Balclutha, New Zealand

Town in Otago, New Zealand

Balclutha

Iwikatea (Māori)

Town

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

Coordinates: 46°14′S 169°45′E﻿ / ﻿46.233°S 169.750°E﻿ / -46.233; 169.750
Country| New Zealand
Region| Otago
Territorial authority| Clutha District
Ward| Balclutha
Electorates|

* Taieri
* Te Tai Tonga (Māori)

Government

• Territorial authority| Clutha District Council
• Regional council| Otago Regional Council
• Mayor of Clutha| Bryan Cadogan
• Taieri MP| Ingrid Leary
• Te Tai Tonga MP| Tākuta Ferris
Area

[1]

• Total

| 7.55 km2 (2.92 sq mi)
Population

(June 2024)[2]

• Total

| 4,400
• Density| 580/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Time zone| UTC+12 (NZST)
• Summer (DST)| UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)|

9230

Area code| 03
Local iwi| Ngāi Tahu

Balclutha (Māori: Iwikatea) is a town in South Otago, lying towards the end of the Clutha River, on the east coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is about halfway between Dunedin and Gore on the Main South Line railway, State Highway 1 and the Southern Scenic Route. Balclutha has a population of 4,400 (as of June 2024), and is the largest town in South Otago.

The Clutha District Council is based in Balclutha.

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

## History

[edit]

Known locally as "Clutha", Balclutha's name – and that of the river on which it stands – reflects the Scottish origin of the town's settlement. The name comes from Scottish Gaelic Baile Chluaidh (literally "Clyde Town", a poetic name for Dumbarton).

James McNeil from Bonhill, Dumbartonshire, Scotland, who is regarded as the town's founding father, arrived in 1853, via Port Chalmers in 1849. His farm was on the site of the present town, where he and the Provincial Government established a ferry service across the Clutha in 1857; as a result the town was initially called Clutha Ferry.

The Māori name for the area is Iwikatea, literally "Bleached bones" (a local Māori tribal battle in 1750[3] left the decomposing bodies of the defeated, their bones whitened in the sun).[4]

## Demographics

[edit]

Balclutha covers 7.55 km2 (2.92 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 4,400 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 583 people per km2.

Historical populationYear| Pop.| ±% p.a.

|
|

2006| 4,137| —
2013| 3,987| −0.53%
2018| 4,110| +0.61%
Source: [5]
John Street

Balclutha had a population of 4,110 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 123 people (3.1%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 27 people (−0.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,725 households, comprising 2,013 males and 2,100 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.96 males per female, with 678 people (16.5%) aged under 15 years, 741 (18.0%) aged 15 to 29, 1,734 (42.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 960 (23.4%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 86.7% European/Pākehā, 11.5% Māori, 3.4% Pasifika, 5.0% Asian, and 1.3% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 12.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 52.1% had no religion, 36.3% were Christian, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.7% were Hindu, 1.1% were Muslim, 0.6% were Buddhist and 1.3% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 339 (9.9%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,047 (30.5%) people had no formal qualifications. 354 people (10.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,710 (49.8%) people were employed full-time, 447 (13.0%) were part-time, and 96 (2.8%) were unemployed.[5]

Individual statistical areas  Name | Area (km2) | Population | Density (per km2) | Households | Median age | Median income

|
|
|
|
|
|

Balclutha South | 4.52 | 2,523 | 558 | 1,071 | 45.0 years | $28,400[6]
Balclutha North | 3.07 | 1,587 | 517 | 654 | 47.0 years | $29,800[7]
New Zealand |  |  |  |  | 37.4 years | $31,800

## Landmarks

[edit]

The Clutha River flows through the town. It is the largest river in New Zealand by volume of water, and the country's second longest after the Waikato. It provides the town with various recreational facilities, including fishing (brown trout), water skiing and power boating. Immediately to the south of the town it splits into two distributaries, the Matau and the Koau, the latter of which skirts the southern edge of the town.

Balclutha Road Bridge

The most prominent structure in the town is the concrete Balclutha Road Bridge across the Clutha, which was built in 1935. The original 1868 wooden bridge was washed away on 14 October 1878. Rebuilt in 1881, it was later considered unsuitable for motor vehicles.

The South Island Main Trunk Railway crosses the river some 800 metres downstream, near the junction where the Clutha River divides into the southern branch, known as the Kaoru (pied shag), and the northern the Matau (derived from Mata Au, the Maori name for the Clutha).

Most of Balclutha township lies on 'the flat' land which lies within a wide loop in the river to the south of the road bridge, but North Balclutha is on the hill to the north of the bridge and Rosebank on the hill to the south.

There are several natural features in and near Balclutha. Nearby at Benhar / Kaitangata is Lake Tuakitoto, and Matai Falls, a natural waterfall and scenic feature is in the Catlins.[8] The yellow-eyed penguin comes ashore for breeding in the Balclutha area at the edge of the Catlins, and The Nuggets are located at nearby Kaka Point.

