Fairlie, New Zealand
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Fairlie is a
Mackenzie District Mackenzie District is a local government district on New Zealand's South Island, administered by the Mackenzie District Council. It is part of the larger Canterbury Region. The region takes its name from the Mackenzie Basin, an elliptical inter ...
service town (or township) located in the
Canterbury Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the county of Kent, England; it was a county borough until 1974. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. The city has a mild oceanic climat ...
region of the
South Island The South Island ( , 'the waters of Pounamu, Greenstone') is the largest of the three major islands of New Zealand by surface area, the others being the smaller but more populous North Island and Stewart Island. It is bordered to the north by ...
of New Zealand. The estimated population was Being on state highway 8 between
Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...
(182 km, 2 hours 20 minutes drive) and Queenstown (300 km 3.5 hours drive), tourism is fast becoming a major industry within the town. Kimbell is 8 km west of Fairlie via state highway 8. Geraldine is 45 km east via state highway 79 and
Timaru Timaru (; ) is a port city in the southern Canterbury Region of New Zealand, located southwest of Christchurch and about northeast of Dunedin on the eastern Pacific Ocean, Pacific coast of the South Island. The Timaru urban area is home to peo ...
is 58 km southeast of Fairlie via state highway 8. Fairlie sits at an altitude of 301 metres above sea level. From 1884 to 1968, the town was served by the
Fairlie Branch The Fairlie Branch (also known as the Eversley Branch) was a branch line railway in southern Canterbury, New Zealand, Canterbury which formed part of New Zealand's Rail transport in New Zealand, national railway network. Construction began in ...
railway,"Opening of the Railway to Fairlie Creek"
''Timaru Herald'' (31 January 1884): 3.
though until 1934, this
branch line A branch line is a secondary railway line which branches off a more important through route, usually a main line. A very short branch line may be called a spur line. Branch lines may serve one or more industries, or a city or town not located ...
actually terminated a kilometre beyond Fairlie in Eversley. Fairlie is commonly known as the gateway to the
Mackenzie Basin The Mackenzie Basin (), popularly and traditionally known as the Mackenzie Country, is an elliptical intermontane river basin, basin located in the Mackenzie District, Mackenzie and Waitaki Districts, near the centre of the South Island of Ne ...
. The town was initially called ''Fairlie's Creek'', a name purportedly chosen by David Hamilton, the brother-in-law of James Lister (or Lizter), who had built a boarding house near the creek. The name Hamilton had been suggested, but was rejected due to similarity to the City of Hamilton in the North Island. David Hamilton suggested the town be named Fairlie after Fairlie, Scotland, which he had visited as part of his honeymoon. After 1892, the town's name was shortened to Fairlie. The
ÅŒpihi River The ÅŒpihi River flows through south Canterbury, in New Zealand's South Island. It has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because it supports breeding colonies of the endangered black-billed gull. Description T ...
runs past Fairlie.


Climate

Fairlie has mild summers and frosty winters. In summer, temperatures exceed an average of 30 days a year and on a few afternoons most years, while in winter temperatures drop below an average of 113 nights a year.


Demographics

Fairlie is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Fairlie had a population of 885 at the
2018 New Zealand census The 2018 New Zealand census, which took place on Tuesday 6 March 2018, was the thirty-fourth national census in New Zealand. The population of New Zealand was counted as 4,699,755 – an increase of 457,707 (10.79%) over the 2013 census. Resu ...
, an increase of 24 people (2.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 18 people (2.1%) since the 2006 census. There were 378 households, comprising 435 males and 447 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.97 males per female. The median age was 47.3 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 138 people (15.6%) aged under 15 years, 141 (15.9%) aged 15 to 29, 369 (41.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 234 (26.4%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 89.5% European/
PÄkehÄ ''PÄkehÄ'' (or ''Pakeha''; ; ) is a MÄori language, MÄori-language word used in English, particularly in New Zealand. It generally means a non-Polynesians, Polynesian New Zealanders, New Zealander or more specifically a European New Zeala ...
, 7.8%
MÄori MÄori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the MÄori people * MÄori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * MÄori language, the language of the MÄori people of New Zealand * MÄori culture * Cook Islanders, the MÄori people of the Co ...
, 0.3% Pasifika, 5.8% Asian, and 1.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 20.3, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 45.4% had no religion, 44.4% were
Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
, 0.3% had
MÄori religious beliefs MÄori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the MÄori people * MÄori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * MÄori language, the language of the MÄori people of New Zealand * MÄori culture * Cook Islanders, the MÄori people of the Co ...
, 0.7% were
Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
and 1.0% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 105 (14.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 189 (25.3%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $25,700, compared with $31,800 nationally. 78 people (10.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 348 (46.6%) people were employed full-time, 123 (16.5%) were part-time, and 6 (0.8%) were unemployed.


