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Orepuki or Aropaki - Town & District Schools, Class Photos from 1920-1942

Orepuki or Aropaki - Town & District Schools, Class Photos from 1920-1942:

IMAGES
Photo 1 - Orepuki School class, taken c1939 to 1941; Sepia Tone Class Photo of 26 children. Known pupils are: Shirley Alison Lee, at left of front row; Elsbeth (Betty) May Macdonald in front row 2nd from right; Neil McAllister is fifth in from left in second row. And if you recognize anyone else from your family or if you have a named copy of this photo, please get in touch or pop the names in a comment

Photo 2 - Orepuki School pupils outside the School "War Memorial Gates", but no year; Sepia Tone Photo of school children with the school behind the gates. Known pupils are: Elsbeth (Betty) May Macdonald in second row from front and 4th from right. If you recognize anyone from your family or if you have a named copy of this photo, please get in touch or pop the names in a comment

Photo 3 - Orepuki School class, taken c1941-42; Black & White Photo of 28 children. Known pupils are: Elsbeth (Betty) May Macdonald later Higgins in the front row 6th from left or 4th from right and she was born March 1931. We have been told that its likely to be Shirley Lee in the second row first on the left, by her daughter (Shirley appears to have been born September 1930, so these names fit the date). If you recognize anyone from your family or if you have a named copy of this photo, please get in touch or comment with names.

Photo 4 - Orepuki School class, taken c1937; B & W Photo of 30 children. The known pupils are: Elsbeth (Betty) May Macdonald later Higgins in the back row first on left. If you recognize anyone else from your family or if you have a named copy of this photo, please get in touch or comment with the names.

Photo 5 - Orepuki School class, taken we think in the late 1930's; B & W Photo of 30 and 1/2 children (should be 31, but sadly 1 is half chopped off on right!)
It is thought that the girl in the striped jacket on the right in the back row may be Myra Hogg (she was born in 1931) & Raymond George Herrick (born 1928) is said to be in the front row third from left by his own daughter, so we will presume this is correct. These dates do fit presumed year for photo. If you recognize anyone else from your family or if you have a named copy of this photo, please do get in touch, or put the names in the comments section.

Photo 6 - Orepuki School Class, taken 1920; B & W Photo of 23 children; The known pupils are: Doris May Finn later Macdonald in the back row second from right. We have also been told that the child in the middle row on the far right is Bessie Butler later Lee. If you recognize anyone else from your family or if you have a named copy of this photo, please get in touch or comment.

The school at Orepuki (or originally Aropaki) has a varied and extremely interesting background, as does the township, more of which can be read in the early history written further below.

Formerly a large gold town, after that had dried up and coal mining was overtaken by the Nightcaps companies, along with the Shale Works closing in 1902, most of Orepuki ended up deserted. It became only the farming community that stayed on to support the township in its fight for survival.

Of course, the school was also affected, as it was downsized considerably. It somehow struggled on over the years though and stayed open. Over the 1-4 of Feburary 1934, is when the Orepuki School had its 50th year Diamond Jubilee. We would love some photos of this event, do you have any that you can contribute to our Community Archives of this event?

The newest Orepuki School was not built until 1968 and it was erected directly behind the old school that was moved there prior, then the old building was then taken down. From this point on, children in the Orepuki township and district could attend their local school only up until the old Standard Four, at which time they had to then bus to the Aparima College in Riverton, which had the old Forms 1-7. For many years the Orepuki School, which somehow managed to carry on, continued to contribute its students to Riverton’s new Aparima College. But in 2003 the school at Orepuki was finally closed.

