Castle Hill Village


Castle Hill Village is an alpine village in Canterbury, New Zealand that started in 1982. It is located adjacent to State Highway 73.

Location

Castle Hill Village is located in Selwyn District. When travelling from the Canterbury Plains towards the Southern Alps, the village is located on the left hand side of the road just after crossing the Thomas River. Nearby are the distinctive limestone boulders of Castle Hill. The boulders are located within the Kura Tawhiti Conservation Area. The Craigieburn Range forms the backdrop for the location.

History

During the time of the West Coast Gold Rush in the mid-1860s, a hotel was built along the coach road that is now State Highway 73; traces of Castle Hill Hotel can be found immediately opposite to Castle Hill Village. The coach traffic disappeared when the Midland Line was extended to Arthur's Pass just prior to World War I; this withdrew the financial basis for the hotel.
After sub-dividing land from his high country Castle Hill Station in 1981, John Reid started the village in 1982. Reid later sold his remaining land holdings except for the land opposite the village for a 9-hole golf course.

Today

In 2014, there were 126 houses in the village. Most are holiday homes but some have permanent residents, including Reid who still lives there. A daily school bus service runs to Springfield, just over from Castle Hill Village. There are no public facilities other than a public toilet at the village hall and a children's playground.
Selwyn District has set separate design rules in its district plan for buildings in Castle Hill Village so that the alpine character of the location is reflected.