards closed in 1971. In December 1988 there was still a station building, verandah, platforms and goods sheds,[10] as can be seen in a 1986 aerial photo,[11] but by 1995 they had gone.[12]

 
1908 railway bridge over the Tokomairaro River at Waronui ca. 1926

Fortification and Waronui coal mines and railway line edit

Coal was dug in the lower Tokomairaro valley from 1855.[13] A railway was considered as early as 1875.[14] Mining near Fortification Hill started in 1882.[15] Poor roads and difficult navigation of the river limited production.[16] The Fortification Railway and Coal Company started building a railway in 1900[17] and opened it on 3 April 1901,[18] but went into liquidation in 1903.[19] In 1906 the Bruce Coal Company Ltd opened a new mine across the river, calling it Waronui.[20] A temporary bridge was built over the river,[21] until the railway was extended about 1⁄2 mi (0.80 km)[22] to the new mine when Glendining and Co took over in 1908.[23] The line ran south west, crossing the Tokomairaro River a few times, from Milton,[24] for about 6 mi (9.7 km) to mines at Fortification and Waronui. The line was little used after two miners were killed in 1930 and it was sold for scrap in 1932.[25]

Milton pottery edit

An early claim to fame for Milton was its pottery, often regarded as some of the country's finest. Clay is a plentiful natural resource in South Otago, and potteries were a major employer in the late 19th century throughout South Otago and Southland. Between 1873 and 1915 numerous pottery works operated from the Milton area, starting with William White's short-lived Tokomairiro Steam Pottery Works, reputedly the first industrial kilns in the Southern Hemisphere.[26]

The Milton Pottery works was rescued in 1880 by former Mayor of Dunedin (1876) Charles Reeves.[27] The industry reached its height in the 1880s, at which time five kilns were operating and over 40 staff were employed, producing building materials such as bricks and tiles, sanitary ceramics such as washbasins, and domestic and decorative dinner sets, vases, and jars.

The industry in Milton did not survive the loss of manpower during World War I, though pottery as an industry continued in South Otago at Benhar near Balclutha, which was a major producer of toilet bowls and other domestic ceramics until the 1990s.

 
Union Street, Milton 1916. The Herald's office was on the left. Only the building being built on the far left and the 1902 Coronation Hall survived until 2020 [28]

Bruce Herald edit

The Bruce Herald was established by Joseph Mackay in 1864 and was one of the longest running country newspapers, closing on 7 October 1971. It was one of a chain, including the Mataura Ensign at Gore and Clutha Times at Balclutha. Other local papers were the Bruce Independent (1866–1867) and the Milton Mirror in 1905, but was taken over by the Herald after a fire at its office in 1910.[29]

Demographics edit

Milton covers 4.16 km2 (1.61 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 2,240 as of June 2023,[2] with a population density of 538 people per km2.

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
19762,235—    
19812,262+0.24%
19862,211−0.46%
19912,088−1.14%
19962,016−0.70%
20011,917−1.00%
20062,046+1.31%
20132,070+0.17%
20182,157+0.83%
Source: [30][31]

Milton had a population of 2,157 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 87 people (4.2%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 111 people (5.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 861 households, comprising 1,086 males and 1,068 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.02 males per female. The median age was 42.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 429 people (19.9%) aged under 15 years, 333 (15.4%) aged 15 to 29, 945 (43.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 447 (20.7%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 87.8% European/Pākehā, 17.8% Māori, 1.7% Pasifika, 1.9% Asian, and 1.8% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 8.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.1% had no religion, 33.4% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu, 0.1% were Muslim, 0.1% were Buddhist and 1.8% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 123 (7.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 591 (34.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $26,800, compared with $31,800 nationally. 150 people (8.7%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 816 (47.2%) people were employed full-time, 252 (14.6%) were part-time, and 54 (3.1%) were unemployed.[31]

Modern Milton edit

Today, Milton is, after Balclutha, the second largest town in South Otago. Its form is largely a ribbon development along the main highway (State Highway 1), with an extension north of the northern branch of the river (the suburb of Helensbrook). The old town of Fairfax is now a village with the Māori name of Tokoiti (meaning "small poles").[32] SH1, as Union Street, is the town's main road. Five main residential streets run parallel with Union Street (Elderlee, Ajax, Spenser, Johnson, and Chaucer Streets), with these streets being connected by other roads together forming a mostly regular grid pattern. Tokoiti lies one kilometre to the southeast.