## Education

[edit]

South Otago High School entrance

### Primary schools

[edit]

Balclutha School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[9] with a roll of 204 as of March 2025.[10]

Rosebank School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[11][12] with a roll of 217.[13]

St Joseph's School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[14] with a roll of 62.[15]

Clutha Valley Primary is an educational primary school for year 1 to 8 students.

### Secondary schools

[edit]

South Otago High School is a co-educational state secondary school for Year 9 to 13 students,[16][17] with a roll of 539.[18]

### Tertiary education

[edit]

There is one tertiary education facility, Telford, a campus of the Southern Institute of Technology.[19]

## Climate

[edit]

Climate data for Balclutha (1991–2020)

Month  | Jan  | Feb  | Mar  | Apr  | May  | Jun  | Jul  | Aug  | Sep  | Oct  | Nov  | Dec  | Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)  | 19.2
(66.6)  | 19.0
(66.2)  | 17.9
(64.2)  | 15.3
(59.5)  | 12.4
(54.3)  | 9.5
(49.1)  | 9.2
(48.6)  | 11.0
(51.8)  | 13.2
(55.8)  | 14.9
(58.8)  | 16.2
(61.2)  | 18.2
(64.8)  | 14.7
(58.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)  | 14.2
(57.6)  | 14.0
(57.2)  | 12.5
(54.5)  | 10.2
(50.4)  | 7.8
(46.0)  | 5.3
(41.5)  | 4.7
(40.5)  | 6.2
(43.2)  | 8.2
(46.8)  | 10.0
(50.0)  | 11.4
(52.5)  | 13.2
(55.8)  | 9.8
(49.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)  | 9.2
(48.6)  | 8.9
(48.0)  | 7.1
(44.8)  | 5.2
(41.4)  | 3.1
(37.6)  | 1.2
(34.2)  | 0.2
(32.4)  | 1.4
(34.5)  | 3.2
(37.8)  | 5.1
(41.2)  | 6.5
(43.7)  | 8.3
(46.9)  | 5.0
(40.9)
Average rainfall mm (inches)  | 69.0
(2.72)  | 62.5
(2.46)  | 40.3
(1.59)  | 59.9
(2.36)  | 74.9
(2.95)  | 53.4
(2.10)  | 60.7
(2.39)  | 32.2
(1.27)  | 45.2
(1.78)  | 62.1
(2.44)  | 52.9
(2.08)  | 45.4
(1.79)  | 658.5
(25.93)
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 213.9  | 186.3  | 168.3  | 130.3  | 116.1  | 109.7  | 112.0  | 143.1  | 171.3  | 199.2  | 200.8  | 214.4  | 1,965.4
Source: NIWA[20]

## Notable people

[edit]

Main category: People from Balclutha, New Zealand

* Alister Abernethy, politician
* Ronald Algie, politician, educated in Balclutha
* John Barr, poet
* Aubrey Begg, politician
* Tony Brown, All Black rugby union player
* Morgan Endicott-Davies, judoka
* Tony Ensor, rugby union player international sevens player
* Matt Faddes, rugby union player and international sevens player
* Phillipa Finch, netball player
* Aaron Gale, international cricketer
* Paul Grant, rugby union player and international rugby sevens player
* Hone Kouka, playwright
* Robbie Johnston, Olympic long-distance runner
* Ian Murray Mackerras, zoologist
* Clive Matthewson, politician
* Jan Mortimer, international draughts player
* Rachel Pullar, women's international cricketer
* Barbara Tilden, international hockey player
* Sarah Tsukigawa, women's international cricketer
* Rob Webster, virologist
* Debbie White, international netball player
* Charles Willocks, rugby union player and All Black
* Jared Wrennall, band member for Steriogram
* Edward (Ted) Bullmore,[21] surrealist artist
* Kazuyuki Kiyohei Tsukigawa, early Japanese New Zealand mariner

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "ArcGIS Web Application". statsnz.maps.arcgis.com. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
2. ^ a b "Aotearoa Data Explorer". Statistics New Zealand. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
3. ^ Waite, Fred. "Chapter VIII. — Who Were The South Otago Maoris?". Port Molyneux : the story of Maori and pakeha in South Otago : a centennial history : commemorating the landing of George Willsher and his companions at Willsher Bay, June 28, 1840 : with a programme for the unveiling of the centennial cairn, erected by the Clutha County Council, June 28, 1940. p. 32.
4. ^ "Balclutha". New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
5. ^ a b "Statistical area 1 dataset for 2018 Census". Statistics New Zealand. March 2020. Balclutha South (356500) and Balclutha North (356600).
6. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Balclutha South
7. ^ 2018 Census place summary: Balclutha North
8. ^ Bette Flagler. 2005
9. ^ "Balclutha School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
10. ^ "Balclutha School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
11. ^ "Rosebank School Official School Website". rosebankschool.co.nz.
12. ^ "Rosebank School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
13. ^ "Rosebank School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
14. ^ "St Joseph's School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
15. ^ "St Joseph's School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
16. ^ "South Otago High School Official School Website". sohs.school.nz.
17. ^ "South Otago High School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
18. ^ "South Otago High School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.
19. ^ "Search Results Web result with site links Telford - Southern Institute of Technology". sit.ac.nz. Southern Institute of Technology.
20. ^ "CliFlo – National Climate Database : Balclutha, Telford Ews". NIWA. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
21. ^ Furphy, John (2023). "Edward Aaron Alexander (Ted) Bullmore New Zealand, 1933-78". aasd.

