Alexandra, New Zealand: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Town in Otago, New Zealand}} |
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<div style="float:right;"> |
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{{For|the North Island town formerly called Alexandra|Pirongia}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} |
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{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left:0.5em" |
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{{Use New Zealand English|date=December 2021}} |
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|----- |
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{{Infobox settlement |
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! colspan="3" bgcolor="#FFDDAA" | Alexandra |
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| name = Alexandra |
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|----- |
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| native_name = Manuherikia or Areketanara {{small|([[Māori language|Māori]])}} |
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! colspan="3" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="center" | {{Location map |
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| native_name_lang = <!-- ISO 639-2 code e.g. "fr" for French. If more than one, use {{lang}} instead --> |
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|New Zealand transparent |
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| settlement_type = [[Urban areas of New Zealand|Minor urban area]] |
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|label=Alexandra |
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| image_skyline = Aerial Photo of Alexandra, New Zealand.jpg |
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|lat_dir=S | lat_deg=45 | lat_min=15 |
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| image_alt = Skyline of Alexandra in May 2022 |
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|lon_dir=E | lon_deg=169 | lon_min=22 |
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| imagesize = 300px |
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|position=left |
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| image_caption = Skyline of Alexandra in May 2022 |
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|width= 150 |
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| nickname = |
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|float=center |
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| pushpin_map = |
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|caption= |
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| image_map = {{infobox mapframe|coord={{coord|45|14|57|S|169|22|47|E}}|zoom=9}} |
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| coordinates = {{coord|45|14|57|S|169|22|47|E|region:NZ-OTA|display=inline,title}} |
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| subdivision_type = Country |
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| subdivision_name = New Zealand |
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| subdivision_type1 = Region |
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| subdivision_name1 = [[Otago]] |
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| subdivision_type2 = Territorial authority |
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| subdivision_name2 = [[Central Otago District]] |
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| subdivision_type3 = Ward |
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| subdivision_name3 = Vincent Ward |
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| subdivision_type4 = Community |
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| subdivision_name4 = Vincent Community |
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| seat_type = Electorates |
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| seat = {{ubl|[[Southland (New Zealand electorate)|Waitaki]]|[[Te Tai Tonga]] (Māori)}} |
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| leader_title = {{nowrap|Territorial authority}} |
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| leader_name = [[Central Otago District Council]] |
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| leader_title1 = Regional council |
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| leader_name1 = [[Otago Regional Council]] |
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| leader_title2 = [[Mayor of Central Otago]] |
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| leader_name2 = {{NZ officeholder data|Central Otago District Mayor|y}} |
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| leader_title3 = [[Southland (New Zealand electorate)|Southland MP]] |
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| leader_name3 = {{NZ officeholder data|Southland MP|y}} |
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| leader_title4 = [[Te Tai Tonga|Te Tai Tonga MP]] |
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| leader_name4 = {{NZ officeholder data|Te Tai Tonga MP|y}} |
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| unit_pref = Metric |
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| area_footnotes = <ref name="Area"/> |
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| area_total_km2 = 9.76 |
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| population_footnotes = {{NZ population data 2018||||y}} |
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| population_total = {{NZ population data 2018|Alexandra|y}} |
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| population_as_of = {{NZ population data 2018|||y}} |
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| population_density_km2 = auto |
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| postal_code_type = Postcode |
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| postal_code = 9320 |
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| website = {{URL|http://www.alexandra.co.nz/}} |
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| blank_name = Local [[iwi]] |
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| blank_info = [[Ngāi Tahu]] |
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| elevation_m = 150 |
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| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web | url=https://elevation.maplogs.com/poi/alexandra_new_zealand.13202.html | title=Worldwide Elevation Finder }}</ref> |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Alexandra''' ([[Māori language|Māori]]: ''Manuherikia''<ref>[http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc04Cycl-t1-body1-d5-d51-d18.html The Cyclopedia of New Zealand: Alexandra]</ref><ref>[http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/alexandra Teara 1966: Alexandra]</ref> or ''Areketanara''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maorilanguage.net/maori-words-phrases/place-names-new-zealand-ingoa-wahi-o-aotearoa/|title=Place Names of New Zealand – Ingoa Wāhi o Aotearoa|publisher=Native Council|access-date=20 February 2018}}</ref>) is a town in the [[Central Otago]] district of the [[South Island]] of New Zealand. It is on the banks of the [[Clutha River]] (at the confluence of the [[Manuherikia River]]), on [[New Zealand State Highway 8|State Highway 8]], {{convert|188|km}} by road from [[Dunedin]] and {{convert|33|km}} south of [[Cromwell, New Zealand|Cromwell]]. The nearest towns to Alexandra via [[State Highway 8 (New Zealand)|state highway 8]] are [[Clyde, New Zealand|Clyde]] seven kilometres to the northwest and [[Roxburgh, New Zealand|Roxburgh]] forty kilometres to the south. [[State Highway 85 (New Zealand)|State highway 85]] also connects Alexandra to [[Omakau]], [[Lauder, New Zealand|Lauder]], [[Oturehua]], [[Ranfurly, New Zealand|Ranfurly]] and on to [[Palmerston, New Zealand|Palmerston]] on the East Otago coast. |
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|----- |
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| bgcolor="#FFCCBB" rowspan="1" | [[New Zealand urban area|Urban Area]] |
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| bgcolor="#FFEEDD" | Population || 4,827 (2006) |
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|----- |
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| bgcolor="#FFCCBB" rowspan="3" | [[Territorial Authorities of New Zealand|Territorial<br>Authority]] |
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| bgcolor="#FFEEDD" | Name || Central Otago District Council |
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|----- |
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| bgcolor="#FFEEDD" | Population || 16,950 (2006 est.) |
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|----- |
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| bgcolor="#FFEEDD" | Extent || |
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Includes the towns of [[Alexandra]]<br> |
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[[Clyde, New Zealand|Clyde]], [[Cromwell, New Zealand|Cromwell]], [[Roxburgh, New Zealand|Roxburgh]],<br> and [[Ranfurly, New Zealand|Ranfurly]] |
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|----- |
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| bgcolor="#FFCCBB" | [[List of regions in New Zealand|Regional<br>Council]] |
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| bgcolor="#FFEEDD" | Name || [[Otago]] |
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|} |
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</div> |
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'''Alexandra''' is a town in the [[Central Otago]] district of the [[Otago]] region of [[New Zealand]]. It is located on the banks of the [[Clutha River]] (at the confluence of the [[Manuherikia River]]), on [[New Zealand State Highway network|State Highway 8]], 188 km by road from [[Dunedin]] and 33 km south of [[Cromwell, New Zealand|Cromwell]]. |
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The town of Alexandra is home to {{NZ population data 2018|Alexandra|y}} people as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||.}} |
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At the time of the [[New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings|2006 census]], the permanent population was 4,827, an increase of 423 since 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/census/census-outputs/quickstats/snapshotplace2.htm?id=3608500|title= QuickStats About Alexandra|publisher=[[Statistics New Zealand]]|date=2006|accessdate=2009-04-20}}</ref> 23.1 per cent of the population (higher than the national average) was aged over 65.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/census/census-outputs/quickstats/snapshotplace2.htm?id=3608500&tab=AgeSex|title= QuickStats About Alexandra - Age & Sex|publisher=[[Statistics New Zealand]]|date=2006|accessdate=2009-04-20}}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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The town was founded during the [[Otago gold rush]] in the 1860s, and was named after [[Alexandra of Denmark]] by John Aitken Connell who surveyed the town. In a two-month period in 1862, two gold miners called [[Horatio Hartley]] and [[Christopher Reilly]] collected 34 kilograms of gold from the Cromwell Gorge, Hartley and Reilly travelled together to New Zealand after meeting in the Californian gold rush. They initially worked in secret to obtain as much gold as they could along the Cromwell gorge. In order to obtain the government's reward on offer for gold discoveries, they made the site public.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=Alexandra, Central Otago District, Otago Region, New Zealand|url=https://www.mindat.org/loc-15228.html|access-date=2021-01-09|website=www.mindat.org}}</ref> |
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The town was founded during the [[Central Otago goldrush]] in the 1860s, and was named after [[Alexandra of Denmark]]. It was known to miners of the day by several names: the "Lower Township", the "Junction Township", and "Manuherikia". (The "Upper Township" was Dunstan, now [[Clyde, New Zealand|Clyde]].) |
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This made the [[Clutha River|Clutha river]] and its tributaries famous for their gold.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Lessons from the Wasteland|url=https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/lessons-from-the-wasteland/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=New Zealand Geographic|language=en-NZ}}</ref> In a short time, 2000 miners had descended on Alexandra. Conditions were uninviting initially with a lack of food, equipment and wood.<ref name=":2" /> Many of the early miners were Chinese of Cantonese origin, with some suggesting Chinese made up as much as 50% of the mining population.<ref name=":2" /> During the goldrush days, a gold dredge named the ''Lady Molyneux'' captured 1234 ounces of gold in just one week.<ref name=":1" /> Goldmining the Clutha was a dangerous occupation. In 1863, there were 37 men who drowned in the Clutha river or its tributaries. Of these, 12 could not be named.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Knight|first=Catherine|title=New Zealand's Rivers An Environmental History|publisher=Canterbury University Press|year=2016|location=Christchurch, New Zealand|pages=59|bibcode=2016nzra.book.....K }}</ref> In the 1870s, Chinese miners moved in to re-work claims that others had sold on.<ref name="mindat.org">{{Cite web|title=Conroys Gully, Alexandra, Central Otago District, Otago Region, New Zealand|url=https://www.mindat.org/loc-298394.html|access-date=2021-01-09|website=www.mindat.org}}</ref> By 1889, most of the easy to access gold had been mined and leases were sold for virtually nothing. At this stage, stone fruit orchards gradually took over the local economy.<ref name="mindat.org" />[[File:Alexandra Old Post Office 003.JPG|thumb|The old Post Office, Alexandra]]When the river had run out of gold, the river banks were dredged. This was termed ‘paddock dredging’. This continued day and night between 1896 and 1924 and again between 1951 and 1963.<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 July 2003|title=Alexandra & Immediate District Tour 2 Historic Sites VIEWING & WALKING|url=https://goldfieldstrust.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/Updated_Tour_21-_doc.pdf}}</ref> The noise was ever present and loud and it also produced significant quantities of dust which plagued Alexandra. If the dredging hit hard rock, it interrupted the power supply to Alexandra and the lights of the entire town dimmed.<ref name=":1" /> The tailings from all the dredging now cover 170 hectares in a historic reserve known as the Earnscleugh Dredge Tailings.<ref name=":1" /> |