Milton's main economic livelihood is as a service town for the surrounding farming community, although forestry is also becoming of increasing importance. It is also home to Calder Stewart, one of New Zealand's largest construction firms.

The farming settlement of Milburn two kilometres north of Milton, was chosen as the site of a new prison, opened in 2007 with a capacity of 485 prisoners.[33] Officially referred to simply as the Otago Corrections Facility, it quickly picked up the nickname of "The Milton Hilton".

"The Kink" edit

 
Cars navigate the infamous kink in Union Street, Milton

In Milton there is an unusual planning anomaly – the main street (Union Street) is straight for several kilometres as it runs across the Tokomairaro Plain and through the town, yet in the northern part of Milton it has a kink in it at 46°06′59.5″S 169°57′50.5″E / 46.116528°S 169.964028°E / -46.116528; 169.964028. Heading north on the main street the road moves a whole road-width to the west.

The reason for the anomaly is disputed. A widely accepted view, but not the official view, states that the road was set out by two surveyors, one moving north and the other moving south, each of whom set out the road to the right of their survey line. Another widely held belief is that the change of course was designed to protect a large tree which formerly stood at the site where the kink is. However, why during the development of a milling area a single tree would be protected, and why the road would not return to its original line after passing the tree are both unexplained by this theory.

A story on the Kink was run by Stuff on 6 May 2021.[34]

In popular culture edit

Michael Palin describes Milton in his 1997 book Full Circle as a "small inconspicuous town". He goes on to say "Yet nowhere has looked more like Britain. A gothic spire rises from a red brick parish church. There is a Salvation Army hostel, A Cosy Dell rest home and an advert for 'Frosty Boy' lollipops – 'Often Licked, Never Beaten'. The gardens, and fields beyond could be straight from my Yorkshire birthplace. At around the time of my birth."[35]

Education edit

Primary schools edit

Milton Primary School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students,[36] with a roll of 93 as of February 2024.[37]

Tokoiti School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students,[38][39] with a roll of 29.[40]

St Mary's School is a co-educational state-integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 6 students,[41] with a roll of 55.[42]

Secondary schools edit

Tokomairiro High School is a co-educational state secondary school for Year 7 to 13 students,[43][44] with a roll of 203.[45]