## Notes

[edit]

* Bette Flagler. 2005. Adventure guide: New Zealand, Hunter Publishing, Inc, 800 pages ISBN 1-58843-405-2
* Reed, A.W. (2002) The Reed dictionary of New Zealand place names. Auckland: Reed Books. ISBN 0-790-00761-4.

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Balclutha at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
* e

Clutha District, New Zealand

Seat: Balclutha

Populated places|

| Balclutha Ward|

* Balclutha
* Benhar
* Finegand
* Otanomomo
* Port Molyneux
* Stirling

|

Bruce Ward|

* Clarksville
* Glenledi
* Manuka Creek
* Milburn
* Milton
* Moneymore
* Taieri Mouth
* Toko Mouth
* Tokoiti
* Waihola

Catlins Ward|

* Caberfeidh
* Glenomaru
* Jack's Bay
* Kaka Point
* Maclennan
* Nugget Point
* Owaka
* Papatowai
* Pounawea
* Pūerua
* Romahapa
* Tahakopa
* Tahora
* Tautuku

Clinton Ward|

* Clinton
* Waiwera South

Clutha Valley Ward|

* Clydevale

Kaitangata-Matau Ward|

* Inch Clutha
* Kaitangata
* Wangaloa

Lawrence-Tuapeka Ward|

* Beaumont
* Blue Spur
* Gabriel's Gully
* Lawrence
* Waitahuna

West Otago Ward|

* Crookston
* Edievale
* Heriot
* Kelso
* Tapanui

Geographic features|

* Cathedral Caves
* Catlins Ranges
* Catlins River
* McLean Falls
* Molyneux Bay
* Nugget Point
* Tahakopa River
* Ōwaka River
* Purakaunui Falls
* Mount Pye (New Zealand)
* Tautuku Peninsula
* Tautuku River
* Tokomairaro River
* Lake Waihola
* Lake Waipori

Facilities and attractions|

* Balclutha Aerodrome
* Balclutha Road Bridge
* Catlins Conservation Park
* Catlins River Branch
* Nugget Point Lighthouse
* Wreck of the Surat

Government|

* District Council
* Mayor
* Regional Council

Organisations|

* Big River Radio
* South Otago High School
* Telford
* Tokomairiro High School

History|

* Kaitangata Mine disaster

* v
* t
* e

Clutha River (Mata-Au)

Source: Southern Alps—Flows into: Pacific Ocean

Administrative areas|

* Otago Region
* Queenstown–Lakes District
* Central Otago District
* Clutha District

Towns and settlements (upstream to downstream)|

* Wānaka
* Albert Town
* Luggate
* Lowburn
* Cromwell
* Clyde
* Alexandra
* Lake Roxburgh
* Roxburgh
* Teviot
* Ettrick
* Millers Flat
* Beaumont
* Tuapeka Mouth
* Clydevale
* Balclutha
* Stirling
* Kaitangata
* Port Molyneux

Major tributaries (upstream to downstream by confluence)|

* Makarora River
* Matukituki River
* Hāwea River
* Cardrona River
* Lindis River
* Kawarau River
* Manuherikia River
* Teviot River
* Tuapeka River
* Pomahaka River
* Waitāhuna River

Lakes in catchment (upstream to downstream by location or tributary)|

* Lake Wānaka
* Lake Hāwea
* Lake Dunstan
* Lake Wakatipu
* Greenland Reservoir
* Manorburn Reservoir
* Manorburn Dam
* Butchers Dam
* Lake Roxburgh
* Lake Tuakitoto

Islands in catchment (upstream to downstream by location or tributary)|

* Mou Waho
* Pigeon Island
* Pig Island / Mātau
* Birch Island
* Inch Clutha

Other features (upstream to downstream)|

* Central Otago wine region
* Deadman's Point Bridge
* Old Cromwell Bridge
* Cromwell Gorge
* Clyde Dam
* Alexandra bridges
* Roxburgh Dam
* Kelso
* Balclutha Road Bridge

Longest New Zealand rivers|

* 1: Waikato
* 2: Clutha
* 3: Whanganui
* 4: Taieri
* 5: Rangitīkei
* 6: Mataura
* 7: Waiau
* 8: Waiau Toa / Clarence
* 9: Waitaki
* 10: Ōreti
* 11: Rangitaiki
* 12: Manawatū

Authority control databases

National|

* United States
* Israel

Other|

* Yale LUX

*[Pop.]: Population
*[±% p.a.]: Per annum growth rate
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