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Invercargill

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 203.211.68.80 (talk) at 03:43, 22 April 2006 (im sorry but the mcdonald's in invercargill's marketing pitch is the southernmost city in the world. it is also confirmed by the corporation itself and posted at invercargill airport). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Invercargill
Population: 48,200
(urban)
50,800
(territorial)
Mayor: Tim Shadbolt
Urban Area
Extent: Makarewa to Woodend;
west to Otatara
Territorial Authority
Name: Invercargill City
Land area: 491km²
Extent: Makarewa to Bluff;
Oreti Beach to
Kennington
Regional Council: Southland

Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost settlements in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff, which is the southernmost town in the South Island. It is bordered by large areas of conservation land and marine reserves, including Fiordland National Park covering the south-west corner of the South Island. There is much rich farmland to the north, as far as the beautiful lakes of neighbouring Otago.

In 1856 a petition was put forward to Thomas Gore Browne, the Governor of New Zealand, for a port at Bluff. Browne agreed to the petition and gave the name Invercargill to the settlement north of the port. Inver comes from the Scots Gaelic word inbhir meaning a river's mouth and Cargill is in honour of Captain William Cargill, who was at the time the Superintendent of Otago, of which Southland was then a part.

During the mid 1950s, Invercargill Airport was used as an American base for Operation Deep Freeze. Large planes destined for McMurdo Sound in the Antarctic utilised the airport assisted in takeoff by JATO rockets under their wings.

Invercargill is home to the Southern Institute of Technology which has introduced a fees-free scheme. There is a large park, Queens Park, just north of the city centre. This park has botanical gardens, an aviary, sports grounds, and is also home to the Southland Museum and Art Gallery. Anderson Park, located on the northern boundary of Invercargill, consists of a large Georgian-style residence set in 24 hectares of landscaped gardens. The house displays Invercargill's extensive collection of New Zealand art.

As a regional centre, it has a large number of shops. Also due to the Invercargill Licensing Trust alcohol is not sold in supermarkets. (The trust putting all profits back into the community.) Many streets in the city, especially in the centre and main shopping district are named after rivers in Scotland. These include: Dee, Esk, Don, Ness, Yarrow, Spey, Tay, and Eye rivers.

Invercargill is located at the southern end of the Main South Line railway, which extends up the east coast to Christchurch via Dunedin. Until the cancellation of the Southerner in 2002, Invercargill had the southernmost passenger railway station in the world. Passenger trains no longer call in Invercargill, except for occasional excursions. The Bluff Branch extends south from Invercargill and has been freight only since 1967. It is also home of the SBS Invitational Amateur golf tournment which is held every year in the beginning of March.

In recent years, publicity has been brought to the southern city by the election of Tim Shadbolt, a colourful and outspoken former student activist, as mayor.

Invercargill has the world's southernmost McDonald's restaurant.

Climate

A temperate oceanic climate similar to that of the British Isles (the rain is warmer in summer) prevails in Invercargill, where the mean daily temperature ranges from 5.2°C in July to 13.8°C in January. Precipitation averages 1,064 mm annually, and measurable snowfall is occasionally seen during the winter months of June to September. As a major centre, Invercargill is New Zealand's cloudiest averaging 1580 hours per annum.

The average high temperature ranges from 18.4 °C in January to 11.1 °C in August. Due to the relatively high latitude (46° 42'), the city enjoys nearly 16 hours of daylight at the summer solstice in late December.

Invercargill is "The city of Water and Light". A recent sign also states "Invercargill, where dreams can come true" with an image from the 2005 film The World's Fastest Indian

The Invercargill March

Invercargill is probably best-known internationally for the Invercargill March, a stirring piece of military music written in 1900 by the composer Alex F. Lithgow, who lived in Invercargill from the age of 6, although born in Scotland. The march was specifically written for the City of Invercargill, which Alex Lithgow dearly missed while he was away.

"Invercargill" rates alongside old favorites such as the Gladiator March, Liberty Bell, the Radetsky March, and other stirring Sousa marches. The Invercargill March is especially popular in the United States of America. It is a favorite of the US Marines, and was the Regimental March of the 56th Infantry Regiment of the New York Guard during World War 2.

Education

Schools in Invercargill include:

High schools

All High Schools in Invercargill are Year 7-13, except for Verdon College, which will be changing to Year 7-13 next year. At the moment it is Year 9-13.

  • Aurora College is a school that has been newly formed this year (2005) brought in after Mount Anglem College was closed in 2004.

Primary Schools

Some Primary Schools are Year 1-8, but most are Year 1-6.

File:Inverc1.jpg
Invercargill Water Tower, possibly Invercargill's best known landmark

Famous Invercargillites

References

  • Reed, A. W. (2002). The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names. Auckland: Reed Books. ISBN 0-7900-0761-4.
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