West Eyreton

West Eyreton is a small rural village in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located west of Kaiapoi and northwest of Eyreton and is named after Edward John Eyre, a 19th century lieutenant governor of the South Island (then known as New Munster). The 2001 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings revealed that Eyreton and its surrounding area had a usually resident population of 1,146, an increase of 306 or 36.4% since the 1996 census. This population was perfectly split between males and females; 573 each.

In the 1870s, appalling transport conditions in the area led to the construction of the Eyreton Branch railway line, which opened on 17 December 1875. Despite the implication of its name, the line ran to the north of Eyreton and originally terminated in West Eyreton. The status of West Eyreton as a railway terminus did not last long, as an extension connecting the Eyreton Branch with the Oxford Branch was opened on 1 February 1878. When this connection was cut on 9 February 1931, terminus status did not revert to West Eyreton as five kilometres of the extension was retained and Horrelville became the branch's terminus. On 26 May 1954, low traffic led to the closure of the line. Today, little remains of West Eyreton's former link to the national rail network besides some of the old line's formation and a loading bank at the site of the village's station.

External links

* [http://www2.stats.govt.nz/domino/external/web/CommProfiles.nsf/FindInfobyArea/586601-au 2001 census data and community profile]
* [http://www.westeyreton.school.nz/ West Eyreton School homepage] - has a [http://www.westeyreton.school.nz/school_info/history.htm history page] about the school and community.