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In 1878, the Clutha river flooded many towns including Clyde and Alexandra. The Manuherikia valley "resembled an inland sea".<ref>{{Cite web|last=McLintock|first=A. H.|date=1966|title='Flood and Storm in Central Otago, 1878' in An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand|url=http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/1966/disasters-and-mishaps-flood-hazards/page-3|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528073516/http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/disasters-and-mishaps-flood-hazards/page-3 |archive-date=28 May 2015 |access-date=28 December 2020|website=Te Ara}}</ref> As a result of this event, the Alexandra suspension bridge was constructed between 1879 and 1882 after the bridge at Clyde failed in the 1878 flood.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Geoffrey Thornton|first=and Karen Astwood|date=29 November 2010|title=Alexandra Bridge Piers and Towers|url=https://d2rjvl4n5h2b61.cloudfront.net/media/documents/alexandra_bridge_registerreport.pdf}}</ref> The [[Otago Central Railway]] line from Dunedin into Central Otago reached Alexandra in December 1906.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Otago Central Rail Trail South Island NZ – History of the region – Off The Rails|url=https://www.offtherails.co.nz/history|access-date=2021-01-09|website=www.offtherails.co.nz}}</ref><ref name="History">{{Cite web|title=History|url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/otago/places/clyde-middlemarch-area/things-to-do/otago-central-rail-trail/history/|access-date=2021-01-09|website=www.doc.govt.nz|language=en-nz}}</ref> |
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Many orchards were destroyed in the 1980s as a result of construction, 10 km upriver, of the [[Clyde Dam|Clyde High Dam]], which is the country's third largest [[hydroelectric]] [[power station]]. |
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Originally referred to as "Alexandra South" to distinguish it from a North Island town with the same name, the word "South" was dropped in 1867 after the North Island town was renamed to ''[[Pirongia]]''.<ref>[http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/alexandra Teara – Encyclopedia of New Zealand: ALEXANDRA]</ref> It was known to miners of the day by several names: the "Lower Township", the "Junction Township", and "Manuherikia".<ref name="buru" /> (The "Upper Township" was Dunstan, now [[Clyde, New Zealand|Clyde]].) |
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[[File:Alexandra Bank of New Zealand 002.JPG|thumb|Alexandra Bank of New Zealand]] |
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Many orchards were destroyed in the 1980s as a result of construction, 10 km upriver, of the [[Clyde Dam|Clyde High Dam]], which is the country's third largest [[hydroelectric]] [[power station]]. The railway line was closed after the completion of the Clyde Dam in 1990 and the lines were removed in 1990. In 2000, the [[Otago Central Rail Trail]] was opened allowing mountain bikers and walkers to traverse the rail corridor from Clyde through Alexandra and on to Middlemarch.<ref name="History" /> |
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==Geography== |
==Geography== |
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[[File:The Alexandra Bridge Towers.jpg|thumb|The Alexandra Bridge Towers in autumn, remnants of the old bridge next to the 1958 arch bridge.]] |
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Alexandra is the service centre for a significant stone-fruit industry, which is celebrated by a blossom festival in the town each spring. [[Vineyard|Grape production]] is another major industry in the [[Central Otago Wine Region]]. Alexandra has the world's southernmost vineyard, [http://www.blackridge.co.nz/ Black Ridge]. |
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[[File:State Highway 8 bridge Alexandra, New Zealand.jpg|thumb|The 1958 steel [[truss arch bridge]] carrying State Highway 8 across the Clutha River at Alexandra]]The town is a popular holiday destination mainly due to the hot and sunny climate during summer. There are many accommodation options in Alexandra. |
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Alexandra has had [[Alexandra bridges|two bridges]] crossing the Clutha River, the current one opening in 1958. |
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The town is a popular holiday destination - during the holiday season the [[Otago Volts]] [[cricket]] team play many of their fixtures at Alexandra's Molyneux Park rather than at their home base, [[Dunedin]]'s [[Carisbrook (stadium)|Carisbrook]] ground. Because of competing venues, this may not last much longer. |
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===Climate=== |
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Alexandra is perhaps best known for its annual event, the [[Alexandra Blossom Festival]]. The Alexandra Blossom Festival celebrates the advent of Spring in the Central Otago District as evidenced by the blooming of the fruit trees. In 2006 Alexandra celebrated its 50th Blossom Festival, which was held from 15 September to 1 October. |
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Alexandra experiences an [[oceanic climate]] bordering on a [[semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification]] ''Cfb/BSk''). |
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Alexandra is one of the farthest towns from a coastline and experiences warm summers and cold winters compared to the rest of New Zealand, with summer temperatures that can reach the mid 30's °C (mid 90's °F) and winter lows that drop around {{convert|-8.0|°C|0}} most years. Every year an average of 66 days will exceed {{convert|25.0|°C|0}} and 92 nights will drop below {{convert|0.0|°C|0}}. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/|title=CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent number: 5578, date range: 1991–2020)|publisher=NIWA |access-date=18 Aug 2024 }}</ref> The hottest and coldest temperatures recorded in Alexandra (between 1971 and 2019) are {{convert|38.7|°C|0}} (recorded on 5 February 2005 and 30 January 2018) and {{convert|-11.2|°C|0}} respectively. <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100524002231/http://www.niwa.co.nz/__data/assets/file/0006/57615/summary.prn] (from the [[NIWA]] website)</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Augutis |first1=Maria |title=The heatwave in numbers |url=https://www.niwa.co.nz/news/the-heatwave-in-numbers |website=NIWA |date=February 2019 |access-date=25 July 2019}}</ref> |
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The [[Alexandra Aerodrome]] is Alexandras only airport. SPANZ, NAC and Mount Cook were main users of the airport till the 80's. It is home to the Central Otago Flying Club, and gliding. It is reasonably quiet, with about 2 commercial flights a week from [[Mainland Air]] of Dunedin. |
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During times of high pressure, temperature inversions can form, keeping temperatures in Alexandra below freezing all day. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/521814/high-pressure-system-could-bring-fog-and-freezing-temperatures-niwa-says|title=High-pressure system could bring fog and freezing temperatures, NIWA says|publisher=[[RNZ]] | date = 11 Jul 2024|access-date=18 Aug 2024 }}</ref> |
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===Climate=== |
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The district is one of the farthest from a coastline in New Zealand and one of the few to experience a continental, almost semi-arid, climate with severe winters and hot, dry summers. The average daily high temperature for the months November through February are warmer than for Auckland. Temperatures can drop below zero or rise above thirty degrees celsius in the summer months. |
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<!--Infobox begins-->{{Infobox Weather |
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|metric_first=yes |
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|single_line=yes |
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|location =Alexandra |
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|Jan_Hi_°C =24.5 |
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|Feb_Hi_°C =25.8 |
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|Mar_Hi_°C =21.5 |
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|Apr_Hi_°C =17.5 |
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|May_Hi_°C =12.4 |
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|Jun_Hi_°C =7.5 |
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|Jul_Hi_°C =7.9 |
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|Aug_Hi_°C =11.4 |
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|Sep_Hi_°C =15 |
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|Oct_Hi_°C =17.5 |
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|Nov_Hi_°C =20.2 |
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|Dec_Hi_°C =23.1 |
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|Year_Hi_°C =16.7 |
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|Jan_Lo_°C =10.6 |
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|Feb_Lo_°C =10.5 |
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|Mar_Lo_°C =8.7 |
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|Apr_Lo_°C =5.1 |
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|May_Lo_°C =1.5 |
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|Jun_Lo_°C =-1.7 |
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|Jul_Lo_°C =-1.8 |
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|Aug_Lo_°C =-0.4 |
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|Sep_Lo_°C =2.9 |
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|Oct_Lo_°C =5.5 |
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|Nov_Lo_°C =7.6 |
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|Dec_Lo_°C =9.9 |
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|Year_Lo_°C =4.9 |
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|Jan_Precip_mm =29 |
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|Feb_Precip_mm =22 |
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|Mar_Precip_mm =40 |
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|Apr_Precip_mm =34 |
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|May_Precip_mm =35 |
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|Jun_Precip_mm =26 |
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|Jul_Precip_mm =23 |
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|Aug_Precip_mm =24 |
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|Sep_Precip_mm =27 |
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|Oct_Precip_mm =41 |
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|Nov_Precip_mm =26 |
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|Dec_Precip_mm =43 |
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|Year_Precip_mm =360 |
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|source =NIWA Climate Data<ref name="niwa">{{cite web |
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|url=http://www.niwascience.co.nz/edu/resources/climate/|title=Climate Data|accessdate=[[November 2]] [[2007]]|dateformat=mdy |
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|publisher=NIWA|language=}}</ref> |
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|accessdate =1971 – 2000 |
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}}<!--Infobox ends--> |
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Alexandra is one of the driest places in the country, often recording fewer than {{Convert|400|mm|abbr=on}} of rain each year, the majority of which falls in the summer half of the year. The town hold the New Zealand record for the lowest rainfall in one calendar year, recording just {{Convert|212|mm|abbr=on}} in 1964.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Climate extremes {{!}} NIWA |url=https://niwa.co.nz/climate-and-weather/climate-extremes |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=niwa.co.nz |language=en}}</ref> |
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==Radio Stations== |
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Independently owned Blue Skies FM was established in 2001 as a radio station to serve the local community, but went off the air at the end of September 2008. Its frequency was taken by [[The Breeze (New Zealand)|The Breeze]].<ref>{{cite news|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5gHX7rMgD|archivedate=2009-04-25|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/645141|title=Central community radio going off air|publisher=[[The Southland Times]]|date=25 September 2008}}</ref> |
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{{Weather box |
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Alexandra also has its own local [[More FM]] station with the studios being located in Alexandra. Previously this station was known as [[Radio Central]]. Central Otago's More FM broadcasts into [[Roxburgh, New Zealand|Roxburgh]], [[Clyde, New Zealand|Clyde]] and [[Cromwell, New Zealand|Cromwell]]. [[Wanaka, New Zealand|Wanaka]] also has More FM but this is a relay of the [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]] More FM station (formally known as [[Resort Radio]]). |
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| location = Alexandra (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1929–present) |
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| metric first = Y |
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| single line = Y |
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| Jan record high C = 38.7 |
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| Feb record high C = 38.7 |
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| Mar record high C = 33.6 |
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| Apr record high C = 28.5 |
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| May record high C = 25.7 |
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| Jun record high C = 21.3 |
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| Jul record high C = 20.1 |
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| Aug record high C = 22.2 |
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| Sep record high C = 29.0 |
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| Oct record high C = 30.0 |
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| Nov record high C = 32.6 |
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| Dec record high C = 36.0 |
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| year record high C = 38.7 |
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|Jan record low C = -0.6 |
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|Feb record low C = -1.9 |
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|Mar record low C = -3.2 |
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|Apr record low C = -6.3 |
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|May record low C = -11.5 |
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|Jun record low C = -11.8 |
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|Jul record low C = -11.7 |
