Kelso, New Zealand facts for kids
Kelso was once a small town in Otago, New Zealand. It was located about ten kilometres north of Tapanui. The town was built near the Crookston Burn, which is a small stream, close to where it joined the larger Pomahaka River. In the 1960s and 1970s, nearly 300 people lived in Kelso. Most of the town's money came from sheep farming. A small factory that made dairy products was very important in the early days of the village.
Contents
The Beginning of Kelso
The area where Kelso was built was first measured and planned in 1875. The first people started to settle there the next year, in 1876. The town was named by John Turnbull Thomson. He named it after the Scottish hometown of one of the first settlers, James Logan. This Scottish town was also called Kelso. At first, people thought Kelso would become the main town in the West Otago area. However, the nearby town of Tapanui eventually became the main centre instead.
How Kelso Connected to Other Towns
Kelso became connected to other towns by train. A railway line called the Tapanui Branch opened on 1 December 1880. This line linked Kelso to Waipahi and the main railway line, the Main South Line. Later, on 1 April 1884, the railway line was made even longer. It was extended from Kelso all the way to Heriot. This made it easier for people and goods to travel to and from Kelso.
Why Kelso Disappeared
Kelso often had problems with floods. The town was flooded many times, especially in 1913 and 1917. The biggest floods happened in 1978 and 1980. These floods were caused by a lot of water in the Clutha River area. The flood in 1978 caused the railway line to close down. After the flood in 1980, people decided it was too risky to keep living in Kelso. So, they chose to move the entire town somewhere else.
What Remains of Kelso Today
Today, there is not much left to show where Kelso used to be. You might find a stone memorial that marks the spot. You can also see some old buildings with faded words that still mention the town. These are the only clues that a town once stood there.
Learning More About Kelso
If you want to learn more about the history of Kelso, there is a book about it. The book is called Kismet for Kelso. It was written by May Brownlie and was published in 1992.
