Leithfield

Leithfield is a small town in north Canterbury, New Zealand. It is on State Highway 1, 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) south of Amberley and 42 kilometres (26 mi) north of Christchurch and 11.8 kilometers north of Waikuku. The Leithfield area consists of two semi-distinct areas, Leithfield Beach to the east of State Highway 1 and Leithfield Village adjacent to and immediately to the west of State Highway 1. Leithfield sits just south of the South Branch of the Kowai River.

Leithfield
Leithfield
Coordinates: 43°12′S 172°44′E
Area
 • Total456.6676 km2 (176.3203 sq mi)
Population
 (2006)[2]
 • Total2,385
 • Density5.2/km2 (14/sq mi)

Though Leithfield has the second largest and second fastest growing population (2385 at the 2006 census) in the Hurunui District, its regional importance is behind that of Amberley with its wine industry and the tourist center of Hanmer Springs. This is due in large part to its proximity to the district center at Amberley. Despite this proximity, the Leithfield community supports a school, library, summer swimming pool, and many small businesses.

History

Leithfield was founded in 1857 by John Leith.[3] He purchased a windmill in 1862 and brought it from Christchurch to Leithfield in order to mill wheat. The mill building was 23 meters tall and each sail was 12 meters long making it the tallest building in Canterbury at the time. Unfortunately the Canterbury nor 'westerly winds damaged the mill building making it inoperable.[4] In 1880, Leithfield was a town of 700 people. It had three churches, a police station, a court, a school, three hotels and five shops.[5]

Education

Leithfield School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[6] with a roll of 120 as of March 2020.[7]

Notes
  1. "2006 Census Meshblock Dataset". Archived from the original on 14 August 2008.
  2. "2006 Census Data Final Population Counts". Archived from the original on 14 August 2008.
  3. "Leithfield - Hurunui District Council". hurunui.govt.nz. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  4. "Leith's field of dreams". Stuff. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  5. "Leith's field of dreams". Stuff. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 11 October 2020.
  6. "Leithfield School Ministry of Education School Profile". educationcounts.govt.nz. Ministry of Education.
  7. "Leithfield School Education Review Office Report". ero.govt.nz. Education Review Office.


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