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|Aug record low C = -10.1 |
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|Sep record low C = -7.5 |
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|Oct record low C = -5.0 |
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|Nov record low C = -4.7 |
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|Dec record low C = -2.8 |
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|year record low C = -11.8 |
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| Jan avg record high C = 33.1 |
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| Feb avg record high C = 32.7 |
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| Mar avg record high C = 29.7 |
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| Apr avg record high C = 25.2 |
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| May avg record high C = 20.8 |
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| Jun avg record high C = 17.8 |
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| Jul avg record high C = 17.0 |
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| Aug avg record high C = 19.2 |
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| Sep avg record high C = 23.3 |
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| Oct avg record high C = 26.9 |
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| Nov avg record high C = 29.1 |
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| Dec avg record high C = 31.8 |
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| year avg record high C = 34.7 |
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| Jan high C = 25.3 |
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| Feb high C = 25.2 |
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| Mar high C = 22.5 |
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| Apr high C = 18.1 |
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| May high C = 13.5 |
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| Jun high C = 9.0 |
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| Jul high C = 8.8 |
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| Aug high C = 12.7 |
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| Sep high C = 16.5 |
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| Oct high C = 19.2 |
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| Nov high C = 21.3 |
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| Dec high C = 23.8 |
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| year high C = |
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| Jan mean C = 18.1 |
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| Feb mean C = 17.7 |
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| Mar mean C = 15.0 |
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| Apr mean C = 11.0 |
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| May mean C = 7.5 |
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| Jun mean C = 3.8 |
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| Jul mean C = 3.2 |
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| Aug mean C = 6.1 |
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| Sep mean C = 9.3 |
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| Oct mean C = 11.9 |
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| Nov mean C = 14.1 |
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| Dec mean C = 16.7 |
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| year mean C = |
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| Jan low C = 10.8 |
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| Feb low C = 10.2 |
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| Mar low C = 7.5 |
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| Apr low C = 3.9 |
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| May low C = 1.4 |
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| Jun low C = -1.4 |
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| Jul low C = -2.3 |
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| Aug low C = -0.6 |
|||
| Sep low C = 2.2 |
|||
| Oct low C = 4.6 |
|||
| Nov low C = 6.9 |
|||
| Dec low C = 9.5 |
|||
| year low C = |
|||
| Jan avg record low C = 3.7 |
|||
| Feb avg record low C = 3.3 |
|||
| Mar avg record low C = 0.6 |
|||
| Apr avg record low C = -2.7 |
|||
| May avg record low C = -4.8 |
|||
| Jun avg record low C = -6.7 |
|||
| Jul avg record low C = -7.6 |
|||
| Aug avg record low C = -6.3 |
|||
| Sep avg record low C = -4.0 |
|||
| Oct avg record low C = -2.4 |
|||
| Nov avg record low C = 0.1 |
|||
| Dec avg record low C = 2.8 |
|||
| year avg record low C = -8.0 |
|||
|rain colour = green |
|||
|Jan rain mm = 46.9 |
|||
|Feb rain mm = 41.1 |
|||
|Mar rain mm = 31.2 |
|||
|Apr rain mm = 22.0 |
|||
|May rain mm = 34.3 |
|||
|Jun rain mm = 30.9 |
|||
|Jul rain mm = 25.2 |
|||
|Aug rain mm = 15.4 |
|||
|Sep rain mm = 21.3 |
|||
|Oct rain mm = 29.6 |
|||
|Nov rain mm = 32.7 |
|||
|Dec rain mm = 34.5 |
|||
|year rain mm = |
|||
| Jan rain days = 5.9 |
|||
| Feb rain days = 5.2 |
|||
| Mar rain days = 5.2 |
|||
| Apr rain days = 4.9 |
|||
| May rain days = 6.8 |
|||
| Jun rain days = 5.4 |
|||
| Jul rain days = 4.9 |
|||
| Aug rain days = 4.2 |
|||
| Sep rain days = 5.0 |
|||
| Oct rain days = 6.2 |
|||
| Nov rain days = 5.5 |
|||
| Dec rain days = 7.0 |
|||
| unit rain days = 1.0 mm |
|||
|Jan sun = 253.1 |
|||
|Feb sun = 216.6 |
|||
|Mar sun = 181.2 |
|||
|Apr sun = 142.1 |
|||
|May sun = 104.3 |
|||
|Jun sun = 84.0 |
|||
|Jul sun = 87.0 |
|||
|Aug sun = 135.6 |
|||
|Sep sun = 169.6 |
|||
|Oct sun = 219.2 |
|||
|Nov sun = 236.4 |
|||
|Dec sun = 236.4 |
|||
|year sun = |
|||
| Jan humidity = 68.3 |
|||
| Feb humidity = 76.1 |
|||
| Mar humidity = 81.0 |
|||
| Apr humidity = 84.4 |
|||
| May humidity = 87.7 |
|||
| Jun humidity = 90.0 |
|||
| Jul humidity = 89.7 |
|||
| Aug humidity = 85.0 |
|||
| Sep humidity = 73.2 |
|||
| Oct humidity = 71.5 |
|||
| Nov humidity = 66.6 |
|||
| Dec humidity = 66.8 |
|||
|source 1 = NIWA Climate Data<ref name = NIWA>{{cite web |
|||
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240520001949/https://niwa.co.nz/climate-and-weather/climate-data-and-activities |
|||
| archive-date = 20 May 2024 |
|||
| url = https://niwa.co.nz/climate-and-weather/climate-data-and-activities |
|||
| title = Climate data and activities |
|||
| publisher= NIWA |
|||
| access-date = 20 May 2024}}</ref><ref name=NIWA2>{{cite web |
|||
|url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/ |
|||
|title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent numbers: 5574, 5576, 5578, 5580, 36592. 41163, 43904) |
|||
|publisher = NIWA |
|||
|access-date = 17 July 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |
|||
|url = https://niwa.co.nz/climate-and-weather/monthly |
|||
|title = Monthly climate summaries |
|||
|publisher = NIWA |
|||
|access-date = 5 Sep 2024}}</ref> |
|||
}} |
|||
== |
== Demography == |
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[[File:War Memorial Alexandra, New Zealand.jpg|thumb|War Memorial on Tarbert Street in Alexandra, New Zealand]] |
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Alexandra has three Primary schools (Alexandra Primary School, Terrace Primary, and St Gerards). There is also one High School ([[Dunstan High School]]). |
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Alexandra's population was 1414 residents in 1951 and this had increased to 1823 residents in 1956 and then to 2292 residents in 1961.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=McLintock|first1=Alexander Hare|last2=Brian Newton Davis|first2=M. A.|last3=Taonga|first3=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu|title=ALEXANDRA|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/alexandra|access-date=2021-09-23|website=An encyclopaedia of New Zealand, edited by A. H. McLintock, 1966.|language=en}}</ref> |
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Alexandra is described by Statistics New Zealand as a small urban area, and covers {{Convert|9.76|km2||abbr=on}}.<ref name="Area">{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787| access-date=7 December 2021|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}}</ref> It had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Alexandra|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Alexandra|y}}|R}}/9.76|0}} people per km<sup>2</sup>. It is the seventh-largest urban area in Otago, and the second-largest urban area in the Central Otago District behind Cromwell. |
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{{Historical populations|2006|4,827|2013|4,803|2018|5,472|percentages=pagr|align=left|source=<ref name="Census 2018"/>}} |
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Alexandra had a population of 5,472 at the [[2018 New Zealand census]], an increase of 669 people (13.9%) since the [[2013 New Zealand census|2013 census]], and an increase of 645 people (13.4%) since the [[2006 New Zealand census|2006 census]]. There were 2,331 households, comprising 2,661 males and 2,811 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female, with 909 people (16.6%) aged under 15 years, 729 (13.3%) aged 15 to 29, 2,247 (41.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,590 (29.1%) aged 65 or older. |
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Ethnicities were 93.1% European/[[Pākehā]], 9.8% [[Māori people|Māori]], 1.5% [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]], 2.5% [[Asian New Zealanders|Asian]], and 1.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. |
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The percentage of people born overseas was 12.3, compared with 27.1% nationally. |
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Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.8% had no religion, 38.4% were [[Christianity in New Zealand|Christian]], 0.5% had [[Religion of Māori people|Māori religious beliefs]], 0.4% were [[Hinduism in New Zealand|Hindu]], 0.2% were [[Islam in New Zealand|Muslim]], 0.2% were [[Buddhism in New Zealand|Buddhist]] and 1.2% had other religions. |
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Of those at least 15 years old, 624 (13.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,083 (23.7%) people had no formal qualifications. 573 people (12.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,076 (45.5%) people were employed full-time, 810 (17.8%) were part-time, and 81 (1.8%) were unemployed.<ref name="Census 2018">{{NZ census 2018|Alexandra North (345500) and Alexandra South (345600)}}</ref> |
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{| class="wikitable" |
|||
|+Individual statistical areas |
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|- |
|||
!Name !! Area (km<sup>2</sup>) !! Population !! Density (per km<sup>2</sup>) || Households !! Median age !! Median income |
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|- |
|||
| Alexandra North || style="text-align:right;" |4.60 || style="text-align:right;" |2,856 || style="text-align:right;" |621 || style="text-align:right;" |1,173 || 45.8 years || $29,500<ref>{{NZ census place summary 2018|alexandra-north|Alexandra North}}</ref> |
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|- |
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| Alexandra South || style="text-align:right;" |5.16 || style="text-align:right;" |2,616 || style="text-align:right;" |507 || style="text-align:right;" |1,158 || 52.7 years || $30,500<ref>{{NZ census place summary 2018|alexandra-south|Alexandra South}}</ref> |
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|- |
|||
! New Zealand !! !! !! !! !! 37.4 years !! style="text-align:left;" | $31,800 |
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|} |
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== Economy == |
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=== Viticulture === |
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[[Vineyard|Grape production]] is another major industry in the [[Central Otago Wine Region]]. The first plantings of grapes were in 1864. [[Pinot noir|Pinot Noir]] and [[Pinot gris|Pinot Gris]] are some of the varieties that are grown in the vicinity. Alexandra has a number of vineyards that potentially are the world's most southern. There are more than 25 vineyards in the vicinity of Alexandra. These include Three Miners Vineyard, Grasshopper Rock, Como Villa Estate, Rock'n'Pillar, Thyme Hill Vineyard, Leaning Rock Vineyard, Judge Rock, Immigrants Vineyard, Dunstan Road Wines, Alexandra Wine Company, Drumsara Wines, McArthur Ridge Vineyard and Perseverance Estate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alexandra Basin Winegrowers – Wine Map and Directory of Central Otago Vineyards |url=https://www.alexandrabasinwines.co.nz/ |access-date=2021-01-09 |website=www.alexandrabasinwines.co.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-09-11 |title=10 Best Wineries in Alexandra |url=https://nzpocketguide.com/10-best-wineries-in-alexandra/ |access-date=2021-01-09 |website=NZ Pocket Guide #1 New Zealand Travel Guide |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Wineries & Vineyards |url=https://centralotagonz.com/experience/wine-and-food/wineries-and-vineyards/ |access-date=2021-01-09 |website=Central Otago |language=en-GB}}</ref> A cycling trail called Pedal for Pinot gives visitors the opportunity to cycle around the cellar doors and sample a variety of local wines.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fox |first=Rebecca |date=2020-10-07 |title=Touring Alexandra's new cycling wine trail |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/food-wine/touring-alexandra%E2%80%99s-new-cycling-wine-trail |access-date=2021-01-09 |website=Otago Daily Times Online News |language=en}}</ref> |
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=== Horticulture === |
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Alexandra is the service centre for a significant stone-fruit industry, which is celebrated by a blossom festival in the town each spring. The first orchards planted provided fruit for the mining community.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alexandra, Central Otago – History |url=https://alexandra.co.nz/history.php |access-date=2021-01-09 |website=alexandra.co.nz}}</ref> Now, nectarines, apricots, cherries, peaches, plums and apples are grown and sold for both New Zealand and export markets. Seasonal work picking fruit is available during the summer and many tourists and Pacific Islanders come to New Zealand to work in Alexandra.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pacific workers could be too late for Central Otago orchards |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/pacific-workers-could-be-too-late-for-central-otago-orchards/FDUINJO33ZUVPTV2GAYESPYJBM/ |access-date=2021-01-09 |website=NZ Herald |date=26 November 2020 |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-21 |title=Fruit-picking jobs going begging: Who is really to blame? |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/300138256/fruitpicking-jobs-going-begging-who-is-really-to-blame |access-date=2021-01-09 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref> |
