Sheffield, New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sheffield
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Village
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Sign next to SH73 welcoming visitors to Sheffield
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| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Canterbury |
| Territorial authority | Selwyn District |
| Ward | Malvern |
| Community | Malvern |
| Electorates |
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| Area | |
| • Total | 0.55 km2 (0.21 sq mi) |
| Population
(2018 Census)
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| • Total | 192 |
| • Density | 349/km2 (904/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+12 (New Zealand Standard Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+13 (New Zealand Daylight Time) |
| Postcode |
7500
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| Area code(s) | 03 |
Sheffield (formerly Malvern) is a small village in New Zealand's South Island. It is located in the Selwyn District, part of the Canterbury region. You can find it near the Waimakariri Gorge.
Sheffield is very close to its neighbor, Waddington. They are only about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) apart along State Highway 73. These two villages even share a community committee.
Both villages are between Darfield and Springfield. They are on State Highway 73 and the Midland Line railway. Farmers settled these towns in the 1800s. They came to the area to raise sheep.
Contents
Sheffield's Railway History
Sheffield has a railway station and was once an important railway junction. The first railway line reached the town in the late 1870s. It came from a junction in Darfield. This line later became the Midland Line, connecting Christchurch to the West Coast.
On July 28, 1884, the Oxford Branch railway line was extended. It crossed the Waimakariri River to reach Sheffield. This made Sheffield a railway junction. There were plans to extend this line further south. This was meant to be part of the proposed Canterbury Interior Main Line. However, this plan never happened. The rail link with Oxford closed on July 14, 1930.
People and Community
Sheffield and Waddington are considered a rural settlement by Statistics New Zealand. Together, they cover about 1.63 square kilometers (0.63 square miles). In 2018, their estimated population was 360. This means there were about 221 people per square kilometer.
| Historical population | ||
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| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 2006 | 75 | — |
| 2013 | 111 | +5.76% |
| 2018 | 99 | −2.26% |
In the 2018 New Zealand census, Sheffield had 99 people. This was a small decrease from 2013, but an increase from 2006. There were 33 households in the village.
Most people in Sheffield are of European background. A small number identify as Māori or Asian. Many people in Sheffield said they had no religion. About a third were Christian.
Sheffield War Memorial
The Sheffield community honored 100 years since the end of World War One. They planted an oak tree for each of the 20 soldiers from the Sheffield area who died. These oak trees grew from acorns. The acorns came from the Gallipoli Oak in Christchurch, which is next to the Bridge of Remembrance.
Saint Ambrose's Anglican Church
The first church building was built in 1878. People decided to replace it in 1939. Work on the new church started in 1955. It was officially opened on August 26, 1962.
Sheffield Hotel
The Sheffield Hotel was first built in 1882. In 2014, new owners took over and made it look much better. Sadly, the Sheffield Hotel was destroyed by a fire in September 2021. The only person staying there was woken up by smoke alarms. They were able to escape safely.
Education in Sheffield
Sheffield School is a primary school for students in years 1 to 6. As of February 2024. , it had a roll of 94 students. The school opened in 1949. It brought together students from schools in Waddington, Russells Flat, and Annat.
