Leeston
Encyclopedia
Leeston is a small town on the Canterbury Plains
in the South Island
of New Zealand
. It is located 40 kilometres southwest of Christchurch
, between the shore of Lake Ellesmere
and the mouth of the Rakaia River
. The town is a farming service centre, but has all the necessities for a real township such as a supermarket, schools, churches, hospital (for the elderly only) and a small open swimming pool. The Selwyn District
Council currently has a service office in Leeston, after the headquarters was shifted to Rolleston
.
Leeston is growing relatively fast for a small town, having a population of 1,299 up 8.3%, or 99 people, since the 2001 census, significantly above the average population growth rate in New Zealand, though not as high as centres close to Christchurch. Population growth is expected to continue due to people leaving Christchurch as a result of the 2010/11 Canterbury earthquake
s .
There were many other schools in the Ellesmere area, including Doyleston School, Irwell School, Lakeside School, Brookside School, Killinchy School, and Little Rakaia School. These schools had very small rolls, and as early as 1898 there was a proposal that they should be closed and their pupils moved to the schools in the larger townships of Leeston and Southbridge. The Board replied that while the advantages that might accumulate from such a move were recognized, no funds were available for the purpose and no power existed to make attendance compulsory. The matter then was left alone for quarter of a century.
In early 1923, the Chair of Education at Canterbury University College, Professor James Shelley, gave a public address in the Leeston Town Hall. He promoted the idea of closing a number of small schools and moving their pupils to Leeston Primary. The Ellesmere Guardian followed this up with an article supporting the idea. Some months later, at a meeting of the Leeston own Board, Dr. B. Volckman moved that Leeston was a suitable trying out ground for such consolidated. The clerk was instructed to send this resolution to the Canterbury Education Board after a unanimous vote of the members. For the next ten years the theoretical advantages and disadvantages of consolidation were discussed on and off.
In December 1936, the party favourable to the consolidation gained a victory when a meeting of householders in Irwell voted in favour of consolidating Irwell School with Leeston.
A week later, similar victories were achieved at Lakeside and Doyleston, with resolutions also being passed despite some opposition. Irwell and Doyleston pupils became foundation pupils of Leeston Consolidated School by April 1938. Lakeside opposition managed to hold out for slightly longer, but after a household meeting in August 1939, the motion carried in 1936 was confirmed, and in February 1940 the Lakeside pupils were conveyed to Leeston. In 1945 Brookside School also consolidated with Leeston after falling roll numbers made it apparent that the school would soon only be entitled to one teacher. Killinchy School remained open until 1959, when its pupils were then distributed between Leeston and Southbridge.
Leeston Consolidated School is still in existence today, with approximately 200 families with children enrolled, largely of European descent. It now has 7 Scale A teachers and 11 classrooms, as well as a library, a computer lab and a Reading Recovery room. Most children who attend the primary school then go on to attend Ellesmere College
.
Canterbury Plains
The Canterbury Plains are an area in New Zealand centred to the south of the city of Christchurch in the Canterbury Region. Their northern extremes are at the foot of the Hundalee Hills in the Hurunui District, and in the south they merge into the plains of North Otago beyond the Waitaki...
in the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It is located 40 kilometres southwest of Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, between the shore of Lake Ellesmere
Lake Ellesmere
Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora is located in the Canterbury Region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is actually a broad, shallow lagoon located directly to the west of Banks Peninsula, separated from the Pacific Ocean by a long narrow sandy spit called Kaitorete Spit, or more correctly Kaitorete...
and the mouth of the Rakaia River
Rakaia River
The Rakaia River is in the Canterbury Plains in New Zealand's South Island. The Rakaia River is one of the largest braided rivers in New Zealand...
. The town is a farming service centre, but has all the necessities for a real township such as a supermarket, schools, churches, hospital (for the elderly only) and a small open swimming pool. The Selwyn District
Selwyn District
The Selwyn District is a predominantly rural area in central Canterbury, on the east coast of New Zealand's South Island. It is named after the Selwyn River, which is in turn named after Bishop George Selwyn, the first Anglican bishop of New Zealand who, in 1843 and 1844, travelled the length of...
Council currently has a service office in Leeston, after the headquarters was shifted to Rolleston
Rolleston, New Zealand
Rolleston is a town in the Selwyn District of Canterbury, New Zealand.It is located next to State Highway 1, 22 km south-west of Christchurch on the Canterbury Plains in the South Island of New Zealand. The town uses the slogan "The Town of the Future"...
.
Leeston is growing relatively fast for a small town, having a population of 1,299 up 8.3%, or 99 people, since the 2001 census, significantly above the average population growth rate in New Zealand, though not as high as centres close to Christchurch. Population growth is expected to continue due to people leaving Christchurch as a result of the 2010/11 Canterbury earthquake
Canterbury earthquake
Canterbury earthquake can refer to:* 1888 North Canterbury earthquake* 1901 Cheviot earthquake that caused building damage in Christchurch.* 2010 Canterbury earthquake* 2011 Canterbury earthquake...
s .
Schools in Leeston
Its primary school was opened in 1865 and consolidated during the early 20th century. It was located on the west side of Leeston, with school residences being built in 1868. Its peak roll was 275, with classes in woodwork and metalwork for the males and cookery and sewing for the females being introduced in 1897. A side school for younger pupils was opened in Doyleston, and named Leeston Side School. Its peak roll was 131.There were many other schools in the Ellesmere area, including Doyleston School, Irwell School, Lakeside School, Brookside School, Killinchy School, and Little Rakaia School. These schools had very small rolls, and as early as 1898 there was a proposal that they should be closed and their pupils moved to the schools in the larger townships of Leeston and Southbridge. The Board replied that while the advantages that might accumulate from such a move were recognized, no funds were available for the purpose and no power existed to make attendance compulsory. The matter then was left alone for quarter of a century.
In early 1923, the Chair of Education at Canterbury University College, Professor James Shelley, gave a public address in the Leeston Town Hall. He promoted the idea of closing a number of small schools and moving their pupils to Leeston Primary. The Ellesmere Guardian followed this up with an article supporting the idea. Some months later, at a meeting of the Leeston own Board, Dr. B. Volckman moved that Leeston was a suitable trying out ground for such consolidated. The clerk was instructed to send this resolution to the Canterbury Education Board after a unanimous vote of the members. For the next ten years the theoretical advantages and disadvantages of consolidation were discussed on and off.
In December 1936, the party favourable to the consolidation gained a victory when a meeting of householders in Irwell voted in favour of consolidating Irwell School with Leeston.
A week later, similar victories were achieved at Lakeside and Doyleston, with resolutions also being passed despite some opposition. Irwell and Doyleston pupils became foundation pupils of Leeston Consolidated School by April 1938. Lakeside opposition managed to hold out for slightly longer, but after a household meeting in August 1939, the motion carried in 1936 was confirmed, and in February 1940 the Lakeside pupils were conveyed to Leeston. In 1945 Brookside School also consolidated with Leeston after falling roll numbers made it apparent that the school would soon only be entitled to one teacher. Killinchy School remained open until 1959, when its pupils were then distributed between Leeston and Southbridge.
Leeston Consolidated School is still in existence today, with approximately 200 families with children enrolled, largely of European descent. It now has 7 Scale A teachers and 11 classrooms, as well as a library, a computer lab and a Reading Recovery room. Most children who attend the primary school then go on to attend Ellesmere College
Ellesmere College (New Zealand)
Ellesmere College is a co-educational high school, located in Leeston, Ellesmere in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand, with more than 500 students ranging from ages eleven to seventeen. It aims to provide students with a range of learning experiences, aiming to make its students good...
.