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=== Pastoral farming === |
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Sheep farming, particularly of merino sheep has occurred around Alexandra for many years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Central Otago farming family's merino passion recognised |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/central-otago-farming-familys-merino-passion-recognised/4C6DOYFIUUSGT5X5JD6RC4JV3Y/ |access-date=2021-01-09 |website=NZ Herald |date=19 November 2019 |language=en-NZ}}</ref> One of the original sheep runs was Galloway Station. This was established by Watson and Alexander Shennan in 1858.The brothers, from Scotland imported various breeds of sheep. In particular they acquired 15 merino rams and 27 merino ewes in 1861 from the King of Prussia's Potsdam Stud, which cost the massive sum at that time of £2000. The Galloway Station was sub-divided in 1916.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-20 |title=Merino sheep with royal blood in their veins |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/sheep/102457155/merino-sheep-with-royal-blood-in-their-veins |access-date=2021-01-09 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref> |
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=== Airport === |
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The [[Alexandra Aerodrome]] is Alexandra's only airport. [[SPANZ]], [[National Airways Corporation (New Zealand)|NAC]] and [[Mount Cook Airlines]] were main users of the airport till the 1980s. It is home to the Central Otago Flying Club, and gliding. Commercial passenger flights are no longer scheduled; Queenstown International Airport is the nearest facility for those. |
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== Education == |
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===Primary schools=== |
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The Terrace School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,<ref name="official3844">{{cite web |title=The Terrace School Official School Website |url=http://www.theterrace.school.nz |website=theterrace.school.nz}}</ref><ref name="moe3844">{{cite web |title=The Terrace School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=3844 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]]}}</ref> with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|3844|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|}}.<ref name="ero3844">{{cite web |title=The Terrace School Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=3844 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=[[Education Review Office]]}}</ref> It opened in 1965.<ref name="Following"/> |
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Alexandra School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,<ref name="official3701">{{cite web |title=Alexandra School Official School Website |url=http://www.alexprim.school.nz |website=alexprim.school.nz}}</ref><ref name="moe3701">{{cite web |title=Alexandra School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=3701 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]]}}</ref> with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|3701|y}}.<ref name="ero">{{cite web |title=Alexandra School Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=3701 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=[[Education Review Office]]}}</ref> It opened in 1865, and became a district high school in 1912. After the opening of Dunstan High and The Terrace School, Alexandra School resumed its function solely as a primary school.<ref name="Following">{{cite news |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/central-otago/following-family-footsteps |title=Following in family footsteps |newspaper=Otago Daily Times |date=27 March 2015}}</ref> |
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St Gerard's School is a co-educational state-integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,<ref name="moe3823">{{cite web |title=St Gerard's School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=3823 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]]}}</ref> with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|3823|y}}.<ref name="ero3823">{{cite web |title=St Gerard's School Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id= |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=[[Education Review Office]] |access-date=2020-07-03 |archive-date=2019-05-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524025621/https://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id= |url-status=dead }}</ref> The school first opened in 1912.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.stgerards.school.nz/history.html |title=Our History |publisher=St Gerard's School |access-date=7 December 2021}}</ref> |
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===Secondary schools=== |
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[[Dunstan High School]] is a co-educational state secondary school for Year 9 to 13 students,<ref name="official372">{{cite web |title=Dunstan High School Official School Website |url=http://www.dunstan.school.nz |website=dunstan.school.nz}}</ref><ref name="moe">{{cite web |title=Dunstan High School Ministry of Education School Profile |url=https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/find-school/school/profile?school=372 |website=educationcounts.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry of Education (New Zealand)|Ministry of Education]]}}</ref> with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|372|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|}}.<ref name="ero372">{{cite web |title=Dunstan High School Education Review Office Report |url=http://www.ero.govt.nz/report-view?id=372 |website=ero.govt.nz |publisher=[[Education Review Office]]}}</ref> It opened in 1962.<ref name="Following"/> |
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== Events == |
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=== Blossom festival === |
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Alexandra is perhaps best known for the [[Alexandra Blossom Festival]], an annual event that began in 1957. The Festival celebrates the advent of Spring in the Central Otago District as evidenced by the blooming of the fruit trees. |
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=== Great Easter bunny hunt === |
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Sixty rabbits were introduced by the Acclimatisation Society of Otago in 1866 and it only took five years for them to get established and to start eating the pasture land bare.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bunny hunt|url=https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/bunny-hunt/|access-date=2021-01-09|website=New Zealand Geographic|language=en-NZ}}</ref> They are prolific and a pest species around Alexandra. Each year at Easter, locals compete to shoot as many rabbits as possible to cull numbers. The event is run by the Alexandra Lions Club and it is also a great social occasion for the town. It has been run annually since the early 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-04-17|title=Alexandra hunter takes second place for the tenth time at Easter Bunny Hunt|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/91627060/alexandra-hunter-takes-second-place-for-the-tenth-time-at-easter-bunny-hunt|access-date=2021-01-09|website=Stuff|language=en}}</ref> The event was cancelled in 2018 to allow the Otago Regional Council's programme to introduce the rabbit virus RHDV1 K5.Unfortunately the virus did not have the desired impact on rabbit numbers that was expected and there are more rabbits around than ever.<ref>{{Cite web|last=O'Hara|first=Yvonne|date=2020-03-17|title=Easter Bunny Hunt postponed until Queen's Birthday|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/rural-life/rural-events/easter-bunny-hunt-postponed-until-queens-birthday|access-date=2021-01-09|website=Otago Daily Times Online News|language=en}}</ref> Due to the dry conditions in 2019, the fire risk was deemed to be extreme and the event was cancelled.In 2020 it was again cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The bunny hunt took place in 2021 with over 10,000 rabbits shot. It was thought not to have a significant impact on the overall rabbit population around Alexandra.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hunt|first=Elle|date=2021-04-05|title=New Zealand town where Easter is all about wiping out bunnies|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/05/new-zealand-easter-bunny-hunt-pest|access-date=2021-04-06|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> |
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== Amenities == |
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=== Alexandra swimming pool === |
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The Alexandra swimming pool complex is run by the [[Central Otago District Council]]. It was built in 2003 and replaced the previous swimming pool known as the Centennial Baths. The indoor complex includes a 25m lap pool, a learners' pool and a spa pool. An outdoor pool is also open during the summer months. The complex is located within [[Molyneux Park]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Central Otago Swim Centres – Central Otago District Council|url=https://www.codc.govt.nz/services/pools/our-pools|access-date=2021-01-09|website=www.codc.govt.nz}}</ref> |
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=== Ice skating rink === |
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An outdoor Olympic sized ice rink in Molyneux Park is run by the Alexandra Winter Sports Club. It is the largest one of its type in New Zealand. It was opened in 1993. It replaced the previous ice skating rink at the Manorburn Dam.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Go NZ: Best places to ice skate in New Zealand|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/go-nz-best-places-to-ice-skate-in-new-zealand/U6UBCDXMYXRMQF6TLCJZA7Y3YM/|access-date=2021-01-09|website=NZ Herald|date=12 July 2019 |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Alexandra Ice Rink|url=http://alexicerink.co.nz/|access-date=2021-01-09|website=alexicerink.co.nz}}</ref> |
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=== Alexandra golf club === |
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The Alexandra golf club was established in 1901. It moved to its present site alongside the Alexandra/Clyde highway in the mid-1960s and work started on the club house in 1970. Work occurred in 1974 redeveloping the layout of the 18 hole course.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alexandra Golf Club – Home|url=https://alexandragolf.co.nz/|access-date=2021-01-09|website=alexandragolf.co.nz}}</ref> The course is relatively flat with well irrigated tree lined fairways.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alexandra Golf Club|url=https://centralotagonz.com/experience/accommodation/hotels-motels-and-serviced-apartments/listing/alexandra-golf-club|access-date=2021-01-09|website=Central Otago|language=en-GB}}</ref> Rabbits were noted to be a problem at the golf course in 2019 and the golf club was in the process of exploring fencing options to keep the rabbits out.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Nightmare' rabbit problem for Central Otago golf courses|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/nightmare-rabbit-problem-for-central-otago-golf-courses/ZIRBLWD7ADY6MO4354WDIEZ35Q/|access-date=2021-01-09|website=NZ Herald|date=13 August 2019 |language=en-NZ}}</ref> |
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=== Molyneux park === |
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[[Molyneux Park]] is located on state highway 8. It is home to the swimming pool complex, netball courts, a first class cricket venue, the ice skating rink, the Alexandra bowls club and the Alexandra toy library. |
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=== Central Stories museum and art gallery === |
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[[File:Alexandra Art Gallery and Museum Waterwheel.JPG|thumb|Waterwheel at the Central Otago Art Gallery and Museum]] |
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The Alexandra Museum and Art Gallery is known as Central Stories. The museum focusses on local history, in particular, geology; early explorers; social history; gold mining; Chinese immigration during the gold mining years; stone fruit orchards, farming and viticulture.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Central Stories Museum and Art Gallery – Central Otago's regional Museum, Art Gallery and Gift Shop|url=https://centralstories.co.nz/|access-date=2021-01-10|language=en-NZ}}</ref> It is located at 21 Centennial Avenue and is open Monday to Friday between 10am to 4pm and 11am to 2pm on weekends and public holidays. |
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=== Alexandra public library === |
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The Alexandra Public Library is located at 42 Tarbet Street. It is open Monday to Friday and on Saturday mornings.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Interactive (https://www.nvinteractive.com)|first=N. V.|title=Alexandra Library|url=https://codc-qldc.govt.nz/libraries/alexandra-library|access-date=2021-01-10|website=codc-qldc.govt.nz|language=en}}</ref> It has a wide selection of adult and children's books, magazines, local newspapers and DVDs. It has free Wifi and a programme of regular events.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alexandra Library|url=https://centralotagonz.com/experience/accommodation/hotels-motels-and-serviced-apartments/listing/alexandra-library|access-date=2021-01-10|website=Central Otago|language=en-GB}}</ref> |
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=== Pioneer park === |
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Pioneer Park was established in the late 1860s. There is a playground and botanic gardens located within it. There are also three artificial grass tennis courts located within the park.<ref name="codc.govt.nz">{{Cite web|title=Alexandra/Clyde Area Parks & Reserves – Central Otago District Council|url=https://www.codc.govt.nz/services/parks/alexandra-area|access-date=2021-01-09|website=www.codc.govt.nz}}</ref> |
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=== Lower Manorburn dam === |
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Located in the hills just outside of Alexandra, this large irrigation dam was built in the 1900s. It is a well known body of water for fishing, canoeing and swimming. In winter ice skating is popular when the dam freezes over.<ref name="codc.govt.nz" /> |
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=== Mountain biking === |