But this did not end the controversy over getting children from Orepuki to school safely. In 2017 it was reported that plans to move the school bus stop had been withdrawn, after Aparima College, Riverton ...
Central and Western Murihiku Southland Archive via DigitalNZ

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/59454316/source

#Settlers #Murihiku #Pioneers #Southland #Farming #EarlyTravel #School #Education #OrepukiOrAropaki #GarfieldAnd #Gold #Mining #Railways #ShaleWorks #OtagoEducationBoard #SouthlandEducationBoard #Nightcaps #Aparima #Churches #TownHalls #TimberMilling #SchoolBuses #Waiau #MacdonaldFamily #Orepuki #OrepukiSchool #ClassPhotos #WesternSouthland #LongwoodsDistrict #Goldfields #Classmates #DigitalOnlyImageInArchive #CentralAndWesternMurihikuSouthlandArchive

Orepuki or Aropaki (Garfield, Hirstfield) - Town & District Schools History, 1910-1930

Orepuki or Aropaki (Garfield, Hirstfield) - Town & District Schools History:

The school at Orepuki (or originally Aropaki) has an interesting background, as does the township. In 1872 the first school in the area was established, and ended up being run under the name of Garfield-Orepuki School, in the newly moved township of Garfield. The Otago Education Board who were the oversight for the new school at Orepuki, used its “difficult and remote location” to justify not visiting the school to do the usual reports on the building and teaching.

The roll in the beginning was just 16 children, but by the time the first year was out, the roll stood at over 30 students, and kept growing steadily from its opening date. This made the school itself too overcrowded and unsuitable and it was to be rebuilt twice – the first time four years after it opened, when the original building was turned into the schoolhouse for accommodation of teaching staff. As it was one of the first of many buildings eventually erected in the township, many district events were held on the site and in the building, which doubled as a public hall, dance hall, and even a church.

The second school also proved inadequate, and it was replaced again by a much larger three roomed affair, but this was not to remain where it was either, even though it was the last building to be moved from the Garfield site. Fascinatingly, miners ended up digging a rich vein which led them right to the School Reserve in the Gully. The school land plus that of the whole township was mined, after a resolution was reached with the Education Board for the miners to pay to move the school!

By 1874 a School Committee was formed, in line with the requirements of the Education Act. This was made up of the following men: Chairman, D Hunter; Secretary, JL Currie; plus - J Callaghan, H Creasey, R Cupples, TH Devonshire, AJ Jolly, FH McLean, and R Riddle.

An interesting news report from 1882 tells us the school was closed (again!) and that this was a regular occurrence over the last three years. More details emerge about the rain “driving in through the windows like a shower bath”, leading to all the children having to be moved away from the back. It was also noted that there was a current contract let for repairs to the schoolhouse at this time.

After Garfield was demolished by gold mining, the school was forced to relocate to the third and final resting place of the ever moving local township, which came about from its closeness to the local coalmining works and the 1885 railway connecting the two. After the railway opening, the newly erected town of Orepuki was to grow and prosper beyond all belief over the next 20 years with around 3,000 people living there at the height of its existence. By 1900 there was a huge township, which necessitated the continual enlarging of the local public school. The photo shown here is of the old school after it had got its 3 room extensions built.

But after the gold dried up and coal mining being overtaken by the Nightcaps companies, along with the Shale Works closing in 1902, most of Orepuki became deserted again. It became only the farming community that stayed on to support the township in its fight for survival. Of course, the school was also affected, as it was downsized considerably. It somehow struggled on over the years though and stayed open. Over the 1-4 of Feburary 1934, is when the Orepuki School had its 50th year Diamond Jubilee. We would love some photos of this event.

The newest Orepuki School was not built until 1968 and it was erected directly behind the old prior moved school. The old building was then taken down. From this point on, children in the Orepuki township and district could attend their local school only up until the old Standard Four, at which time they had to then bus to the Aparima College in Riverton, which had the old Forms 1-7.

For many years the Orepuki School, which somehow managed to carry on, continued to contribute its students to Riverton’s new Aparima College. But in 2003 the school at Orepuki was finally closed. But this did not end the controversy over getting children from Orepuki to school safely. In 2017 it was reported that plans to move the school bus stop had been withdrawn, after Aparima College, Riverton Primary School and Waiau Area School had agreed to leave the current stop where it was.