Notable people edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Population estimate tables - NZ.Stat". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  3. ^ "Electric Light for Milton. BRUCE HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 17 March 1919. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  4. ^ Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand by Juliet Scoble (2012)
  5. ^ "OPENING OF THE DUNEDIN AND CLUTHA RAILWAY. OTAGO DAILY TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 2 September 1875. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  6. ^ New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas (First ed.). Quail Map Co. 1965. pp. 3 & 4.
  7. ^ "Stations" (PDF). NZR Rolling Stock Lists. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  8. ^ Churchman & Hurst 2001, p. 46.
  9. ^ "AROUND MILTON. BRUCE HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 5 September 1879. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  10. ^ a b c "Stations" (PDF). NZR Rolling Stock Lists. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  11. ^ "Retrolens Survey SN8671 photo 2". 7 October 1986.
  12. ^ "Retrolens Survey SN9457 photo 7". 10 December 1995.
  13. ^ "TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS. OTAGO WITNESS". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 28 July 1855. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  14. ^ "The Tokomairiro Valley Railway. CLUTHA LEADER". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 23 September 1875. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  15. ^ "BRUCE HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 10 March 1882. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Local and General Intelligence. TUAPEKA TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 28 June 1884. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  17. ^ "BRUCE HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 13 February 1900. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  18. ^ "The Fortification Railway and Coal Company BRUCE HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 5 April 1901. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  19. ^ "TOKOMAIRIRO. BRUCE HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 28 April 1903. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  20. ^ "BRUCE HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 9 August 1906. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  21. ^ "A Bruce Coal Industry. BRUCE HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 25 July 1905. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  22. ^ "WARONUI MINE. OTAGO DAILY TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 11 January 1924. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  23. ^ "Sale of Waronui Coalmine. BRUCE HERALD". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 30 April 1908. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  24. ^ "1:63360 map Sheet: OT139-148". www.mapspast.org.nz. 1924. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  25. ^ "WARONUI COAL MINE. OTAGO DAILY TIMES". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. 18 March 1932. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  26. ^ Sumpter, D.J. & Lewis, J.J. (1949) Faith and toil – The story of Tokomairiro. Christchurch: Whitcombe & Tombs., p.101
  27. ^ "TOKOMAIRIRO". The Bruce Herald. 7 September 1880. p. 2.
  28. ^ "123 State Hwy 1 Milton, Otago". Google Maps. September 2020. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  29. ^ "Bruce Herald". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  30. ^ Natalie Jackson, Lars Brabyn and Dave Maré (November 2016). "New Zealand's towns and rural centres 1976–2013 – experimental components of growth" (PDF). University of Waikato.
  31. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Milton (356400). 2018 Census place summary: Milton
  32. ^ Reed, A. W. (1975). Place names of New Zealand. Wellington: A. H. & A. W. Reed. ISBN 0-589-00933-8., p.426.
  33. ^ "Otago Corrections Facility", Stephenson & Turner Architects. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  34. ^ "Stuff". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  35. ^ Palin, Michael (1997). Full Circle. Great Britain: BBC. p. 211.
  36. ^ "Milton School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  37. ^ "Milton School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  38. ^ "Tokoiti School Official School Website". tokoiti.school.nz.
  39. ^ "Tokoiti School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  40. ^ "Tokoiti School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  41. ^ "St Mary's School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  42. ^ "St Mary's School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  43. ^ "Tokomairiro High School Official School Website". tokohigh.school.nz.
  44. ^ "Tokomairiro High School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  45. ^ "Tokomairiro High School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
  • Gunn, Alan (1977). Milton, Otago. Dunedin: John McIndoe Ltd.

External links edit

  Media related to Milton, New Zealand at Wikimedia Commons

  • Aerial Photos of Milton
  • Milton District website
  • Historic photographs of Milton from the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
  • 1901 photo of first train at Fortification coal mine

Further reading edit

  • Panjabi, Jayashree (1979). Milton, the rural depression experience (BA (Hons)). Dunedin: University of Otago. hdl:10523/2699.
  • Churchman, Geoffrey B; Hurst, Tony (2001) [1990, 1991]. The Railways of New Zealand: A Journey through History (Second ed.). Transpress New Zealand. ISBN 0-908876-20-3.

