Balclutha
| Balclutha | ||
| Geographical location | ||
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| Coordinates | 46 ° 14 ′ S , 169 ° 44 ′ E | |
| Region ISO | NZ-OTA | |
| Country |
 New Zealand
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| region | Otago | |
| District | Clutha District | |
| Ward | Balclutha Ward | |
| Administrative headquarters | Headquarters of the administration for the Clutha District | |
| Local foundation | 1852 | |
| Residents | 3 918 (2013) | |
| height | 8 m | |
| Post Code | 9230 | |
| Telephone code | +64 (0) 3 | |
| UN / LOCODE | NZ BAL | |
| Photography of the place | ||
 Balclutha |
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Balclutha is a town in the Clutha District of the Otago regionon the South Island of New Zealand . It is the administrative seat of the Clutha District Council .
Origin of name
The place name reminds of the Scottish roots of the immigrants: Balclutha (anglicized form of Gaelic Baile Chluaidh ) = city on the Clyde . Today it is nicknamed The Big River Town .
geography
The city lies on the Clutha River , 80 km southwest of Dunedin . Balclutha is part of an affluent sheep pasture area on New Zealand State Highway 1 , also known as the Southern Scenic Route in the region .
Balclutha is also connected to the rail network of the Main South Line , on which the Southerner's passenger service was discontinued in 2002. However, freight traffic is still regularly moved along the route.
history
James McNeil was the city's first settler in 1852. He operated a ferry across the Clutha River . His son John McNeil later became mayor when the town was firmly in the hands of prospectors. In 1868 a bridge was finally built over the Clutha River , but it only lasted until 1878 when a flood destroyed it. The current Balclutha Road Bridge was completed in 1935. In recent years the river has started to be used with barrages and hydropower plants .
Gold was found in the deposits of the Clutha River and its tributaries at the beginning of the 20th century. Mountains of rubble are still a reminder of this time today. But the search for the precious metal continues today.
sons and daughters of the town
- Robert Webster (virologist) (* 1932), virologist and expert in the field of influenza viruses
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ 2013 Census QuickStats about a place: Balclutha . Statistics New Zealand , accessed July 17, 2016 .