- Romahapa
Location map
New Zealand
label=Romahapa
lat_dir=S | lat_deg=46 | lat_min=21
lon_dir=E | lon_deg=169 | lon_min=44
position=right
width= 150
float=right
caption=Romahapa is a locality in the Catlins region of
Otago inNew Zealand 'sSouth Island . [Land Information New Zealand, [http://www.linz.govt.nz/apps/placenames/index.html?p=10964 "Place Name Detail: Romahapa"] , "Geographic Placenames Database", accessed 27 November 2007.] It is located between the towns of Balclutha andOwaka .Education
Romahapa has a small primary school, named Romahapa School. It was established in 1856 and is one of the oldest schools in
South Otago . [Romahapa School, [http://www.romahapa.school.nz/page1.htm "School Detail"] , accessed 27 November 2007. The title of oldest school in South Otago is also claimed byTokomairiro High School in Milton, which celebrated its 150th anniversary in June 2006. The latter school has undergone several organisational changes during that time, however, notably from District High School to High School.] In mid-October 2006, it celebrated its 150th anniversary. [ [http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/notices.php/notices.php?action=view&id=61898 "Romahapa School 150th Jubilee 1856-2006"] , "Education Gazette New Zealand" 85(16) [18 September 2006] .]Railway
On
15 December 1885 , abranch line railway from theMain South Line in Balclutha was opened to Romahapa. The village became a railway terminus for a few years and a number of bush tramways also operated in the area during the 1890s. Romahapa lost its terminal status on7 July 1891 when an extension opened toGlenomaru . ["New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas", fourth edition, edited by John Yonge (Essex: Quail Map Company, 1993), 28.] The railway line came to be known as theCatlins River Branch and ultimately terminated inTahakopa ; it serviced Romahapa until its closure on27 February 1971 . In the early 1900s, up to sixteen trains ran through Romahapa a week; these were predominantlymixed train s. [David Leitch and Brian Scott, "Exploring New Zealand's Ghost Railways", revised edition (Wellington: Grantham House, 1998 [1995] ), 103-4.] Today, the Romahapa station'sgoods shed remains in its old location, while the station building has been resited a few kilometres away, and the wooden railway bridge over the Romahapa Creek still stands. [Leitch and Scott, "Exploring New Zealand's Ghost Railways", 104-5.]References
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