Wyndham, New Zealand

Wyndham is a rural town of 550 people in the South Island of New Zealand in the Southland region, 45 km (28 mi) east of Invercargill and 25 km (15 mi) south of Gore. The original Māori name of the locality was Mokoreta (clear or sweet water).[1]

Wyndham

Balaclava Street, Wyndham

The name "Wyndham" was first used in the district when John Anderson named his runs 161 and 162 Upper Windham Station and Lower Windham Station in 1857. The name was soon mis-spelt to its more common form and the Mokoreta river also became known as the Wyndham river. The town was then named in 1869 for the adjacent river, so indirectly named for General Sir Charles Ash Windham who fought in the Crimean War. The streets are in turn named for events, places, battles and personalities from that war. The town was initially surveyed in 1869 and gazetted a town district in 1882.[2]

Wyndham is situated on the east banks of the Mataura River, between the Mimihau Stream to the north and the Wyndham (Mokoreta) River to the south. Protected now by a floodbank, Wyndham is a service centre for the surrounding districts with a shopping centre, library, museum and hotel. For eighty years, it was served by the Wyndham Branch railway which provided a connection with the Main South Line, and for forty years, an extension past Wyndham was operated to Glenham.

Wyndham has a primary school, Wyndham Primary School, whose principal is Kim Scott and educates students between year zero and year six.[3] Situated directly beside the primary school is Menzies College, Wyndham's secondary school. Menzies College has approximately 300 students who range from year seven to year 13. The current principal is Gerry Ward.[4]

A recreational area has a golf course, race course, rugby ground, softball diamond, bowling green, tennis/netball courts and camping ground. Brown trout fishing is within walking distance as well. The town used to host the Wyndham street races as part of the Burt Monro Challenge, Wyndham one day street racing event of the week-long calendar. The biggest current gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts in the Southern Hemisphere.

Wyndham originally had a dairy factory established in 1885 and a flax milling factory named The Field-Gibson Flax Milling Company established in 1903, but these have both long since closed.[5]