April 14, 2024
milton, zealand, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, february, . This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Milton New Zealand news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2024 Learn how and when to remove this template message Milton formerly known as Tokomairiro or Tokomairaro is a town of over 2 000 people located on State Highway 1 50 kilometres to the south of Dunedin in Otago New Zealand It lies on the floodplain of the Tokomairaro River until 2016 called the Tokomairiro one branch of which loops past the north and south ends of the town This river gives its name to many local features notably the town s only secondary school Tokomairiro High School MiltonTownMilton Union Street in 2012Coordinates 46 07 S 169 58 E 46 117 S 169 967 E 46 117 169 967CountryNew ZealandRegionOtagoTerritorial authorityClutha DistrictWardBruceElectoratesTaieriTe Tai Tonga Maori Government Territorial authorityClutha District Council Regional councilOtago Regional Council Mayor of CluthaBryan Cadogan Taieri MPIngrid Leary Te Tai Tonga MPTakuta FerrisArea 1 Total4 16 km2 1 61 sq mi Population June 2023 2 Total2 240 Density540 km2 1 400 sq mi Time zoneUTC 12 NZST Summer DST UTC 13 NZDT Postcode9220Area code03Local iwiNgai TahuFounded as a milling town in the 1850s there has long been dispute as to the naming of the settlement The town s streets are named for prominent British poets and it is possible that the town s original intended name of Milltown became shortened by association with the poet of the same name It is equally possible however that the name Milton inspired the choice of poets names for the streets Contents 1 History 1 1 Railway 1 1 1 Fortification and Waronui coal mines and railway line 1 2 Milton pottery 1 3 Bruce Herald 2 Demographics 3 Modern Milton 4 The Kink 5 In popular culture 6 Education 6 1 Primary schools 6 2 Secondary schools 7 Notable people 8 References 9 External links 10 Further readingHistory editMilton s early history was strongly affected by the discovery of gold by Gabriel Read at Gabriel s Gully close to the nearby township of Lawrence As Milton stood close to one of the most easily accessible routes to the interior it grew greatly during the goldrush years of the 1860s and was a major staging post for prospectors heading for the goldfields nbsp Lawson s impressive church dominates the old road to Fairfax Tokoiti The town was originally established at Fairfax a settlement nestling at the foot of the hills which lie to the southeast of the town As communication with the goldfields in the interior became more important and the desirability of the town becoming a staging post increased it spread down onto the plains around the river A Gothic church Tokomairiro Presbyterian Church was built at this time by the architect R A Lawson At the time of its construction this church was the tallest building at such a southern latitude in the world The church is still the town s most obvious landmark and is visible across the Tokomairiro Plains from several kilometres away It was located as a terminating vista at the end of the main road connecting Fairfax with the main route south from Dunedin to the goldfields and as such is an imposing structure dominating this road Milton was an important town in early Otago much more so than it is today mainly due to its location on the route to the goldfields and also for the Bruce Woollen Mills which were among the province s largest factories Other prominent industries included the Kiwi Bacon Factory which had a branch in Milton until the early 1980s The town s importance in communication in the early years of New Zealand settlement is emphasised by it being one of the two centres first linked by long distance telephony with a pioneering line set up between Milton and Dunedin in February 1878 It was not until the early twentieth century that it was superseded in size by the now considerably larger local town of Balclutha The town was also important in education in early Otago the Tokomairiro School now split into Tokoiti School still on the site of the original school and Tokomairiro High School was founded in 1856 only eight years after the founding of the province itself and was one of the province s leading schools for many years thereafter Electric lighting was installed in 1919 3 nbsp Milton railway station in 1926Railway edit Milton was connected to the national railway network in the early 1870s when the Main South Line was built through the town and goods were first carried in October 1874 4 The official opening from Green Island to Balclutha was on 1 September 1875 5 Milton station was 3 13 km 1 94 mi east of Clarksville 5 87 km 3 65 mi