Glentunnel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Glentunnel
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Village
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Glentunnel Chapel, February 2017
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Canterbury |
| Territorial authority | Selwyn District |
| Ward | Malvern |
| Community | Malvern |
| Electorates |
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| Area | |
| • Total | 0.21 km2 (0.08 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 260 m (850 ft) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Total | 180 |
| • Density | 860/km2 (2,220/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (New Zealand Standard Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (New Zealand Daylight Time) |
| Postcode |
7673
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| Area code(s) | 03 |
Glentunnel is a small village in New Zealand. It's located in the Selwyn District of the Canterbury region, on the South Island. Until 1875, it was known as Surveyors Gully.
This village has a long history with mining for coal, clay, and sand. Its name, Glentunnel, comes from a special tunnel. This tunnel was part of a tramway that led to the Homebush coal mine. Coal was found here in 1871. Good clay was also discovered, which led to factories making bricks, tiles, and pottery. These factories operated until the 1980s.
Glentunnel is on State Highway 77. It's about 14.5 kilometers (9 miles) west of Darfield. It's also about 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of Christchurch.
Contents
Glentunnel's Past
Early Days: 1800s–2000s
Glentunnel had a branch railway line called the Whitecliffs Branch. It opened on November 3, 1875, and closed on March 31, 1962. The train station in Glentunnel opened a bit later, on April 22, 1876.
In February 1876, a train heading to Christchurch had an accident. It happened at a sharp bend near the Selwyn Rapids. The engine and the guard's van went off the tracks and rolled down a steep hill. The engine driver was okay, but the fireman was seriously hurt. This part of the road is now known as "Breakneck Corner" by local people.
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Today, not much is left of the old railway in town. Part of the station's platform is now in someone's backyard. You can still see the goods platform from Railway Terrace, surrounded by farmland.
St Luke's Anglican church used to be on the corner of State Highway 77 and Victoria Street. It was built in 1904. In the 1970s, the church caught fire and was partly damaged. It was later taken down, and the land is now privately owned.
Recent Times: 2000–Present
On June 18, 2003, the Glentunnel Community Hall caught fire and was badly damaged. A local newspaper, The Malvern Record, reported on the event. Firefighters from nearby towns quickly arrived and put out the fire. The hall was completely destroyed inside. This was a big loss for the Glentunnel community.
A new community center was built to replace the old hall. It officially opened on January 28, 2006.
2010 Canterbury Earthquake
The 2010 Canterbury earthquake caused a lot of damage in the area. The historic Homebush Homestead, a large old house near Glentunnel, was almost completely ruined. It had to be taken down, and a new house was built in its place. The bell tower of the historic St John's Church, Hororata also fell down, damaging the church.
Flooding in the 2020s
In May 2021, the Hororata Golf Course, which is in Glentunnel, was severely damaged by floods. The Selwyn River overflowed its banks. The golf course looked "largely unrecognisable." The camping grounds were also evacuated, and some campervans and cabins were washed away. It took weeks to fix the damage.
Glentunnel's People
Glentunnel is a rural settlement. It covers about 0.21 square kilometers. In 2018, it had a population of 162 people.
- In 2006, the population was 141.
- In 2013, it grew to 150.
- In 2018, it reached 162 people.
The people living in Glentunnel come from different backgrounds. Most are European/Pākehā. Some are Māori, Asian, or other ethnicities. Many people in Glentunnel said they had no religion. Others were Christian.
Nature and Fun
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Joyce Reserve is a special area where many native trees have been planted. Local school children and volunteers have planted over 100,000 trees. The goal is to help native birds return to the area. It also aims to create a safe 'green path' for wildlife from the Southern Alps to Lake Ellesmere. Birds like kingfishers, bellbirds, and waxeyes now live there.
Things to Do
Glentunnel has many walkways for people to enjoy.
- The River Walk follows the Selwyn River. It goes from the camping ground to a one-lane bridge.
- The Millennium Walkway follows an old tramway path. It leads to the disused tunnel that gave the town its name. This walkway opened in 2000.
Glentunnel also has a domain, which is a large open area. Here, you can play cricket, football, or rugby. Next to the domain is the Glentunnel campground. It's a popular spot in summer because it's right by the Selwyn River. The Hororata Golf Club is also next to the domain.
Learning in Glentunnel
Glentunnel Primary School is the only primary school in Glentunnel. It opened on March 8, 1879. It had 54 students when it first started. Today, it has about 60 students from years 1 to 6.
Glentunnel's Industries
Mining History
In the past, there was a lot of lignite coal mining around Glentunnel. This was one reason why the railway was built. However, mining activity greatly decreased in the 20th century. It has mostly stopped since the 1980s. Today, only one open-pit coal mine is still operated by a company called Bathurst Resources Limited.
Brick Making
The Glentunnel Brickworks was a factory that made bricks, tiles, and pottery. It operated from 1875 until it closed on October 31, 1983. Products from this factory were used to build the Homebush Homestead and other farm buildings nearby.
Services in Glentunnel
Glentunnel has a general store where you can buy everyday items. There are also two churches: a Brethren Church and a combined church for Anglicans, Methodists, and Presbyterians. The village also has cafés, a community center, a garage, a library, a museum, a playground, and a post office.
The New Zealand Army has a storage facility for ammunition in Glentunnel.
