Edendale, New Zealand facts for kids

Edendale is a small town in New Zealand's South Island. It is located in the Southland area, on the Southland Plains. The town sits just west of the Mataura River. Before it was called Edendale, it had names like Maorirua and Stuart's Bush.

History of Edendale

Edendale began as a very large farm estate. It was owned by a company called the New Zealand and Australian Land Company. This company divided the land and sold parts of it to many farmers.

In 1882, the company built New Zealand's first large dairy factory in Edendale. This was a big step for the country's dairy industry.

The main house of the Edendale estate was bought in 1902 by Mr. Donald Macdonald. He used lime on the local soil, which made it much better for farming. The Edendale Homestead is a very old and important building. It was built around 1882 and has a long driveway lined with native trees. Mr. Macdonald's family still owns the property today.

People of Edendale

Edendale is considered a rural settlement by Statistics New Zealand. In 2018, about 591 people lived in Edendale. The town covers an area of about 2.92 square kilometers.

The population has grown over the years. In 2006, there were 516 people, and by 2018, it had increased by 75 people.

Most people in Edendale are of European descent. Some people also identify as Māori, Pasifika, or Asian.

When asked about religion, many people said they had no religion. Most of those who did identify with a religion were Christian.

Edendale's Economy

Edendale is home to a large milk processing plant. It is run by a company called Fonterra. This plant was once a cheese factory, but in the 1990s, it started making milk powder too.

The plant has grown a lot over the years. In 2009, it became the biggest raw milk processing plant in the world. However, the cheese-making part of the plant closed in late 2022. Fonterra announced in June 2023 that the cheese plant would be fully closed.

Edendale as seen from a distance, the Fonterra dairy factory prominent.

In the center of Edendale, you can find several small local businesses. These include a butcher shop, a dairy (a small shop), a garage for car repairs, and a post office.

Getting Around Edendale

State Highway 1 is a major road that goes past Edendale. It connects the towns of Gore and Invercargill. In December 2019, a new bypass road opened. This moved State Highway 1 out of the town center, making it safer and quieter for residents.

The main railway line in the South Island also runs through Edendale. Trains have been using this line since April 1875. Passenger trains stopped running through Edendale on February 10, 2002. Before that, famous trains like the Southerner used to stop here.

Edendale was a railway junction for almost 80 years. A smaller railway line, called the Wyndham Branch, opened in 1882. It connected Edendale to Wyndham. This branch line was closed in 1962 because not enough goods were being transported on it.

Education in Edendale

Edendale School is the local primary school. It teaches students from Year 1 to Year 6 (ages 5 to 11). The school opened in 1909.

For older students, the nearest intermediate and secondary school is Menzies College. It is about 5 kilometers east of Edendale, in the town of Wyndham.