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A portion of the [[Otago Central Rail Trail]] runs through Alexandra. The "Mountain bikers of Alexandra" club are active in building trails in the local area. There are a number of mountain bike trails at Alexandra Airport, Boot Hill, Clyde Lookout and Flat Top Hill. The award-winning trails at Flat Top Hill have been built in partnership with the Department of Conservation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Home – Mountainbikers of Alexandra (MOA)|url=http://www.mtbofalex.co.nz/|access-date=2021-04-06|website=www.mtbofalex.co.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Mountain Bike Trails|url=https://centralotagonz.com/tracks-and-trails/mountain-bike-trails/|access-date=2021-04-06|website=Central Otago|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Alexandra mountain bike trails make the top 10 for NZ – Central Otago District Council|url=https://www.codc.govt.nz/your-council/news?item=id:2aq5ugiuf1cxby2wmyht|access-date=2021-04-06|website=www.codc.govt.nz}}</ref> |
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== Alexandra clock == |
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A large clock was built on Knobbies Range overlooking Alexandra in 1968. Initially, there was some opposition to the proposal. A full size mock-up was placed on the proposed site for six weeks. Local reaction was assessed and it was overwhelmingly supportive of the idea. It cost around $3000 to build the clock. This included the foundations, steel markers, electrics, painting etc. The Jaycees club put in many hours of volunteer labour to the project. The clock has a diameter of 11 metres. The minute hand is 5.6m in length including the counterweight and the hour hand is 4m in length including the counterweight. It is lit up at night by 150 light bulbs (upgraded to LEDs in 2006 from the original torch bulbs). The LED lights have subsequently been upgraded to colour LEDs in 2018. At Easter an illuminated cross is placed on the hillside nearby.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alexandra – Clock on the Hill|url=https://centralotagonz.com/experience/accommodation/hotels-motels-and-serviced-apartments/listing/the-clock-on-the-hill|access-date=2020-12-26|website=Central Otago|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-12-15|title=Clock on the hill strikes 50 years|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/clock-hill-strikes-50-years|access-date=2020-12-26|website=Otago Daily Times Online News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Central Otago New Zealand – Heart of the South- The Alexandra Clock|url=http://www.nzsouth.co.nz/centralotago/clock.html|access-date=2020-12-26|website=www.nzsouth.co.nz}}</ref> In April 2020, damage caused the clock to stop working. It appeared that "someone swung on the hands’’ of the clock causing the clock to stop at 8:34.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Well known clock only right twice a day after damage|url=https://www.thenews.co.nz/arts-entertainment/well-known-clock-right-only-twice-a-day-after-damage/|access-date=27 December 2020|website=www.thenews.co.nz}}</ref> |
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== Air pollution == |
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Alexandra suffers from air pollution, typically in winter. The main cause of air pollution in Alexandra is from domestic heating appliances that burn solid fuels (e.g. wood and coal). Air pollution peaks during winter mornings and evenings. The results from a study show that sub-freezing temperatures and still wind conditions at 8 am or 9 am can be used to predict high levels of PM10 that evening.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Tate |first1=A |last2=Spronken-Smith |first2=RA |author-link2=Rachel Spronken-Smith |date=May 2008 |title=A Preliminary Investigation of the Air Pollution Meteorology of Alexandra, Central Otago, New Zealand |url=https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=288961099886186;res=IELENG;type=pdf |journal=Clean Air and Environmental Quality |volume=42 |issue=2 (May 2008)}}</ref> Alexandra is one of the least windy towns in New Zealand. This, combined with its geography, being an inland basin, means that the smoke generated from domestic heating appliances stays sitting within the town environs. Daily PM10 concentrations regularly exceed the national guidelines from the month of May through to the month of August each year.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alexandra|url=https://www.lawa.org.nz/explore-data/otago-region/air-quality/alexandra/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Land, Air, Water Aotearoa (LAWA)}}</ref> Between 2005 and 2017 winter concentrations of PM10s have decreased about 30%.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Air quality monitoring continues in Alexandra|url=https://www.orc.govt.nz/news-and-events/news-and-media-releases/2017/june/air-quality-monitoring-continues-in-alexandra|access-date=2020-12-27|website=www.orc.govt.nz|language=en}}</ref> Despite this, Alexandra has "some of the worst winter air quality in the country".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Gibb|first=John|date=2017-02-11|title=Air pollution issues remain|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/central-otago/air-pollution-issues-remain-0|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Otago Daily Times Online News|language=en}}</ref> |
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Pupils at Alexandra primary school were helping scientists at NIWA learn more about pollution in their town in a four-month project that will track where smoke comes from and where it goes over winter in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-05-21|title=Scientists bring in Alexandra pupils to help with air quality research|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/104095830/scientists-bring-in-alexandra-pupils-to-help-with-air-quality-research|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Stuff|language=en}}</ref> |
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Alexandra had three high pollution nights, where [[PM10]] particulate levels exceeded the national environmental standards, in winter 2021. This increased in winter 2022 to a total of four nights.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-13 |title=Air quality on the rise, pollution complaints down |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/central-otago/air-quality-rise-pollution-complaints-down |access-date=2022-09-16 |website=Otago Daily Times Online News |language=en}}</ref> |
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== Notable buildings == |
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=== Shaky bridge === |
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The Shaky bridge crosses the [[Manuherikia River|Manuherikia river]] and links Kerry Street and Graveyard Gully Road. It was completed in 1879. Leslie Duncan MacGeorge (1854–1939) designed the 60 metre long bridge.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shaky Suspension Bridge {{!}} Engineering New Zealand|url=https://www.engineeringnz.org/programmes/heritage/heritage-records/shaky-suspension-bridge/|access-date=2021-09-23|website=www.engineeringnz.org|language=en}}</ref> It was the only bridge crossing the Manuherikia river for twenty years. In 1906 a road and rail bridge was completed making the shaky bridge obsolete. It did not receive the required upkeep and earned its nickname of the "shaky bridge". The small suspension bridge with its stone towers was saved by the Pioneer Bridge Committee. The Committee raised funds to restore the bridge. Today it is promoted as a tourist attraction and is only open to pedestrians.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search the List {{!}} Shaky Bridge {{!}} Heritage New Zealand|url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/2082|access-date=2021-09-23|website=www.heritage.org.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Do You Dare Walk Over Shaky Bridge?|url=https://www.tourism.net.nz/new-zealand/about-new-zealand/attractions/history-and-culture/shaky-bridge.html|url-status=live|access-date=23 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050310192316/http://www.tourism.net.nz:80/new-zealand/about-new-zealand/attractions/history-and-culture/shaky-bridge.html |archive-date=10 March 2005 }}</ref> |
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=== Simmond's boarding house === |
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Simmond's boarding house was built in 1882 and provided accommodation for over ninety years until it was converted into an office building in the 1970s. It was built by James Simmonds who also served as mayor of Alexandra.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search the List {{!}} Simmond's Boarding House (Former) {{!}} Heritage New Zealand|url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/2080|access-date=2021-10-28|website=www.heritage.org.nz}}</ref>[[File:Simmond's Boarding House Alexandra, New Zealand 2080.jpg|thumb|Simmond's Boarding House Alexandra, New Zealand]] |
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=== Bendigo hotel === |
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The Bendigo Hotel was situated on the corner of Tabert & Rivers streets. The original Bendigo Hotel, was a wooden, single storied structure built in the 1860s. This original building was demolished in 1900. This was required by the Tuapeka Licensing Commission who stated that the building should be replaced, or the license revoked. The Bendigo Hotel was then rebuilt in 1900. The new hotel was a two storied brick structure. It contained 30 bedrooms and was of the standard of a first class city hotel at the time. Numerous alternations occurred to the building over the next 100 years. The Bendigo was flooded in December 1995 and again in November 1999. This led to the hotel being demolished and the construction of a floodbank in 2001 to protect Alexandra from flooding.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Bendigo Hotel — Alexandra, New Zealand - Signs of History on Waymarking.com|url=https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/wm7Q9M_Bendigo_Hotel_Alexandra_New_Zealand|access-date=2020-12-27|website=www.waymarking.com}}</ref> |
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=== Alexandra courthouse === |
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[[File:Former Alexandra Courthouse Alexandra, New Zealand 2081.jpg|thumb|The former Alexandra Courthouse]] |
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The old courthouse located in Alexandra's Centennial Avenue was opened on 16 June 1879, it housed both the Warden's and Magistrate's Courts. it was built of stone. As mining was the main industry at the time the Warden's Court was kept busy dealing with issues relating to mining. These included registration of claims and dealing with matters such as water races, business, licenses, roads, forgeries and other similar issues relating to mining. The Magistrate's Court dealt with general legal matters.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=History of Alexandra Courthouse|url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/otago/places/alexandra-area/alexandra-courthouse/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=www.doc.govt.nz|language=en-nz}}</ref> It was used as a courthouse until 1972. It is a Category 2 Historic Building. In 2006 the chimneys were renovated and it was repainted.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Search the List {{!}} Alexandra Courthouse (Former) {{!}} Heritage New Zealand|url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/2081|access-date=2020-12-27|website=www.heritage.org.nz}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=NZPlaces|url=https://nzplaces.nz/place/alexandra-courthouse|access-date=2020-12-27|website=nzplaces.nz}}</ref> It now operates as a cafe.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-03|title=Back Your Backyard: 12-hour guide to Central Otago|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/destinations/nz/central-otago-lakes/122028548/back-your-backyard-12hour-guide-to-central-otago|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Stuff|language=en}}</ref> |
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=== Vallance cottage === |
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Vallance Cottage is a mud brick house built in 1896.<ref>{{Cite web|date=5 December 2018|title=Community orchard to be planted at Vallance Cottage|url=https://www.thenews.co.nz/community/community-orchard-to-be-planted-at-vallance-cottage/|website=www.thenews.co.nz}}</ref> It was home to a family of eleven at one stage. It is a category 2 listed building with [[Heritage New Zealand]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Vallance Cottage {{!}} South Island {{!}} Southproud.co.nz|url=https://www.southproud.co.nz/listing/vallance-cottage/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=www.southproud.co.nz|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-12-09|title=Historical significance recognised|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/historical-significance-recognised|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Otago Daily Times Online News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Search the List {{!}} Vallance Cottage {{!}} Heritage New Zealand|url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/9712|access-date=2020-12-27|website=www.heritage.org.nz}}</ref> In the 1970s, Vallance Cottage still had no running water inside and only cold running water in the separate wash-house.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-02-20|title=Hard but happy life in little cottage|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/8328538/Hard-but-happy-life-in-little-cottage|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Stuff|language=en}}</ref> |
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== Mokomoko dryland sanctuary == |
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In 2005, a group of Alexandra residents formed the Central Otago Ecological Trust. They aimed to reintroduce fauna that has been lost from the Alexandra basin. They established, in partnership with a number of other organisations, the Mokomoko Dryland Sanctuary. This lies near Alexandra in the hilly county. They established a 1.6 kilometre long predator proof fence which surrounds 14 hectares of land. This is now allowing native dryland vegetation to reestablish itself and a number of species of lizards and invertebrates to repopulate the sanctuary.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mokomoko Dryland Sanctuary|url=https://www.mokomokosanctuary.com/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Mokomoko|language=en}}</ref> |
