Fortification, New Zealand facts for kids
Fortification is a small area or "locality" located in the western part of the Catlins region. This region is in Southland, which is part of New Zealand's South Island.
Fortification is surrounded by other small places. To the southeast, you'll find Quarry Hills and Waikawa. To the southwest is Tokanui, and to the west is Waimahaka. It's also more than 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) east of Invercargill, which is the main city in Southland.
History of Fortification
In the past, the forests around Fortification were very important. Timber companies, like Fortification Timber Co, started cutting down trees for wood as early as 1875.
Later, in 1914, the land was divided into smaller pieces. This was done under a law called the Lands for Settlement Act. This law helped people get land for farming or building homes. After 1919, the road leading to a place called Te Peka was also made better.
The Fortification Tramway
In the mid-1920s, a special kind of railway was built in Fortification. It was called a "bush tramway." This tramway was used to help the timber companies move logs from the forests.
The tramway started at the Te Peka railway station. This station was part of the Tokanui Branch railway line. From Te Peka, the tramway went east to a sawmill in Fortification. From there, it split into several smaller lines that went right into the logging areas where trees were being cut.
We don't know exactly when this tramway stopped being used. However, it closed down before the main Tokanui Branch railway line closed on March 31, 1966. Maps from 1944 also showed these tramways leading to a sawmill east of Fortification Hill.