Opua statistical area

The Opua statistical area surrounds but does not include Fairlie. It covers and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. Opua had a population of 1,347 at the
2018 New Zealand census The 2018 New Zealand census, which took place on Tuesday 6 March 2018, was the thirty-fourth national census in New Zealand. The population of New Zealand was counted as 4,699,755 – an increase of 457,707 (10.79%) over the 2013 census. Resu ...
, an increase of 84 people (6.7%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 240 people (21.7%) since the 2006 census. There were 501 households, comprising 726 males and 621 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.17 males per female. The median age was 40.0 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 294 people (21.8%) aged under 15 years, 240 (17.8%) aged 15 to 29, 660 (49.0%) aged 30 to 64, and 153 (11.4%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 95.5% European/
PÄkehÄ ''PÄkehÄ'' (or ''Pakeha''; ; ) is a MÄori language, MÄori-language word used in English, particularly in New Zealand. It generally means a non-Polynesians, Polynesian New Zealanders, New Zealander or more specifically a European New Zeala ...
, 6.0%
MÄori MÄori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the MÄori people * MÄori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * MÄori language, the language of the MÄori people of New Zealand * MÄori culture * Cook Islanders, the MÄori people of the Co ...
, 1.1% Pasifika, 2.0% Asian, and 1.6% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. The percentage of people born overseas was 12.9, compared with 27.1% nationally. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 49.7% had no religion, 41.0% were
Christian A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism, monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus in Christianity, Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the wo ...
, 0.7% were
Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as SanÄtanÄ«s) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym SanÄtana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...
, 0.2% were
Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
and 0.2% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 165 (15.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 192 (18.2%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $36,600, compared with $31,800 nationally. 171 people (16.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 633 (60.1%) people were employed full-time, 198 (18.8%) were part-time, and 12 (1.1%) were unemployed.


Governance

The Mackenzie District Council provide local government services to Fairlie. The Mackenzie District Council offices are located at 53 Main Street, Fairlie. Fairlie is part of the
Waitaki Waitaki District is a territorial authority district that is located in the Canterbury and Otago regions of the South Island of New Zealand. It straddles the traditional border between the two regions, the Waitaki River, and its seat is Oamaru. ...
electorate.
Miles Anderson Miles Anderson (born 23 October 1947) is a British stage and screen actor, born in the colony of Southern Rhodesia, who has appeared in television serials both in the United Kingdom, and North America. He appeared as Alistair the photographer ...
of the
National Party National Party or Nationalist Party may refer to: Active parties * National Party of Australia, commonly known as ''The Nationals'' * Bangladesh: ** Bangladesh Nationalist Party ** Jatiya Party (Ershad) a.k.a. ''National Party (Ershad)'' * Californ ...
is the current member of parliament.


Education

Fairlie has three schools: * Fairlie School is a state contributing primary (Year 1 to 6) school. It has students as of * Mackenzie College is a state Year 7 to 13 secondary school. It has students as of * Saint Joseph's School is a state-integrated Catholic full primary (Year 1 to 8) school. It has students as of


Facilities and sports


Mackenzie agricultural and pastoral show

Fairlie hosts the annual Mackenzie District Agricultural and Pastoral show every Easter Monday. The first show was in 1899. The 100th edition ran in 1998. The show has been cancelled three times. Firstly in 1925 because of a polio epidemic, in 1943 due to WWII and 1948 due to an infantile paralysis epidemic.


Ski fields

Fairlie is near the Two Thumb mountain range. There are two ski fields close located nearby.
Mount Dobson Mount Dobson is the common name for Dobson Peak as a result of being used for the name of a ski resort near Fairlie in South Canterbury, South Island of New Zealand. There is an official Mount Dobson being high at the northern end of the South ...
Ski Field is 28 km drive from Fairlie, as is Fox Peak Ski Field.


