Athol, New Zealand

Athol is a small town in Southland, New Zealand. It is located on State Highway 6, 55 km south of Queenstown, halfway between Lumsden and Kingston on the Southern Scenic Route. Farming has always been very important in the district, though in earlier times gold mining, centred on nearby Nokomai, was also significant. In recent decades tourist numbers have grown. The Mataura River is well known for the quality of its brown trout fishing, and the Around the Mountains Cycle Trail, opened in November 2014, has further boosted visitor figures.

Athol
Athol – March 2014
Athol
Coordinates: 45°30.6′S 168°34.5′E
Country New Zealand
IslandSouth Island
RegionSouthland region
Territorial authoritySouthland District
Population
 (2006)
 • Total87
Time zoneUTC+12 (NZST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (NZDT)
Postcode(s)
9749
Area code(s)03
Local iwiNgāi Tahu
Websitehttp://www.athol.co.nz

Name

There is some uncertainty over how Athol received its name. The first record of it is when the township was surveyed in 1863. Several suggestions have been made.[1] One is that it was named after Harry Athol, the proprietor of the first hotel. There is no early record of a person of this name and there may be a confusion with Harry Arthur, who ran the Athol accommodation house in the 1860s.[2] Another is that it was named after the home district in Scotland of early landowner W. B. Rogers. As Rogers was born in New Zealand and his father came from Cumberland, England, this is not likely to be the case.

It seems probable it was named after Atholl in Perthshire, Scotland and this might be because the Superintendent of Southland Province at the time of the survey, Dr. James Menzies, came from there.[3]

Geography

Athol is 275m above sea level. It lies on a small plain surrounded by mountains, including the Mid Dome (1478m) to the south and Flagstaff (1037m) to the east.

To the west of the township flow the Eyre Creek and smaller Quoich Creek, and these join the Mataura River about 2 km to the south.

Notable people

References
  1. Reed, A. W. (1975). Place names of New Zealand. Wellington: A. H. & A. W. Reed. ISBN 0-589-00933-8.
  2. Southland News, 30 November 1867
  3. Beattie, Herries (1979) The Southern Runs, Invercargill: Southland Times Co., p. 76
  4. "New Rush at the Mataura Bend". Lake Wakatip Mail (134). 10 August 1864. p. 2. Retrieved 2 September 2020 – via Papers Past.
  5. "Hadfield to Hart". www.presbyterian.org.nz.
  • Athol - Home provides more information on the Athol community

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