Canvastown

Canvastown is a locality at the point where the Wakamarina River joins the Pelorus River, in Marlborough, New Zealand. State Highway 6 runs through the area. Rai Valley is 17 km to the northwest. Havelock is 10 km to the east.[1][2]

Canvastown
Canvastown
Coordinates: 41°17′26″S 173°40′13″E
CountryNew Zealand
RegionMarlborough

The town was founded in 1864, after gold was discovered in the Wakamarina Valley. Up to 6000 miners came to make their fortunes. Where there had previously been a Māori Pā, streets of tents sprang up providing accommodation, restaurants and taverns to a population of about 3000 people. About 25,000 ounces (710,000 g) of gold was recovered in 1864.[3]

The surface gold was worked out within two years and most of the miners moved to new gold discoveries on the West Coast.[4][5] Steam dredges continued to work the river into the 20th century.[6]

Canvastown School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 5 and a roll of 29.[7] The school was built in 1877[8] and celebrated its 125th Jubilee in 2002.[9]

Marae

Te Hora Marae is located in Canvastown. It is the marae (meeting ground) of Ngāti Kuia and includes Te Hora wharenui (meeting house).[10][11]

In October 2020, the Government committed $32,318 from the Provincial Growth Fund to upgrade the marae, creating four jobs.[12]

See also

Notes
  1. Peter Dowling (editor) (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 60. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  2. Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 138. ISBN 1-877333-20-4.
  3. "Gold Discoveries – Wakamarina and the West Coast". Encyclopedia of New Zealand (1966).
  4. "Gold and gold mining – Other goldfields". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.
  5. McIntosh, Alister; Redman, William Edward; Allen, William Raymond, eds. (1940). Marlborough: A Provincial History. Blenheim: Marlborough Provincial Historical Committee. p. 241.
  6. Marlborough Historical Society (2005). Click – A Captured Moment – Marlborough's Early Heritage. Blenheim: Marlborough Historical Society. p. 200. ISBN 0-473-10475-X.
  7. "Te Kete Ipurangi – Canvastown School". Ministry of Education. Archived from the original on 23 March 2002.
  8. "Canvastown School (X1719)". National Register of Archives and Manuscripts. Archived from the original on 17 October 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2008.
  9. "Jubilees & reunions: Canvastown School" (– Scholar search). Education Gazette New Zealand. 81 (5). 25 March 2002.
  10. "Te Kāhui Māngai directory". tkm.govt.nz. Te Puni Kōkiri.
  11. "Māori Maps". maorimaps.com. Te Potiki National Trust.
  12. "Marae Announcements" (Excel). growregions.govt.nz. Provincial Growth Fund. 9 October 2020.
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