Golf course

The Fairlie Golf Club is an 18-hole golf course located on Talbot Street. The flat course has a 5526 metre long men's course with par being 70 and a 5017 metre long women's course with par being 72. The Fairlie 500 is a 72-hole tournament which is played on the third weekend of March each year. In April each year, the Glencairn ladies pairs tournament is held.


Rugby

The Mackenzie rugby football club is based in Fairlie at Strathconan Park. It plays in all grades in the South Canterbury Rugby Union competitions. The Fairlie Creek Football Club was established in 1884 and played the rival Albury club two to three times each year initially. The Mackenzie sub union was formed in 1907 after the formation of the Cricklewood Club in 1907. Two other teams, Cave in 1911 and Alpine in 1912, also joined the Mackenzie sub union. After
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, Tekapo and Pukaki also joined the Mackenzie sub union. In 1953, after the retirement of a number of players, the various clubs merged to form the Mackenzie rugby football club.


Swimming pool

The Strathconan pool is located on School Road, Fairlie. It is open between October and March each year. The facility includes a 25-metre heated indoor swimming pool. Management of the pool was transferred from the Mackenzie District Council to Belgravia Leisure for the 2020–2021 season.


Ice skating

The Fairlie Ice Rink is located between the Fairlie Domain and the Fairlie Campground. The ice rink is based on a man made pond and is reliant on cold weather which determines the length of the ice skating season. The location of the ice rink is two degrees Celsius colder than the town. The ice rink has been operating since the 1930s.


Half marathon

The Mackenzie Half-Marathon which first ran in July 2020 starts in Fairlie. 355 runners competed. The second edition ran in July 2021. The course includes a river crossing.


Skateboarding

A $100,000 skateboard park was proposed for Fairlie. It was finished in early 2021 and would have cost the community significantly more had not 1200 hours of work been completed by local volunteers.


Fairlie heritage museum

The Fairlie heritage museum contains a collection of farm machinery, as well as many buildings including the old railway station. The Fairlie Heritage Museum has one of the biggest vintage wagon and carriage collections in the country.


Notable residents

Jack Lovelock John Edward Lovelock (5 January 1910 – 28 December 1949) was a New Zealand athlete who became the world 1500m and mile record holder and 1936 Olympic champion in the 1500 metres. Early life Lovelock was born in the town of Crushington ...
lived in Fairlie between 1919 and 1923. He was
dux ''Dux'' (, : ''ducēs'') is Latin for "leader" (from the noun ''dux, ducis'', "leader, general") and later for duke and its variant forms (doge, duce, etc.). During the Roman Republic and for the first centuries of the Roman Empire, ''dux'' coul ...
of the primary section of Fairlie School. The Jack Lovelock memorial track is an eight kilometre walking trail in Fairlie, named in his honour.


Notable buildings

The Gladstone Grand Hotel is a category two listed building built in 1884. The Mount Cook Line building (which were formerly stables dating from 1906). This category two building was listed in 1984. Fairlie is known for its pies produced at the Fairlie Bakehouse. There are two church buildings, St Columba on Main Street and St Stephen's on Kirke Street. They are part of Mackenzie Cooperating Parish, an
ecumenical Ecumenism ( ; alternatively spelled oecumenism)also called interdenominationalism, or ecumenicalismis the concept and principle that Christians who belong to different Christian denominations should work together to develop closer relationships ...
parish. Saint Patrick and All Saints Catholic Church is located at 7 Gall Street. In 2017, Westpac closed their Fairlie branch which left the town without a bank. File:Gladstone Grand Hotel 27.jpg, Gladstone Grand Hotel (July 2021) File:Gladstone Grand Hotel.jpg, Mt Cook Line Building, next to the Gladstone Grand Hotel (July 2021) File:St Columba Church, Fairlie 002.jpg, St Columba Church on Main Street (November 2011) File:St Patrick's and All Saints Parish.jpg, alt=, St Patrick's and All Saints Catholic Church (July 2022) File:Fairlie 38.jpg, alt=, St Stephen's Anglican Church, Fairlie (July 2022)


References


External links

{{Mackenzie District Mackenzie District Populated places in the Canterbury Region