Winton, New Zealand facts for kids

Winton is a small town in the countryside of Southland, New Zealand. It sits near the Ōreti River, about 30 kilometers north of Invercargill. The town is named after Thomas Winton, who was a local farmer in the 1850s.

For a long time, Winton's economy was based on farming. First, there were many sheep farms. Later, dairy farming became very important. The town also had sawmills and industries that used flax plants.

Today, Winton is a helpful service town for local farmers and businesses. It is also a popular stop for people traveling on the highway between Invercargill and Queenstown. The town's population is growing. Many farmers choose to retire here because the weather is often warmer and drier than in other parts of Southland. Also, new families have moved to Winton from countries like the Philippines and the Netherlands to work in dairy farming. Local schools, shops, and churches have welcomed these new community members.

Two main highways pass through Winton. 6 connects Queenstown and Invercargill. 96 links Winton to the town of Mataura in the east and Ohai in the west.

History of Winton

Winton used to be an important railway hub, but trains no longer stop here. The first railway line reached Winton from Invercargill on 22 February 1871. This line was built using a wide track size, which was different from most New Zealand railways.

Later, on 20 October 1875, a new section of railway opened from Winton to Caroline. This new part used the narrower track size common in New Zealand. After this, the line back to Invercargill was also changed to the narrower size. This railway line became known as the Kingston Branch.

In 1883, a smaller railway, called a bush tramway, was built east from Winton. It was later upgraded and opened as the Hedgehope Branch on 17 July 1899. This made Winton a busy railway junction. However, the Hedgehope Branch closed on 1 January 1968. The Kingston line also became less used and most of it closed on 13 December 1982, including the part that went through Winton. Today, you can still see where the railway lines used to be, but the trains are gone.

Winton's Population and People

Winton covers about 3.08 square kilometers. As of June 2023, it has an estimated population of 2,460 people. This means there are about 799 people living in each square kilometer.

The population of Winton has been growing. In the 2018 New Zealand census, 2,337 people lived there. This was an increase of 117 people since 2013, and 243 people since 2006.

The average age in Winton in 2018 was 44.5 years. About 18.7% of the people were under 15 years old.

Most people in Winton are of European descent (90.9%). There are also people of Māori (11.0%), Pasifika (1.8%), and Asian (2.7%) backgrounds. Some people identify with more than one ethnicity. About 8.1% of Winton's residents were born outside New Zealand.

When asked about their religion, 47.6% of people said they had no religion. About 43.1% were Christian. Smaller numbers followed Māori religious beliefs, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, or other religions.

Education in Winton

Winton has several schools for young people.

Winton School

Winton School is a primary school for students in years 1 to 8. It has a roll of 266 students. The school first started in 1868, but 1870 is considered its official beginning. It used to share a site with Winton District High School. The current Winton School building opened in 1965.

Central Southland College

Central Southland College is a high school for students in years 9 to 13. It serves students from Winton and nearby towns like Otautau, Nightcaps, and Dipton. The school community includes about 12% Māori students. As of February 2024. , it has a roll of 609 students. The College opened in 1965 after the high school separated from the primary school.

St Thomas Aquinas School

St Thomas Aquinas School is a Catholic primary school for years 1 to 8. It has a roll of 91 students. This school first opened in 1898 and its current building was rebuilt in 1966.

Winton's Climate

Winton has a mild, or temperate, climate. It is generally warmer, drier, and calmer than the city of Invercargill or other coastal areas in Southland. Winton gets a good amount of rain throughout the year, even in its driest month.

According to climate experts, Winton's climate is called 'oceanic'. This means it has high humidity all year round. The average temperature in Winton is about 9.9°C each year. The average rainfall is 912 mm per year.

• The driest month is August, with about 55 mm of rain.
• The wettest month is January, with an average of 96 mm of rain.
• January is the warmest month, with an average temperature of 14.5°C.
• July is the coldest month, with an average temperature of 4.8°C.

The highest temperature ever recorded in Winton was 35.0°C on 14 January 2018.

Notable People from Winton

• David Hall, a famous rugby union player for Southland, was born in Winton.

See also

In Spanish: Winton (Southland) para niños