BRIDGE ST
WASHDYKE LAGOON, WILDLIFE REFUGE, ROCK POOLS, BIRD WATCHING
On the north side of Timaru at the top of the Showgrounds Hill drive down Bridge Rd, towards the Smithfield Freezing works, park before the railway bridge . There is a stile that leads to a walking track that usually heads around to the right back towards Timaru and rock pools at low tide at Smith Beach. (however this is currently closed) See the volcanic rock, where an old lava stream met the sea and the old WW2 gun emplacements from the lower track. The area is beautiful on a stormy day with waves battering the coast.
Did you know? This was one of 15 fishing easements set aside in 1868 by the Native Land Court in to allow Ngāi Tahu to continue the practice of mahinga kai. The coastline has been in long term retreat, and erosion of this lagoon significantly increased after the construction of the Timaru Port. In 1881 it was 253 hectares, now it is less than 48.
The Rhodes Brothers, dammed the stream here to wash sheep before shearing, this is how Washdyke got it’s name. The legendary James McKenzie was accused of rustling 1000 of Rhodes sheep in 1855 to the Upper Waitaki Valley, this region was dubbed the Mackenzie Country. The lagoon was classified a wildlife refuge in 1906.
Can you find? The information sign? And the old war battery?
During World War 2, a Japanese invasion of New Zealand was genuinely feared here in Timaru. So a coast defence site at Smithfield freezing works was built in 1942 to provide a some security for the port and people of Timaru. The battery here used to have two guns. These were set in a large concrete emplacement with a small magazine and overhead cover. The fire of the guns was directed by fire-control equipment housed in a Battery Observation Post (BOP) built, also in concrete, in front of and below the guns. A battery camp was built about 300 metres behind the guns.
WuHoo Challenge: Explore the rocky platform at low tide and watch birds in the wildlife refuge.
Has long been a mātaitai (food gathering) for Māori. The lagoon has a long history of cultural significance to local runanga, as an important site for traditional food gathering.
ABOVE: Maori fishing camp at the Washdyke Lagoon, photo by William Ferrier. There is a gig to the right, two men with gaffs, one with a dead eel, five women near fire and a couple of tents.
The Timaru Herald says that a large party of Maoris with their chief, J. Kahu, are very busy at present eeling on the Washdyke lagoon. They have been in camp for a week or two, and during that time have caught about 1000 eels. Some very fines ones have come to the net, weighing about 61b, and the women have a busy time cleaning and drying them. The "fishing" season lasts for about two months, and the gross take is expected to be about 3000. The eel is esteemed a great delicacy by the Maori, and is also a source of exchange, mutton birds being sent up by the southern pahs for them. - Otago Witness 5 April 1894, Page 33
The lagoon is a brackish shallow coastal lagoon. In 1881 it was 253 hectares, and now it is less than 48 hectares in area. Commercial fishing is prohibited in the lagoon, which is home to a variety of wading birds and waterfowl, and a Mataitai covers the area. Surrounding the lagoon is an industrial zone and regionally significant industry and infrastructure. Increasing pressure is being put on the function of the lagoon over time. A polluted but "incredibly precious" lagoon in South Canterbury will be at risk in the future, due to a waterway being under pressure. Waitarakao Washdyke Lagoon is situated close to Timaru's industrial area, and protecting its rich wildlife has long been a focus for conservationists. A report from a multi-agency taskforce revealed the man-made Seadown Drain, which drained farmland and flowed into the lagoon, had only a 30 to 50-year future and was under strain.
Washdyke Creek flows into the western side of lagoon and the Seadown Drain, a man-made drain, that drains farmland, flows south into the lagoon.
The wool and meet export all started with a little cottage on the beach at the foot of George Street where George and his wife Elizabeth lived. A landing service and store kick started the colonial era in Timaru's history.
The name of Washdyke Creek dates back from the earliest European years of settlement, when the Rhodes brothers damned the water water with a dike and created a pool where could wash their sheep before shearing. (This practice to loosen dirt and grease, should not be confused with wool-scouring which was also carried out by the creek in later years.
You can see Washdyke creek where early settler George Rhodes from, Levels Station, used to dip his sheep. The wool and meet export all started with a little cottage on the beach at the foot of George Street where George and his wife Elizabeth lived. A landing service and store kick started the colonial era in Timaru's history. From this view you can get a lovely view up the coast.
The freezing works played an important role in the growth of the District thanks to it's significant meat export.
The township of Washdyke really dates from 1869 when boiling-down works were established here. The District continued to attract industry and it was ultimately included with in the Timaru Boundaries.
Richard Pears Airport, named after South Canterbury's famous aviator, is situation 6km far north of the present city boundary. Washdyke is also the center of the South Canterbury horse-racing industry,. A racecourse was established there as early as 1962 and in more recent years several breeding and training stables are grouped round the Timaru Racing Clubs course. New Zealand's best known galloper Phar Lap was bred at nearby Seadown.
Contrasting with the industry is the bird life on and around the saltwater on the lagoon. The Hilton Highway is a section of the Main State Highway and was named after Timaru's first woman mayor ( 7957-62). It climbs the first hill on the edge of the Canterbury Plains.
The Coast has been in long term retreat. Erosion and shrinking of the lagoon rapid since the construction of the Timaru Port in 1881. The average erosion rate is currently 1.5 to 2m per year.
Smithfield works is on the lagoon side of the railway line. The South Canterbury Freezing Co bought the block over a century ago and the first shipment of 10,000 carcasses loaded out from Timaru on the Canterbury Ship in January 1886. By 1893, the works were owned by the Christchurch-based company which became Waitaki-N.Z. Refrigerating Ltd, and both the company and works have continued to expand since then. Timaru was one for the first ports to get an all-weather meat loader.
Showgrounds: This site was bought in 1897 by the South Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association which formed in 1886. Show weekends used to be held in late November and was an opportunity for the city dwellers to enjoy displays of animals and produce as well as the latest equipment, products and skills. For the rest of year the grounds used to be used as a motor camp.
Find free fun exploring the rocky basalt reef at low tide and watch the birds in the protected wildlife refuge.