south of Milburn 434 37 km 269 91 mi from Christchurch 6 and 35 mi 30 ch 56 9 km from Dunedin 7 In 1907 the town became a railway junction when an extension of the Roxburgh Branch was constructed alongside the Main South Line from its original junction at nearby Clarksville into Milton to facilitate better operations In 1960 Milton lost this status when the extension was removed and the Roxburgh Branch s junction reverted to being in Clarksville The Main South Line still runs through the town though the station closed to passengers on 1 December 1970 when the South Island Limited was replaced by the Southerner which didn t stop at Milton 8 Milton had an engine shed for two engines a 161 ft 49 m passenger platform 9 later extended to 485 ft 148 m a 3rd class station cart approach to the platform 100 ft 30 m by 30 ft 9 1 m goods shed loading bank cattle yards stationmaster s house a refreshment room from 1895 to 1957 and a bookstall from 1897 10 A 70 ft 21 m turntable was added in 1927 There were fires at the engine shed in 1938 and in 1959 when both A Class locomotives in the shed were undamaged There was also a fire at the station in 1942 in a large shed in 1944 10 The stockyards closed in 1971 In December 1988 there was still a station building verandah platforms and goods sheds 10 as can be seen in a 1986 aerial photo 11 but by 1995 they had gone 12 nbsp 1908 railway bridge over the Tokomairaro River at Waronui ca 1926Fortification and Waronui coal mines and railway line edit Coal was dug in the lower Tokomairaro valley from 1855 13 A railway was considered as early as 1875 14 Mining near Fortification Hill started in 1882 15 Poor roads and difficult navigation of the river limited production 16 The Fortification Railway and Coal Company started building a railway in 1900 17 and opened it on 3 April 1901 18 but went into liquidation in 1903 19 In 1906 the Bruce Coal Company Ltd opened a new mine across the river calling it Waronui 20 A temporary bridge was built over the river 21 until the railway was extended about 1 2 mi 0 80 km 22 to the new mine when Glendining and Co took over in 1908 23 The line ran south west crossing the Tokomairaro River a few times from Milton 24 for about 6 mi 9 7 km to mines at Fortification and Waronui The line was little used after two miners were killed in 1930 and it was sold for scrap in 1932 25 Milton pottery edit An early claim to fame for Milton was its pottery often regarded as some of the country s finest Clay is a plentiful natural resource in South Otago and potteries were a major employer in the late 19th century throughout South Otago and Southland Between 1873 and 1915 numerous pottery works operated from the Milton area starting with William White s short lived Tokomairiro Steam Pottery Works reputedly the first industrial kilns in the Southern Hemisphere 26 The Milton Pottery works was rescued in 1880 by former Mayor of Dunedin 1876 Charles Reeves 27 The industry reached its height in the 1880s at which time five kilns were operating and over 40 staff were employed producing building materials such as bricks and tiles sanitary ceramics such as washbasins and domestic and decorative dinner sets vases and jars The industry in Milton did not survive the loss of manpower during World War I though pottery as an industry continued in South Otago at Benhar near Balclutha which was a major producer of toilet bowls and other domestic ceramics until the 1990s nbsp Union Street Milton 1916 The Herald s office was on the left Only the building being built on the far left and the 1902 Coronation Hall survived until 2020 28 Bruce Herald edit The Bruce Herald was established by Joseph Mackay in 1864 and was one of the longest running country newspapers closing on 7 October 1971 It was one of a chain including the Mataura Ensign at Gore and Clutha Times at Balclutha Other local papers were the Bruce Independent 1866 1867 and the Milton Mirror in 1905 but was taken over by the Herald after a fire at its office in 1910 29 Demographics editMilton covers 4 16 km2 1 61 sq mi 1 and had an estimated population of 2 240 as of June 2023 2 with a population density of 538 people per km2 Historical populationYearPop p a 19762 235 19812 262 0 24 19862 211 0 46 19912 088 1 14 19962 016 0 70 20011 917 1 00 20062 046 1 31 20132 070 0 17 20182 157 0 83 Source 30 31 Milton had a population of 2 157 at the 2018 New Zealand census an increase of 87 people 4 2 since the 2013 census and an increase of 111 people 5 4 since the 2006 census There were 861 households comprising 1 086 males and 1 068 females giving a sex ratio of 1 02 males per female The median age was 42 9 years compared with 37 4 years nationally with 429 people 19 9 