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In 2018, around 150 skinks and geckos were introduced to the Mokomoko Dryland Sanctuary. Lizards that are endemic to the area include the Otago skink which can grow up to 300mm in total length <ref>{{Cite web|title=Otago skink|url=https://www.mokomokosanctuary.com/otago-skink|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Mokomoko|language=en}}</ref> and the grand skink.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Henderson|first=Simon|date=2019-02-03|title=Skinks in Mokomoko Sanctuary a first|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/central-otago/skinks-mokomoko-sanctuary-first|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Otago Daily Times Online News|language=en}}</ref> Jewelled Geckos have also been introduced to the sanctuary. These were transferred from the Lammermoor Range.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-12-10|title=Sanctuary raises profile of endemic lizards|url=https://predatorfreenz.org/sanctuary-profile-endemic-lizards/|access-date=2020-12-27|website=Predator Free NZ|language=en-US}}</ref> |
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== Media == |
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===Radio stations=== |
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Following Mediaworks corporate 2013 decision to move all Central Otago and Lakes District live broadcast activity to Queenstown, Alexandra was left without a local radio station until the creation of independently owned Classic Gold Central in September 2013 on Blossom Festival Weekend. |
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Tramsmitting from a co-site with Radio Rhema in the Waikerikeri Valley on 91.9FM, the station, owned by longtime broadcasters Chris Diack and Bill Willis, has re-established the service of providing local information for the district. Classic Gold Central was re-branded as Local Radio Central sometime before 2018. On April 1, 2018, the station was purchased by new owners, who again re-branded the station as Radio Central. From the 1st of April 2018 Radio Central had transmitters located at Waikerikeri Valley (91.9), Cromwell (91.9), Roxburgh (94.3) and Wedderburn (104.3). |
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Independently owned radio station Blue Skies FM was established in 2001 to serve the local community, broadcasting to the Alexandra basin, Cromwell, the Maniototo, Teviot Valley and beyond. Blue Skies FM ceased broadcasting at the end of September '08 following a move by Mediaworks, who successfully negotiated a deal to take on the frequency to rebroadcast its Easy Listening Brand, [[The Breeze (New Zealand)|The Breeze]].<ref>{{cite news|date=25 September 2008|title=Central community radio going off air|publisher=[[The Southland Times]]|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/645141|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015213433/http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/645141|archive-date=2012-10-15}}</ref> |
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Alexandra once had its own local [[More FM]] station with the studios based in Alexandra. Previously, the station was known as [[Radio Central]]. Central Otago's More FM broadcasts into [[Roxburgh, New Zealand|Roxburgh]], [[Clyde, New Zealand|Clyde]] and [[Cromwell, New Zealand|Cromwell]]. [[Wānaka]] also has More FM, relayed from the [[Queenstown, New Zealand|Queenstown]] More FM station formerly known as [[Resort Radio]]. |
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Central Otago's More FM is now networked from Studios in Queenstown. |
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Alexandra features a number of local [[frequency modulation|FM]] stations that operate on the New Zealand Government's "low power FM" scheme, including Classic Gold on 107.3FM and XS80s on 106.7FM. These stations operate on short range covering the main township only. |
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==Mayors== |
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Alexandra is now administered by the [[Central Otago District|Central Otago District Council]], with the current mayor being Tim Cadogan. |
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Many streets in Alexandra are named after mayors of the former Alexandra Borough.<ref name="buru">{{cite web|url=http://www.codc.govt.nz/services/archives/archive-repository/alexandra-borough-council/Pages/default.aspx|website=Central Otago District Council|access-date=30 January 2017|title=Alexandra Borough Council}}</ref> |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|- |
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! 1867–1897 !! 1898–1940 !! 1940–1989 |
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|- |
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| Robert Finlay 1867–1870 and 1886–1889 || James Kelman 1898–1899 and 1901–1903 || Archibald McKellar 1940–1947 |
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|- |
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| John Chapple 1871–1872 || Henry Symes 1900–1901 || Bert Fox 1947–1953 |
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|- |
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| William Beresford 1872–1873 || George Spencer 1903–1906 || George Campbell 1953–1959 |
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|- |
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| James Samson 1873–1878 || Henry Schaumann 1906–1910 || Keith Blackmore 1959–1980 |
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|- |
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| James Rivers 1878–1879 and 1894–1896 || J Gregg 1910–1911 || Ross Close 1980–1986 |
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|- |
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| George McDonald 1882–1884 || Edward Marslin 1911–1915 || Russell Poole 1986–1989 |
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|- |
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| JE Thompson 1884–1886 || Archibald Ashworth 1915–1917 || |
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|- |
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| William Theyers 1890–1892 and 1895–1896 || William Black 1917–1927 || |
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|- |
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| James Simmonds 1880–1882, 1892–1894 and 1896–1897<ref>{{cite news |title=Obituary: James Simmonds |newspaper=Alexandra Herald |date=20 Jun 1923 |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AHCOG19230620.2.15 |access-date=6 Jan 2021 |location=Alexandra, New Zealand |page=5}} |
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</ref> || William Bringans 1927–1940 || |
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|} |
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== Government == |
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Alexandra is currently part of the [[Southland (New Zealand electorate)|Southland electorate]] which was held in 2023 by [[Joseph Mooney (New_Zealand_politician)|Joseph Mooney]] of the [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Southland Electorate Profile – New Zealand Parliament|url=https://www.parliament.nz/mi/mps-and-electorates/electorate-profiles/southland-electorate-profile/|access-date=2024-01-20|website=www.parliament.nz|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Southland – Official Result|url=https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/electorate-details-46.html|access-date=2024-01-20|website=Electoral Commission|language=en}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[Molyneux Park]] |
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[[List of towns in New Zealand]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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;Notes |
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*{{ReedPlacenames2002}} |
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{{ |
{{Reflist}} |
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;Sources |
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* {{ReedPlacenames2002}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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{{Wikivoyage|Alexandra}} |
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*[http://www.alexandra.co.nz Alexandra District Promotions website] |
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{{Commons category-inline|Alexandra, New Zealand}} |
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*[http://www.codc.govt.nz Central Otago District Council] |
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*[http://www. |
* [http://www.alexandra.co.nz Alexandra District Promotions website] |
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* [http://www.codc.govt.nz Central Otago District Council] |
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* [http://www.blossom.co.nz/ Alexandra Blossom Festival] |
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{{Central Otago}} |
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{{clutha}} |
{{clutha}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{coord|45|14|57|S|169|22|47|E|region:NZ-OTA_type:city(5000)|display=title}} |
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[[Category:Otago]] |
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[[Category:Cities, towns and communities in New Zealand]] |
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[[Category:Settlements established in the 1860s]] |
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[[ |
[[Category:Alexandra, New Zealand| ]] |
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[[Category:Central Otago District]] |
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[[nl:Alexandra (Nieuw-Zeeland)]] |
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[[Category:Populated places in Otago]] |
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[[sv:Alexandra, Nya Zeeland]] |
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[[Category:Populated places established in the 1860s]] |
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[[Category:Clutha River]] |
Latest revision as of 00:10, 6 December 2024
Alexandra
Manuherikia or Areketanara (Māori) | |
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Coordinates: 45°14′57″S 169°22′47″E / 45.24917°S 169.37972°E | |
Country | New Zealand |
Region | Otago |
Territorial authority | Central Otago District |
Ward | Vincent Ward |
Community | Vincent Community |
Electorates |
|
Government | |
• Territorial authority | Central Otago District Council |
• Regional council | Otago Regional Council |
• Mayor of Central Otago | Tamah Alley |
• Southland MP | Joseph Mooney |
• Te Tai Tonga MP | Tākuta Ferris |
Area | |
• Total | 9.76 km2 (3.77 sq mi) |
Elevation | 150 m (490 ft) |
Population (June 2024)[3] | |
• Total | 6,150 |
• Density | 630/km2 (1,600/sq mi) |
Postcode | 9320 |
Local iwi | Ngāi Tahu |
Website | www |
Alexandra (Māori: Manuherikia[4][5] or Areketanara[6]) is a town in the Central Otago district of the South Island of New Zealand. It is on the banks of the Clutha River (at the confluence of the Manuherikia River), on State Highway 8, 188 kilometres (117 mi) by road from Dunedin and 33 kilometres (21 mi) south of Cromwell. The nearest towns to Alexandra via state highway 8 are Clyde seven kilometres to the northwest and Roxburgh forty kilometres to the south. State highway 85 also connects Alexandra to Omakau, Lauder, Oturehua, Ranfurly and on to Palmerston on the East Otago coast.
The town of Alexandra is home to 6,150 people as of June 2024.[3]
History
[edit]The town was founded during the Otago gold rush in the 1860s, and was named after Alexandra of Denmark by John Aitken Connell who surveyed the town. In a two-month period in 1862, two gold miners called Horatio Hartley and Christopher Reilly collected 34 kilograms of gold from the Cromwell Gorge, Hartley and Reilly travelled together to New Zealand after meeting in the Californian gold rush. They initially worked in secret to obtain as much gold as they could along the Cromwell gorge. In order to obtain the government's reward on offer for gold discoveries, they made the site public.[7]
This made the Clutha river and its tributaries famous for their gold.[8] In a short time, 2000 miners had descended on Alexandra. Conditions were uninviting initially with a lack of food, equipment and wood.[7] Many of the early miners were Chinese of Cantonese origin, with some suggesting Chinese made up as much as 50% of the mining population.[7] During the goldrush days, a gold dredge named the Lady Molyneux captured 1234 ounces of gold in just one week.[8] Goldmining the Clutha was a dangerous occupation. In 1863, there were 37 men who drowned in the Clutha river or its tributaries. Of these, 12 could not be named.[9] In the 1870s, Chinese miners moved in to re-work claims that others had sold on.[10] By 1889, most of the easy to access gold had been mined and leases were sold for virtually nothing. At this stage, stone fruit orchards gradually took over the local economy.[10]
When the river had run out of gold, the river banks were dredged. This was termed ‘paddock dredging’. This continued day and night between 1896 and 1924 and again between 1951 and 1963.[11] The noise was ever present and loud and it also produced significant quantities of dust which plagued Alexandra. If the dredging hit hard rock, it interrupted the power supply to Alexandra and the lights of the entire town dimmed.[8] The tailings from all the dredging now cover 170 hectares in a historic reserve known as the Earnscleugh Dredge Tailings.[8]
In 1878, the Clutha river flooded many towns including Clyde and Alexandra. The Manuherikia valley "resembled an inland sea".[12] As a result of this event, the Alexandra suspension bridge was constructed between 1879 and 1882 after the bridge at Clyde failed in the 1878 flood.[13] The Otago Central Railway line from Dunedin into Central Otago reached Alexandra in December 1906.[14][15]
Originally referred to as "Alexandra South" to distinguish it from a North Island town with the same name, the word "South" was dropped in 1867 after the North Island town was renamed to Pirongia.[16] It was known to miners of the day by several names: the "Lower Township", the "Junction Township", and "Manuherikia".[17] (The "Upper Township" was Dunstan, now Clyde.)
Many orchards were destroyed in the 1980s as a result of construction, 10 km upriver, of the Clyde High Dam, which is the country's third largest hydroelectric power station. The railway line was closed after the completion of the Clyde Dam in 1990 and the lines were removed in 1990. In 2000, the Otago Central Rail Trail was opened allowing mountain bikers and walkers to traverse the rail corridor from Clyde through Alexandra and on to Middlemarch.[15]
Geography
[edit]The town is a popular holiday destination mainly due to the hot and sunny climate during summer. There are many accommodation options in Alexandra.
Alexandra has had two bridges crossing the Clutha River, the current one opening in 1958.
Climate
[edit]Alexandra experiences an oceanic climate bordering on a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification Cfb/BSk).
