Hilton, New Zealand facts for kids

Hilton is a small place, or locality, located in the Canterbury Region on the South Island of New Zealand. It's about 10 kilometers (or 6 miles) southwest of a town called Geraldine. Hilton is surrounded by other areas like Gapes Valley and Pleasant Valley to the north, Kakahu Bush to the west, and Geraldine Flat to the east. The Kakahu River also flows through this area.

Hilton's Past

The land where Hilton is now was first claimed in 1853 by Captain Richard Westenra. It was part of a large farm called Kakahu Station. Over the next ten years, the area grew quickly because of two main activities: saw milling (cutting down trees to make timber) and more intensive farming (using land to grow lots of crops or raise many animals). By 1876, Hilton had a few important businesses, including a blacksmith shop, a general store, a barbershop, a school, and a post office.

The Hilton Hotel Fire

In 1891, a big, two-story hotel with 14 rooms, called the Hilton Hotel, burned down. This hotel was not connected to the famous Hilton Hotels & Resorts chain that started much later. The hotel was having a tough time financially. The owner, H.D.D. Homes, was later found responsible for setting the fire.

Hilton School's Journey

The first Hilton School opened its doors in 1875. Many years later, in 1924, the school was made modern and rebuilt. The original teacher from 1875, Thomas Hughes, even came back to open the new building! The number of students at the school changed a lot, sometimes having as many as 90 children and other times as few as 20. When the nearby Gapes Valley School closed, more children came to Hilton School. However, in 2005, the Minister of Education at the time, Trevor Mallard, made a decision to close several schools in the region, including Hilton School. This decision was not popular with the local community.

The Hilton Hall

The Hilton Hall officially opened in October 1916. It's still a very important place for the community today. People use it for different events, like the yearly Christmas party. A special committee helps to keep the hall in good condition. For most other things, people living in Hilton usually go to the nearby town of Geraldine.

Famous People from Hilton

Some notable people who have connections to Hilton include:

• Jeremiah Connolly (1875–1935): He was a Member of Parliament for the Mid-Canterbury area. A Member of Parliament is a person elected by citizens to represent them in the country's government.
• Walter Scott (1902–1985): He was a well-known New Zealand teacher, lecturer, and a leader in education. He was also a civil libertarian, meaning he strongly believed in protecting people's basic rights and freedoms.

What Drives Hilton's Economy?

The main way people in Hilton make a living is through farming. There are also two limestone quarries in the area, which are places where limestone rock is dug out of the ground.