Lumsden, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lumsden
Ōreti (Māori)
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Lumsden's town centre - February 2020
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Island | South Island |
| Region | Southland region |
| Territorial authorities of New Zealand | Southland District |
| Ward | Mararoa Waimea Ward |
| Community | Northern Community |
| Electorates |
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| Area | |
| • Total | 4.52 km2 (1.75 sq mi) |
| Population
(June 2023)
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| • Total | 590 |
| • Density | 130.5/km2 (338/sq mi) |
| 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 |
Lumsden (which is called Ōreti in Māori) is a small town in Southland, New Zealand. It's nestled among hills and is an important meeting point on State Highway 6. Lumsden is about 81 kilometres north of Invercargill and 106 kilometres south of Queenstown. It's also 59 kilometres west of Gore and 77 kilometres east of Te Anau. The Ōreti River flows about 1.5 kilometres east of the town.
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Town History and Naming
The area around Lumsden was first known as "The Elbow." When a new railway station was built, it was also called The Elbow. This caused confusion with another place called Castlerock, which was also known as The Elbow.
People from Castlerock asked George Lumsden for help. He was part of the Otago Provincial Council, a local government group. He spoke to the Railways Department. Since no one had a better idea, they decided to name the town "Lumsden" after him.
In 2017, people started to notice that Lumsden was becoming a "satellite town" for Queenstown. Even though Queenstown is about 100 kilometres away, it was cheaper to live in Lumsden. People could buy or rent homes there and travel to Queenstown for work, where salaries might be higher.
The old Lumsden Presbyterian church was built in 1891. It stopped being used as a church in 2022. Someone bought it and moved it to Rangiora to turn it into a house. However, in August 2023, the historic church building and its trees were still seen in Lumsden.
Lumsden's Railway Past
Lumsden used to be a very important railway hub. Train lines went out in all four directions from the town. The Kingston Branch line ran north and south through Lumsden. To the west was the Mossburn Branch line, and to the east was the Waimea Plains Railway. This last line connected to the main railway line in Gore.
Most of the Waimea Plains Railway closed in 1971. However, a 16-kilometre section from Lumsden to Balfour stayed open until 1978. In 1979, the line going north to Kingston closed. This happened because it was too expensive to fix after flood damage. Both the Mossburn Branch and the line south to Invercargill closed in December 1982.
Today, the old railway station is a tourist information centre. The Lumsden Heritage Trust was started in 2013. This group has found and fixed up old train carriages and engines. They have put the frame of an old New Zealand Railways steam locomotive P 60 at the town's southern entrance. They also display two other old locomotives, V 126 and V 127. You can also see two diesel shunting engines and three wagons near the old station. These displays remind everyone of Lumsden's important role in New Zealand's national rail network. In April 2022, a historic 1883 A Class 199 passenger carriage was added to the Lumsden Railway area.
Lumsden's Population and People
Lumsden is a rural settlement, which means it's a small town in the countryside. It covers about 4.52 square kilometres. As of 2018, Lumsden had an estimated population of 492 people. This means there were about 109 people living in each square kilometre.
The population of Lumsden has changed over time:
- In 2006, there were 426 people.
- In 2013, there were 420 people.
- In 2018, the population grew to 492 people.
This shows an increase of 72 people (17.1%) since 2013.
In 2018, there were 228 households in Lumsden. There were 258 males and 237 females. About 99 people (20.1%) were under 15 years old. Another 99 people (20.1%) were aged 15 to 29. Most people, 213 (43.3%), were aged 30 to 64. About 81 people (16.5%) were 65 or older.
Most people in Lumsden are European/Pākehā (87.2%). Some are Māori (12.2%), and smaller numbers are Pasifika, Asian, or other ethnicities.
When asked about religion, 55.5% of people said they had no religion. About 31.1% were Christian. Smaller groups identified as Hindu, Muslim, or Buddhist.
For those aged 15 and older, 48 people (12.2%) had a university degree or higher. About 120 people (30.5%) had no formal qualifications. Many people in Lumsden work. About 189 people (48.1%) worked full-time, and 63 (16.0%) worked part-time. Only 15 people (3.8%) were unemployed.
Education in Lumsden
Lumsden has two main schools for young people:
- Lumsden School is a primary school for students in years 1 to 6. It has about 100 students.
- Northern Southland College is a secondary school for students in years 7 to 13. It has about 200 students.
Both of these schools opened in 1976. They replaced an older school called Lumsden District High School, which operated from 1962 to 1975. Before that, the original Lumsden School taught students from 1879 to 1962.
Notable People from Lumsden
Many interesting people have connections to Lumsden:
Born in Lumsden
- Cathy Baker (born 1957): A New Zealand field-hockey player.
- Bill English (born 1961): He was the Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2016 to 2017.
- Daryl Gibson (born 1975): A New Zealand rugby-union player and coach.
- Amy Rule (born 2000): A New Zealand rugby-union player.
Lumsden Residents
- Lou Vincent: A New Zealand cricketer.
Lumsden's Climate
Lumsden has a varied climate throughout the year. Here's a quick look at the average temperatures and rainfall:
- Summer (December to February): The warmest months are January and February, with average high temperatures around 20-21°C. Rainfall is usually highest in December.
- Autumn (March to May): Temperatures start to cool down. May has an average high of about 12°C.
- Winter (June to August): These are the coldest months. July has the lowest average high temperature, around 8.8°C, and can have freezing nights. Rainfall is generally lower in winter.
- Spring (September to November): Temperatures slowly rise again. By November, the average high is about 16.8°C.
Lumsden can experience very hot days in summer, with record highs over 30°C. In winter, it can get very cold, with record lows dropping to -9.0°C in July.