Alexandra is one of the farthest towns from a coastline and experiences warm summers and cold winters compared to the rest of New Zealand, with summer temperatures that can reach the mid 30's °C (mid 90's °F) and winter lows that drop around −8.0 °C (18 °F) most years. Every year an average of 66 days will exceed 25.0 °C (77 °F) and 92 nights will drop below 0.0 °C (32 °F). [18] The hottest and coldest temperatures recorded in Alexandra (between 1971 and 2019) are 38.7 °C (102 °F) (recorded on 5 February 2005 and 30 January 2018) and −11.2 °C (12 °F) respectively. [19][20]
During times of high pressure, temperature inversions can form, keeping temperatures in Alexandra below freezing all day. [21]
Alexandra is one of the driest places in the country, often recording fewer than 400 mm (16 in) of rain each year, the majority of which falls in the summer half of the year. The town hold the New Zealand record for the lowest rainfall in one calendar year, recording just 212 mm (8.3 in) in 1964.[22]
Climate data for Alexandra (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1929–present) | |||||||||||||
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Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °C (°F) | 38.7 (101.7) |
38.7 (101.7) |
33.6 (92.5) |
28.5 (83.3) |
25.7 (78.3) |
21.3 (70.3) |
20.1 (68.2) |
22.2 (72.0) |
29.0 (84.2) |
30.0 (86.0) |
32.6 (90.7) |
36.0 (96.8) |
38.7 (101.7) |
Mean maximum °C (°F) | 33.1 (91.6) |
32.7 (90.9) |
29.7 (85.5) |
25.2 (77.4) |
20.8 (69.4) |
17.8 (64.0) |
17.0 (62.6) |
19.2 (66.6) |
23.3 (73.9) |
26.9 (80.4) |
29.1 (84.4) |
31.8 (89.2) |
34.7 (94.5) |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 25.3 (77.5) |
25.2 (77.4) |
22.5 (72.5) |
18.1 (64.6) |
13.5 (56.3) |
9.0 (48.2) |
8.8 (47.8) |
12.7 (54.9) |
16.5 (61.7) |
19.2 (66.6) |
21.3 (70.3) |
23.8 (74.8) |
18.0 (64.4) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 18.1 (64.6) |
17.7 (63.9) |
15.0 (59.0) |
11.0 (51.8) |
7.5 (45.5) |
3.8 (38.8) |
3.2 (37.8) |
6.1 (43.0) |
9.3 (48.7) |
11.9 (53.4) |
14.1 (57.4) |
16.7 (62.1) |
11.2 (52.2) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 10.8 (51.4) |
10.2 (50.4) |
7.5 (45.5) |
3.9 (39.0) |
1.4 (34.5) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
−2.3 (27.9) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
2.2 (36.0) |
4.6 (40.3) |
6.9 (44.4) |
9.5 (49.1) |
4.4 (39.9) |
Mean minimum °C (°F) | 3.7 (38.7) |
3.3 (37.9) |
0.6 (33.1) |
−2.7 (27.1) |
−4.8 (23.4) |
−6.7 (19.9) |
−7.6 (18.3) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
−2.4 (27.7) |
0.1 (32.2) |
2.8 (37.0) |
−8.0 (17.6) |
Record low °C (°F) | −0.6 (30.9) |
−1.9 (28.6) |
−3.2 (26.2) |
−6.3 (20.7) |
−11.5 (11.3) |
−11.8 (10.8) |
−11.7 (10.9) |
−10.1 (13.8) |
−7.5 (18.5) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−4.7 (23.5) |
−2.8 (27.0) |
−11.8 (10.8) |
Average rainfall mm (inches) | 46.9 (1.85) |
41.1 (1.62) |
31.2 (1.23) |
22.0 (0.87) |
34.3 (1.35) |
30.9 (1.22) |
25.2 (0.99) |
15.4 (0.61) |
21.3 (0.84) |
29.6 (1.17) |
32.7 (1.29) |
34.5 (1.36) |
365.1 (14.4) |
Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) | 5.9 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 4.9 | 6.8 | 5.4 | 4.9 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 6.2 | 5.5 | 7.0 | 66.2 |
Average relative humidity (%) | 68.3 | 76.1 | 81.0 | 84.4 | 87.7 | 90.0 | 89.7 | 85.0 | 73.2 | 71.5 | 66.6 | 66.8 | 78.4 |
Mean monthly sunshine hours | 253.1 | 216.6 | 181.2 | 142.1 | 104.3 | 84.0 | 87.0 | 135.6 | 169.6 | 219.2 | 236.4 | 236.4 | 2,065.5 |
Source: NIWA Climate Data[23][24][25] |
Demography
[edit]Alexandra's population was 1414 residents in 1951 and this had increased to 1823 residents in 1956 and then to 2292 residents in 1961.[26]
Alexandra is described by Statistics New Zealand as a small urban area, and covers 9.76 km2 (3.77 sq mi).[1] It had an estimated population of 6,150 as of June 2024,[3] with a population density of 630 people per km2. It is the seventh-largest urban area in Otago, and the second-largest urban area in the Central Otago District behind Cromwell.
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
---|---|---|
2006 | 4,827 | — |
2013 | 4,803 | −0.07% |
2018 | 5,472 | +2.64% |
Source: [27] |
Alexandra had a population of 5,472 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 669 people (13.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 645 people (13.4%) since the 2006 census. There were 2,331 households, comprising 2,661 males and 2,811 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.95 males per female, with 909 people (16.6%) aged under 15 years, 729 (13.3%) aged 15 to 29, 2,247 (41.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 1,590 (29.1%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 93.1% European/Pākehā, 9.8% Māori, 1.5% Pasifika, 2.5% Asian, and 1.4% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
The percentage of people born overseas was 12.3, compared with 27.1% nationally.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 51.8% had no religion, 38.4% were Christian, 0.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Hindu, 0.2% were Muslim, 0.2% were Buddhist and 1.2% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 624 (13.7%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 1,083 (23.7%) people had no formal qualifications. 573 people (12.6%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 2,076 (45.5%) people were employed full-time, 810 (17.8%) were part-time, and 81 (1.8%) were unemployed.[27]
Name | Area (km2) | Population | Density (per km2) | Households | Median age | Median income |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alexandra North | 4.60 | 2,856 | 621 | 1,173 | 45.8 years | $29,500[28] |
Alexandra South | 5.16 | 2,616 | 507 | 1,158 | 52.7 years | $30,500[29] |
New Zealand | 37.4 years | $31,800 |
Economy
[edit]Viticulture
[edit]Grape production is another major industry in the Central Otago Wine Region. The first plantings of grapes were in 1864. Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris are some of the varieties that are grown in the vicinity. Alexandra has a number of vineyards that potentially are the world's most southern. There are more than 25 vineyards in the vicinity of Alexandra. These include Three Miners Vineyard, Grasshopper Rock, Como Villa Estate, Rock'n'Pillar, Thyme Hill Vineyard, Leaning Rock Vineyard, Judge Rock, Immigrants Vineyard, Dunstan Road Wines, Alexandra Wine Company, Drumsara Wines, McArthur Ridge Vineyard and Perseverance Estate.[30][31][32] A cycling trail called Pedal for Pinot gives visitors the opportunity to cycle around the cellar doors and sample a variety of local wines.[33]
Horticulture
[edit]Alexandra is the service centre for a significant stone-fruit industry, which is celebrated by a blossom festival in the town each spring. The first orchards planted provided fruit for the mining community.[34] Now, nectarines, apricots, cherries, peaches, plums and apples are grown and sold for both New Zealand and export markets. Seasonal work picking fruit is available during the summer and many tourists and Pacific Islanders come to New Zealand to work in Alexandra.[35][36]
Pastoral farming
[edit]Sheep farming, particularly of merino sheep has occurred around Alexandra for many years.[37] One of the original sheep runs was Galloway Station. This was established by Watson and Alexander Shennan in 1858.The brothers, from Scotland imported various breeds of sheep. In particular they acquired 15 merino rams and 27 merino ewes in 1861 from the King of Prussia's Potsdam Stud, which cost the massive sum at that time of £2000. The Galloway Station was sub-divided in 1916.[38]
Airport
[edit]The Alexandra Aerodrome is Alexandra's only airport. SPANZ, NAC and Mount Cook Airlines were main users of the airport till the 1980s. It is home to the Central Otago Flying Club, and gliding. Commercial passenger flights are no longer scheduled; Queenstown International Airport is the nearest facility for those.
Education
[edit]Primary schools
[edit]The Terrace School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[39][40] with a roll of 291 as of August 2024.[41] It opened in 1965.[42]
Alexandra School is a co-educational state primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[43][44] with a roll of 226.[45] It opened in 1865, and became a district high school in 1912. After the opening of Dunstan High and The Terrace School, Alexandra School resumed its function solely as a primary school.[42]
St Gerard's School is a co-educational state-integrated Catholic primary school for Year 1 to 8 students,[46] with a roll of 153.[47] The school first opened in 1912.[48]
Secondary schools
[edit]Dunstan High School is a co-educational state secondary school for Year 9 to 13 students,[49][50] with a roll of 589 as of August 2024.[51] It opened in 1962.[42]
Events
[edit]Blossom festival
[edit]Alexandra is perhaps best known for the Alexandra Blossom Festival, an annual event that began in 1957. The Festival celebrates the advent of Spring in the Central Otago District as evidenced by the blooming of the fruit trees.
Great Easter bunny hunt
[edit]Sixty rabbits were introduced by the Acclimatisation Society of Otago in 1866 and it only took five years for them to get established and to start eating the pasture land bare.[52] They are prolific and a pest species around Alexandra. Each year at Easter, locals compete to shoot as many rabbits as possible to cull numbers. The event is run by the Alexandra Lions Club and it is also a great social occasion for the town. It has been run annually since the early 1990s.[53] The event was cancelled in 2018 to allow the Otago Regional Council's programme to introduce the rabbit virus RHDV1 K5.Unfortunately the virus did not have the desired impact on rabbit numbers that was expected and there are more rabbits around than ever.[54] Due to the dry conditions in 2019, the fire risk was deemed to be extreme and the event was cancelled.In 2020 it was again cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. The bunny hunt took place in 2021 with over 10,000 rabbits shot. It was thought not to have a significant impact on the overall rabbit population around Alexandra.[55]
Amenities
[edit]Alexandra swimming pool
[edit]The Alexandra swimming pool complex is run by the Central Otago District Council. It was built in 2003 and replaced the previous swimming pool known as the Centennial Baths. The indoor complex includes a 25m lap pool, a learners' pool and a spa pool. An outdoor pool is also open during the summer months. The complex is located within Molyneux Park.[56]
Ice skating rink
[edit]An outdoor Olympic sized ice rink in Molyneux Park is run by the Alexandra Winter Sports Club. It is the largest one of its type in New Zealand. It was opened in 1993. It replaced the previous ice skating rink at the Manorburn Dam.[57][58]
Alexandra golf club
[edit]The Alexandra golf club was established in 1901. It moved to its present site alongside the Alexandra/Clyde highway in the mid-1960s and work started on the club house in 1970. Work occurred in 1974 redeveloping the layout of the 18 hole course.[59] The course is relatively flat with well irrigated tree lined fairways.[60] Rabbits were noted to be a problem at the golf course in 2019 and the golf club was in the process of exploring fencing options to keep the rabbits out.[61]
Molyneux park
[edit]Molyneux Park is located on state highway 8. It is home to the swimming pool complex, netball courts, a first class cricket venue, the ice skating rink, the Alexandra bowls club and the Alexandra toy library.
Central Stories museum and art gallery
[edit]The Alexandra Museum and Art Gallery is known as Central Stories. The museum focusses on local history, in particular, geology; early explorers; social history; gold mining; Chinese immigration during the gold mining years; stone fruit orchards, farming and viticulture.[62] It is located at 21 Centennial Avenue and is open Monday to Friday between 10am to 4pm and 11am to 2pm on weekends and public holidays.
