Hawkins, New Zealand

43°28′59″S 172°03′23″E / 43.4830°S 172.05630°E / -43.4830; 172.05630CountryNew ZealandRegionCanterburyTerritorial authoritySelwyn DistrictWardMalvernElectoratesSelwyn
Te Tai TongaElevation214 m (702 ft)Time zoneUTC+12 (New Zealand Standard Time) • Summer (DST)UTC+13 (New Zealand Daylight Time)PostcodeArea code03

Hawkins is a rural settlement located in the Selwyn District of the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island. It is located on State Highway 77, and is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) west from Darfield and 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) east of Glentunnel.

Rata Lovell-Smith's most famous painting, Hawkins, painted in 1933, was of the railway station here. The painting is now owned by the Christchurch Art Gallery, having purchased it in 1981.^[1]

The Hawkins River traverses through the western end of the settlement. However, the river does not flow here, only doing so during periods of heavy rain and flooding.

Hawkins is part of the Glentunnel statistical area.^[2]

History

Hawkins was served by the Whitecliffs Branch, a branch line railway, from the line's opening on 3 November 1875 through to its closure on 31 March 1962. Apart from embankments around the Hawkins River, no evidence of the railway remains.

Facilities

Bangor Estate

Named after Viscount Bangor, the estate was established in the 1850s.^[3] It now hosts a wedding venue and function centre in a separate building.^[4] The original wooden homestead is still occupied, having recently been renovated and modelled on Castle Ward. The estate also boasts large 160-year old oak forests.

Hawkins Pit

The Selwyn District Council operate a waste pit, which is open periodically to the public to dump certain materials.

References