Lowther, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lowther
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Lowther in 2015
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 Lowther
Location in New Zealand
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Island | South Island |
| Region | Southland region |
| Territorial authority | Southland District |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (NZST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (NZDT) |
| Postcode(s) |
9793
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| Area code(s) | 03 |
| Local iwi | Ngāi Tahu |
Lowther is a small place in Southland, New Zealand. It is found at the edge of the Five Rivers Plain. You can find it about 8 kilometers (5 miles) north of Lumsden, right on State Highway 6.
A mountain called Lowther Peak (912 meters high) stands to the east. This peak was named by John Turnbull Thomson. He named it after Thomas Lowther Barnhill, a local farmer. Barnhill's family, the Lowthers, came from Northern Ireland.
History of Lowther
Lowther has an interesting history, including an old battle and the rise and fall of a small town.
The Battle of Waitaramea
Near State Highway 6, there is a memorial stone. It remembers the Battle of Waitaramea. This battle happened around the year 1725.
A group called Ngāi Tahu came from Canterbury. Their leader was Kaweriri. They wanted to fight the Kāti Māmoe people of Otago and Southland. During the fight, a Kāti Māmoe leader named Tutemakohu killed Kaweriri. Tutemakohu and his group then escaped into thick fog. The Ngāi Tahu group had lost other leaders too. So, they went back home.
The Early Township
The town of Lowther was planned out in 1863. A man named J. A. McArthur surveyed the land. Soon, a police station and a jail were built there. Later, a courthouse was added. Constable Malone was the first policeman in the area.
Lowther also had two hotels. The last hotel closed in 1912. This happened after it was damaged by a flood.
The Railway and Decline
The Kingston Branch Railway reached Lowther on January 15, 1877. A siding, which is a short track for trains, was built there. For one year, Lowther was the end of the railway line.
When the railway opened, the nearby town of Lumsden grew more important. Lumsden became the main business center. Because of this, Lowther became less important. In 1879, the police station, jail, and court all moved to Lumsden. The old jail has been fixed up. You can now see it next to Lumsden's old railway station. The railway line closed completely on November 26, 1979. Today, the Around the Mountains Cycle Trail follows the path of the old railway tracks.