Alexandra public library
[edit]The Alexandra Public Library is located at 42 Tarbet Street. It is open Monday to Friday and on Saturday mornings.[63] It has a wide selection of adult and children's books, magazines, local newspapers and DVDs. It has free Wifi and a programme of regular events.[64]
Pioneer park
[edit]Pioneer Park was established in the late 1860s. There is a playground and botanic gardens located within it. There are also three artificial grass tennis courts located within the park.[65]
Lower Manorburn dam
[edit]Located in the hills just outside of Alexandra, this large irrigation dam was built in the 1900s. It is a well known body of water for fishing, canoeing and swimming. In winter ice skating is popular when the dam freezes over.[65]
Mountain biking
[edit]A portion of the Otago Central Rail Trail runs through Alexandra. The "Mountain bikers of Alexandra" club are active in building trails in the local area. There are a number of mountain bike trails at Alexandra Airport, Boot Hill, Clyde Lookout and Flat Top Hill. The award-winning trails at Flat Top Hill have been built in partnership with the Department of Conservation.[66][67][68]
Alexandra clock
[edit]A large clock was built on Knobbies Range overlooking Alexandra in 1968. Initially, there was some opposition to the proposal. A full size mock-up was placed on the proposed site for six weeks. Local reaction was assessed and it was overwhelmingly supportive of the idea. It cost around $3000 to build the clock. This included the foundations, steel markers, electrics, painting etc. The Jaycees club put in many hours of volunteer labour to the project. The clock has a diameter of 11 metres. The minute hand is 5.6m in length including the counterweight and the hour hand is 4m in length including the counterweight. It is lit up at night by 150 light bulbs (upgraded to LEDs in 2006 from the original torch bulbs). The LED lights have subsequently been upgraded to colour LEDs in 2018. At Easter an illuminated cross is placed on the hillside nearby.[69][70][71] In April 2020, damage caused the clock to stop working. It appeared that "someone swung on the hands’’ of the clock causing the clock to stop at 8:34.[72]
Air pollution
[edit]Alexandra suffers from air pollution, typically in winter. The main cause of air pollution in Alexandra is from domestic heating appliances that burn solid fuels (e.g. wood and coal). Air pollution peaks during winter mornings and evenings. The results from a study show that sub-freezing temperatures and still wind conditions at 8 am or 9 am can be used to predict high levels of PM10 that evening.[73] Alexandra is one of the least windy towns in New Zealand. This, combined with its geography, being an inland basin, means that the smoke generated from domestic heating appliances stays sitting within the town environs. Daily PM10 concentrations regularly exceed the national guidelines from the month of May through to the month of August each year.[74] Between 2005 and 2017 winter concentrations of PM10s have decreased about 30%.[75] Despite this, Alexandra has "some of the worst winter air quality in the country".[76]
Pupils at Alexandra primary school were helping scientists at NIWA learn more about pollution in their town in a four-month project that will track where smoke comes from and where it goes over winter in 2018.[77]
Alexandra had three high pollution nights, where PM10 particulate levels exceeded the national environmental standards, in winter 2021. This increased in winter 2022 to a total of four nights.[78]
Notable buildings
[edit]Shaky bridge
[edit]The Shaky bridge crosses the Manuherikia river and links Kerry Street and Graveyard Gully Road. It was completed in 1879. Leslie Duncan MacGeorge (1854–1939) designed the 60 metre long bridge.[79] It was the only bridge crossing the Manuherikia river for twenty years. In 1906 a road and rail bridge was completed making the shaky bridge obsolete. It did not receive the required upkeep and earned its nickname of the "shaky bridge". The small suspension bridge with its stone towers was saved by the Pioneer Bridge Committee. The Committee raised funds to restore the bridge. Today it is promoted as a tourist attraction and is only open to pedestrians.[80][81]
Simmond's boarding house
[edit]Simmond's boarding house was built in 1882 and provided accommodation for over ninety years until it was converted into an office building in the 1970s. It was built by James Simmonds who also served as mayor of Alexandra.[82]
Bendigo hotel
[edit]The Bendigo Hotel was situated on the corner of Tabert & Rivers streets. The original Bendigo Hotel, was a wooden, single storied structure built in the 1860s. This original building was demolished in 1900. This was required by the Tuapeka Licensing Commission who stated that the building should be replaced, or the license revoked. The Bendigo Hotel was then rebuilt in 1900. The new hotel was a two storied brick structure. It contained 30 bedrooms and was of the standard of a first class city hotel at the time. Numerous alternations occurred to the building over the next 100 years. The Bendigo was flooded in December 1995 and again in November 1999. This led to the hotel being demolished and the construction of a floodbank in 2001 to protect Alexandra from flooding.[83]
Alexandra courthouse
[edit]The old courthouse located in Alexandra's Centennial Avenue was opened on 16 June 1879, it housed both the Warden's and Magistrate's Courts. it was built of stone. As mining was the main industry at the time the Warden's Court was kept busy dealing with issues relating to mining. These included registration of claims and dealing with matters such as water races, business, licenses, roads, forgeries and other similar issues relating to mining. The Magistrate's Court dealt with general legal matters.[84] It was used as a courthouse until 1972. It is a Category 2 Historic Building. In 2006 the chimneys were renovated and it was repainted.[84][85][86] It now operates as a cafe.[87]
Vallance cottage
[edit]Vallance Cottage is a mud brick house built in 1896.[88] It was home to a family of eleven at one stage. It is a category 2 listed building with Heritage New Zealand.[89][90][91] In the 1970s, Vallance Cottage still had no running water inside and only cold running water in the separate wash-house.[92]
Mokomoko dryland sanctuary
[edit]In 2005, a group of Alexandra residents formed the Central Otago Ecological Trust. They aimed to reintroduce fauna that has been lost from the Alexandra basin. They established, in partnership with a number of other organisations, the Mokomoko Dryland Sanctuary. This lies near Alexandra in the hilly county. They established a 1.6 kilometre long predator proof fence which surrounds 14 hectares of land. This is now allowing native dryland vegetation to reestablish itself and a number of species of lizards and invertebrates to repopulate the sanctuary.[93]
In 2018, around 150 skinks and geckos were introduced to the Mokomoko Dryland Sanctuary. Lizards that are endemic to the area include the Otago skink which can grow up to 300mm in total length [94] and the grand skink.[95] Jewelled Geckos have also been introduced to the sanctuary. These were transferred from the Lammermoor Range.[96]
Media
[edit]Radio stations
[edit]Following Mediaworks corporate 2013 decision to move all Central Otago and Lakes District live broadcast activity to Queenstown, Alexandra was left without a local radio station until the creation of independently owned Classic Gold Central in September 2013 on Blossom Festival Weekend. Tramsmitting from a co-site with Radio Rhema in the Waikerikeri Valley on 91.9FM, the station, owned by longtime broadcasters Chris Diack and Bill Willis, has re-established the service of providing local information for the district. Classic Gold Central was re-branded as Local Radio Central sometime before 2018. On April 1, 2018, the station was purchased by new owners, who again re-branded the station as Radio Central. From the 1st of April 2018 Radio Central had transmitters located at Waikerikeri Valley (91.9), Cromwell (91.9), Roxburgh (94.3) and Wedderburn (104.3).
Independently owned radio station Blue Skies FM was established in 2001 to serve the local community, broadcasting to the Alexandra basin, Cromwell, the Maniototo, Teviot Valley and beyond. Blue Skies FM ceased broadcasting at the end of September '08 following a move by Mediaworks, who successfully negotiated a deal to take on the frequency to rebroadcast its Easy Listening Brand, The Breeze.[97]
Alexandra once had its own local More FM station with the studios based in Alexandra. Previously, the station was known as Radio Central. Central Otago's More FM broadcasts into Roxburgh, Clyde and Cromwell. Wānaka also has More FM, relayed from the Queenstown More FM station formerly known as Resort Radio. Central Otago's More FM is now networked from Studios in Queenstown.
Alexandra features a number of local FM stations that operate on the New Zealand Government's "low power FM" scheme, including Classic Gold on 107.3FM and XS80s on 106.7FM. These stations operate on short range covering the main township only.
Mayors
[edit]Alexandra is now administered by the Central Otago District Council, with the current mayor being Tim Cadogan.
Many streets in Alexandra are named after mayors of the former Alexandra Borough.[17]
1867–1897 | 1898–1940 | 1940–1989 |
---|---|---|
Robert Finlay 1867–1870 and 1886–1889 | James Kelman 1898–1899 and 1901–1903 | Archibald McKellar 1940–1947 |
John Chapple 1871–1872 | Henry Symes 1900–1901 | Bert Fox 1947–1953 |
William Beresford 1872–1873 | George Spencer 1903–1906 | George Campbell 1953–1959 |
James Samson 1873–1878 | Henry Schaumann 1906–1910 | Keith Blackmore 1959–1980 |
James Rivers 1878–1879 and 1894–1896 | J Gregg 1910–1911 | Ross Close 1980–1986 |
George McDonald 1882–1884 | Edward Marslin 1911–1915 | Russell Poole 1986–1989 |
JE Thompson 1884–1886 | Archibald Ashworth 1915–1917 | |
William Theyers 1890–1892 and 1895–1896 | William Black 1917–1927 | |
James Simmonds 1880–1882, 1892–1894 and 1896–1897[98] | William Bringans 1927–1940 |
Government
[edit]Alexandra is currently part of the Southland electorate which was held in 2023 by Joseph Mooney of the National Party.[99][100]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- Notes
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- ^ The Cyclopedia of New Zealand: Alexandra
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- ^ Knight, Catherine (2016). New Zealand's Rivers An Environmental History. Christchurch, New Zealand: Canterbury University Press. p. 59. Bibcode:2016nzra.book.....K.
- ^ a b "Conroys Gully, Alexandra, Central Otago District, Otago Region, New Zealand". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
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- ^ "Alexandra mountain bike trails make the top 10 for NZ – Central Otago District Council". www.codc.govt.nz. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
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- ^ "Well known clock only right twice a day after damage". www.thenews.co.nz. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ Tate, A; Spronken-Smith, RA (May 2008). "A Preliminary Investigation of the Air Pollution Meteorology of Alexandra, Central Otago, New Zealand". Clean Air and Environmental Quality. 42 (2 (May 2008)).
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- ^ "Search the List | Simmond's Boarding House (Former) | Heritage New Zealand". www.heritage.org.nz. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- ^ "Bendigo Hotel — Alexandra, New Zealand - Signs of History on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ a b "History of Alexandra Courthouse". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ "Search the List | Alexandra Courthouse (Former) | Heritage New Zealand". www.heritage.org.nz. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ "NZPlaces". nzplaces.nz. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ "Back Your Backyard: 12-hour guide to Central Otago". Stuff. 3 July 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ "Community orchard to be planted at Vallance Cottage". www.thenews.co.nz. 5 December 2018.
- ^ "Vallance Cottage | South Island | Southproud.co.nz". www.southproud.co.nz. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ "Historical significance recognised". Otago Daily Times Online News. 9 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ "Search the List | Vallance Cottage | Heritage New Zealand". www.heritage.org.nz. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ "Hard but happy life in little cottage". Stuff. 20 February 2013. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ "Mokomoko Dryland Sanctuary". Mokomoko. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ "Otago skink". Mokomoko. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ Henderson, Simon (3 February 2019). "Skinks in Mokomoko Sanctuary a first". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ "Sanctuary raises profile of endemic lizards". Predator Free NZ. 10 December 2017. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
- ^ "Central community radio going off air". The Southland Times. 25 September 2008. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012.
- ^ "Obituary: James Simmonds". Alexandra Herald. Alexandra, New Zealand. 20 June 1923. p. 5. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ "Southland Electorate Profile – New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ "Southland – Official Result". Electoral Commission. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- Sources
- Reed, A.W. (2002) The Reed dictionary of New Zealand place names. Auckland: Reed Books. ISBN 0-790-00761-4.
External links
[edit]Media related to Alexandra, New Zealand at Wikimedia Commons