But then in 2018 there was continued angst from the residents about plans to move the school bus stop yet again. W...
Central and Western Murihiku Southland Archive via DigitalNZ

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/50737132/source

#Settlers #Murihiku #Pioneers #Southland #Farming #EarlyTravel #School #Education #OrepukiOrAropaki #GarfieldAnd #Gold #Mining #Railways #ShaleWorks #OtagoEducationBoard #SouthlandEducationBoard #Nightcaps #Aparima #Churches #TownHalls #TimberMilling #SchoolBuses #Waiau #DigitalOnlyImageInArchive

Orepuki or Aropaki, Business & Industry - Orepuki Railway & Station Buildings, early 1900s

Orepuki or Aropaki, Business & Industry - Orepuki Railway and Station:

Black and White image of the Orepuki Railway, Post Office and Goods Shed, along with passengers who appear to be disembarking the train at this once upon a time major outpost in the Longwoods District. A group of unidentified shops (can anyone help with this?) sits to the far left of the photo, and it is likely this photograph was taken from the Water Tower. On the far right at the back is the now Orepuki Cafe building. The scene shown here is thought to be from the early 1900's. This image is in the Public Domain and was donated by a descendant of the original owner of the photo, the Brownridge Family.

OREPUKI RAILWAY & STATION MILESTONES:
Orepuki line and 'Fourth Class' Station opened 5th May 1885

Next major milestone in the railways branch line to Tūātapere, was opened on 23rd September 1909

FIRE… in 1941 the Station was badly damaged, rebuilt and upgraded

31 March 1942 - Station changed from officered to flag station (caretaker)

On 24 November 1951, Railways Department attempted to re-establish the station as Aropaki, the original name for Orepuki, but locals refused this

1954 - all passenger services ceased altogether through Orepuki (Tūātapere Branch line)

1960 - with the Post Office moving to its new site (now closed), the station was sold for dismantling. The Fire Brigade asked to retain the office portion

31 July 1976 line from Riverton to Orepuki & Tūātapere was closed down

The Water Tower was removed from the original site & rebuilt where it sits today (2025), it is in the process of once again being restored, thanks to funds from the Tūātapere Te Waewae Community Board being granted.

OREPUKI RAILWAY EARLIER HISTORY
According to 'From Goldfield to Fields of Green', by Marjory Smith, on 13 May 1872 it was confirmed "the construction of a tramway or light railway, from Riverton to the Orepuki Goldfield, would open up a large area of good agricultural land, and render the same available for settlement," forthwith.

But not everyone was happy, gold miners who relied on the land being available for diggings, saw the incoming influx of settlers and farmers as a threat to their livelihoods, as the land they were working would need to be given up to them. The 16 miles between the two settlements was set aside for a railway and sections of land on each side of this, was procured for the railway, before the workings commenced. The Southland Waste Lands Act of 1865 allowed for this. There was great excitement at the coming of the railway to what was then pretty much the wild west of Murihiku Southland.

There had been many claims of necessity made by those with interests in agriculture, shopkeeping, timber mills and even some championing the goldfields and the as yet untapped coal mining were clamouring for the railway to be constructed. Some of their claims were that this area of the southwest could easily provide all the timber needed for the whole of the Otago region, if only if could be easily transported after extraction, claims were made that there was 40-50,000 pounds of timber in the bush there. It was also claimed, the area was one of the richest goldfields in the whole country, and easily able to support 3-4,000 workers! Then the land itself, with a claim of there being 8-10,000 acres of land between The Waiau and Orepuki which could be used immediately for agricultural purposes. It was further claimed that the land would double in price when the rail arrived.

By 1873 it was reported that the railway workings had been put through the bush 2 1/2 miles from the Jacobs River Bridge at this point, so it is thought that construction had begun immediately upon the contract being secured. By 1874, there is news that part of the Orepuki Railway contract was awarded to a very familiar name in Railway history of the South Island, David Proudfoot. This part of the project was at a cost of 28,397 pounds.

The railway works proceeded every slowly onwards, through back-breaking bush and sinking swamps, creating many challenges for the builders. Along the way various other stations were opened up as the railway reached those settlements. Progress continued northwards and eventually by 1885, the line arrived at Orepuki.