aged under 15 years 333 15 4 aged 15 to 29 945 43 8 aged 30 to 64 and 447 20 7 aged 65 or older Ethnicities were 87 8 European Pakeha 17 8 Maori 1 7 Pasifika 1 9 Asian and 1 8 other ethnicities People may identify with more than one ethnicity The percentage of people born overseas was 8 3 compared with 27 1 nationally Although some people chose not to answer the census s question about religious affiliation 56 1 had no religion 33 4 were Christian 0 4 had Maori religious beliefs 0 3 were Hindu 0 1 were Muslim 0 1 were Buddhist and 1 8 had other religions Of those at least 15 years old 123 7 1 people had a bachelor s or higher degree and 591 34 2 people had no formal qualifications The median income was 26 800 compared with 31 800 nationally 150 people 8 7 earned over 70 000 compared to 17 2 nationally The employment status of those at least 15 was that 816 47 2 people were employed full time 252 14 6 were part time and 54 3 1 were unemployed 31 Modern Milton editToday Milton is after Balclutha the second largest town in South Otago Its form is largely a ribbon development along the main highway State Highway 1 with an extension north of the northern branch of the river the suburb of Helensbrook The old town of Fairfax is now a village with the Maori name of Tokoiti meaning small poles 32 SH1 as Union Street is the town s main road Five main residential streets run parallel with Union Street Elderlee Ajax Spenser Johnson and Chaucer Streets with these streets being connected by other roads together forming a mostly regular grid pattern Tokoiti lies one kilometre to the southeast Milton s main economic livelihood is as a service town for the surrounding farming community although forestry is also becoming of increasing importance It is also home to Calder Stewart one of New Zealand s largest construction firms The farming settlement of Milburn two kilometres north of Milton was chosen as the site of a new prison opened in 2007 with a capacity of 485 prisoners 33 Officially referred to simply as the Otago Corrections Facility it quickly picked up the nickname of The Milton Hilton The Kink edit nbsp Cars navigate the infamous kink in Union Street MiltonIn Milton there is an unusual planning anomaly the main street Union Street is straight for several kilometres as it runs across the Tokomairaro Plain and through the town yet in the northern part of Milton it has a kink in it at 46 06 59 5 S 169 57 50 5 E 46 116528 S 169 964028 E 46 116528 169 964028 Heading north on the main street the road moves a whole road width to the west The reason for the anomaly is disputed A widely accepted view but not the official view states that the road was set out by two surveyors one moving north and the other moving south each of whom set out the road to the right of their survey line Another widely held belief is that the change of course was designed to protect a large tree which formerly stood at the site where the kink is However why during the development of a milling area a single tree would be protected and why the road would not return to its original line after passing the tree are both unexplained by this theory A story on the Kink was run by Stuff on 6 May 2021 34 In popular culture editMichael Palin describes Milton in his 1997 book Full Circle as a small inconspicuous town He goes on to say Yet nowhere has looked more like Britain A gothic spire rises from a red brick parish church There is a Salvation Army hostel A Cosy Dell rest home and an advert for Frosty Boy lollipops Often Licked Never Beaten The gardens and fields beyond could be straight from my Yorkshire birthplace At around the time of my birth 35 Education editPrimary schools edit Milton Primary School is a co educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students 36 with a roll of 93 as of February 2024 37 Tokoiti School is a co educational state primary school for Year 1 to 6 students 38 39 with a roll of 29 40 St Mary s School is a co educational state integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 6 students 41 with a roll of 55 42 Secondary schools edit Tokomairiro High School is a co educational state secondary school for Year 7 to 13 students 43 44 with a roll of 203 45 Notable people editKen Bloxham All Black rugby player Richard Hayes pilot Samantha Hayes TV news journalist Thomas Joseph King Army Officer Tony Kreft All Black rugby player Frank Oliver All Black rugby player Richard Pearse aviation pioneer who lived in Milton for some time Martin Phillipps musician who spent some of his childhood in Milton Edward Stewart All Black rugby player Daryl Tuffey test cricketer Arthur Anderson Martin surgeonReferences edit a b ArcGIS Web Application statsnz maps arcgis