On the 5th May 1885 the Orepuki section of the line was officially opened. It is noted that the Railway buildings at Orepuki included a goods shed and engine shed, a loading bank, crane and water tank. The wood and iron station was built with entrances which separated out the railway and post departments, there was a waiting room for the ladies, a public ticket lobby, a workroom for th...
Central and Western Murihiku Southland Archive via DigitalNZ

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/59743468/source

#OrepukiOrAropaki #WesternSouthland #Murihiku #Business #Railways #RailwayBuildings #Railroads #Mail #RailwayStations #GarfieldAnd #Black

Orepuki or Aropaki History - Map & Index Key of the town's properties (1930s)

Orepuki or Aropaki History - Map and Index Key of the town's properties:

Black and White images, with a map and list of names (index) of Families & Businesses in the Orpepuki Residential Area, 1936-1939. The map was compiled in 1994 by the following ex-residents:
- Ferguson, John of Christchurch
- Fraser, Evan of Auckland
- Heath, Lloyd of Christchurch
- McQueen Alma (Ferguson) of Taupo
- Smith, Stan of Invercargill

NOTE: High Resolution Copies of this map are available by contacting us via this website as a comment, or email: [email protected]

There was also a list of businesses written by an early resident, which were there from when the Railway opened, written from their memory, entitled,
"Orepuki as I knew it" (but no author recorded), the list states there were:

3 Hotels:
- D'Arcy's Railway Hotel
- De Clifford's Masonic Hotel
- Wilson's Family Hotel

3 General Stores:
- Meredith's
- Garden's
- another of unknown name

2 Drapery Shops:
- Adamson's
- McGruer & Taylor

1 Millinery and Knick Knacks:
- Moncur & Stevenson

1 Newspaper, twice weekly:
- Orepuki Advocate

1 Chemist:
- Hutchinson

2 Butchers:
- McPherson
- Tielle

1 Cycle Shop:
- Shields

1 Boot/Shoe Shop:
- Cross

1 Bakery:
- Pope

1 Toys/Stationery/Jewellery Shop:
- Booth

1 Tearooms:
- Booth

2 Blacksmiths:
- Batchelor
- another of unknown name

3 Churches:
- Roman Catholic
- Presbyterian
- Anglican

1 Cheese Factory:

1 Sweets/Fruit Shop:
- Mrs Murray

1 Men's Hairdresser (open Evenings and Saturdays)
- Mr Booth

1 Bank Agency (open certain hours and days)
- National Bank Agency, operated out of Riverton Branch

We were very privileged to have Marjory Smith, author of 'From Goldfield to Fields of Green', deliver a wonderful donation of materials from her book to us. This consisted of the above map and key, along with many other maps of the earlier Orepuki town site, followed by Hirstfield, then Garfield and also maps of the surrounding areas of the district as well. If you are researching the area, be sure to call in to our Heritage Hub to see these, or contact us.

UPCOMING HISTORY:
We would also like to note here, that for our 3rd birthday of the Heritage Hub in October 2026, we are undertaking to create a display of early Orepuki - all 3 townships, and their varied histories, so if you can help with this by donating material, information, photos or other ephemera items, or most importantly if you can donate some time to voluntarily helping us put this display together, we would be very grateful. We are expecting this to be a permanent fixture and we will need people who can research, identify people and places there.

We would also like to thank and acknowledge Marjory A Smith, author of 'From Goldfield to Fields of Green', the Orepuki Story, which she kindly donated to our history library. The items shown here are also in that.

Hopefully this entry will be added to as more information comes to hand. If you or anyone you know has any more information or photos to share or accounts of the various Orepuki townships during the years, please do share this with us in the comments section. You can do this by making a comment in the space provided under the image page. Or you can make contact with us as per the archive front page.

Note: these entries are compiled with information provided by donors with the records, from locally reported news, from national and occasionally international reports in publications, from personal records made by the people themselves - such as their electoral enrollments, wills, war records etc., also from government and council held records such as births, deaths and marriages or cemetery information, and lastly, from community memories, such as those passed on by friends, family and contemporaries. It is not always possible to verify memories from others, so please let us know if you believe we have any incorrect information. If you believe that any public or personal record information quoted is wrong, if you can provide proof of any alternative fact to us in a document showing evidence of the correct details, that would be very helpful to us. Thank you.
Central and Western Murihiku Southland Archive via DigitalNZ

http://api.digitalnz.org/records/61452574/source

#OrepukiOrAropaki #WesternSouthland #Murihiku #Business #GarfieldAnd #Black