com Retrieved 24 January 2022 a b Population estimate tables NZ Stat Statistics New Zealand Retrieved 25 October 2023 Electric Light for Milton BRUCE HERALD paperspast natlib govt nz 17 March 1919 Retrieved 22 October 2021 Names amp Opening amp Closing Dates of Railway Stations in New Zealand by Juliet Scoble 2012 OPENING OF THE DUNEDIN AND CLUTHA RAILWAY OTAGO DAILY TIMES paperspast natlib govt nz 2 September 1875 Retrieved 1 March 2021 New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas First ed Quail Map Co 1965 pp 3 amp 4 Stations PDF NZR Rolling Stock Lists Retrieved 10 August 2020 Churchman amp Hurst 2001 p 46 AROUND MILTON BRUCE HERALD paperspast natlib govt nz 5 September 1879 Retrieved 2 March 2021 a b c Stations PDF NZR Rolling Stock Lists Retrieved 10 August 2020 Retrolens Survey SN8671 photo 2 7 October 1986 Retrolens Survey SN9457 photo 7 10 December 1995 TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS OTAGO WITNESS paperspast natlib govt nz 28 July 1855 Retrieved 2 March 2021 The Tokomairiro Valley Railway CLUTHA LEADER paperspast natlib govt nz 23 September 1875 Retrieved 2 March 2021 BRUCE HERALD paperspast natlib govt nz 10 March 1882 Retrieved 2 March 2021 Local and General Intelligence TUAPEKA TIMES paperspast natlib govt nz 28 June 1884 Retrieved 2 March 2021 BRUCE HERALD paperspast natlib govt nz 13 February 1900 Retrieved 2 March 2021 The Fortification Railway and Coal Company BRUCE HERALD paperspast natlib govt nz 5 April 1901 Retrieved 2 March 2021 TOKOMAIRIRO BRUCE HERALD paperspast natlib govt nz 28 April 1903 Retrieved 2 March 2021 BRUCE HERALD paperspast natlib govt nz 9 August 1906 Retrieved 2 March 2021 A Bruce Coal Industry BRUCE HERALD paperspast natlib govt nz 25 July 1905 Retrieved 2 March 2021 WARONUI MINE OTAGO DAILY TIMES paperspast natlib govt nz 11 January 1924 Retrieved 2 March 2021 Sale of Waronui Coalmine BRUCE HERALD paperspast natlib govt nz 30 April 1908 Retrieved 2 March 2021 1 63360 map Sheet OT139 148 www mapspast org nz 1924 Retrieved 2 March 2021 WARONUI COAL MINE OTAGO DAILY TIMES paperspast natlib govt nz 18 March 1932 Retrieved 2 March 2021 Sumpter D J amp Lewis J J 1949 Faith and toil The story of Tokomairiro Christchurch Whitcombe amp Tombs p 101 TOKOMAIRIRO The Bruce Herald 7 September 1880 p 2 123 State Hwy 1 Milton Otago Google Maps September 2020 Retrieved 23 October 2021 Bruce Herald paperspast natlib govt nz Retrieved 22 October 2021 Natalie Jackson Lars Brabyn and Dave Mare November 2016 New Zealand s towns and rural centres 1976 2013 experimental components of growth PDF University of Waikato a b Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census Statistics New Zealand March 2020 Milton 356400 2018 Census place summary Milton Reed A W 1975 Place names of New Zealand Wellington A H amp A W Reed ISBN 0 589 00933 8 p 426 Otago Corrections Facility Stephenson amp Turner Architects Retrieved 11 September 2019 Stuff www stuff co nz Retrieved 7 February 2024 Palin Michael 1997 Full Circle Great Britain BBC p 211 Milton School Ministry of Education School Profile educationcounts govt nz Ministry of Education Milton School Education Review Office Report ero govt nz Education Review Office Tokoiti School Official School Website tokoiti school nz Tokoiti School Ministry of Education School Profile educationcounts govt nz Ministry of Education Tokoiti School Education Review Office Report ero govt nz Education Review Office St Mary s School Ministry of Education School Profile educationcounts govt nz Ministry of Education St Mary s School Education Review Office Report ero govt nz Education Review Office Tokomairiro High School Official School Website tokohigh school nz Tokomairiro High School Ministry of Education School Profile educationcounts govt nz Ministry of Education Tokomairiro High School Education Review Office Report ero govt nz Education Review Office Gunn Alan 1977 Milton Otago Dunedin John McIndoe Ltd External links edit nbsp Media related to Milton New Zealand at Wikimedia Commons Aerial Photos of Milton Milton District website Historic photographs of Milton from the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa 1901 photo of first train at Fortification coal mineFurther reading editPanjabi Jayashree 1979 Milton the rural depression experience BA Hons Dunedin University of Otago hdl 10523 2699 Churchman Geoffrey B Hurst Tony 2001 1990 1991 The Railways of New Zealand A Journey through History Second ed Transpress New Zealand ISBN 0 908876 20 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Milton New Zealand amp oldid 1213937212 Education, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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