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Eltham, New Zealand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Eltham is a small town in southern Taranaki, New Zealand with a population of around 2100 people.
Settlement began in Eltham in the 1870s with blocks of land being taken up mainly to the north of the Mountain. In 1884 settlers, mainly from England settled in Eltham and the town had a thriving population of 25 people.
Eltham is located 50 km south of the city of New Plymouth, and is to the southwest of the volcanic cone of Mount Taranaki (Egmont). 20 km south is the town of Hawera and the coastline.
The town's main industry is cheese production, with many of Mainland Cheese's specialty range (such as feta and Camembert) produced on site at the Bridge Street factory and other various cheese products (such as the cheese used in Mc Donalds burgers) on the Collingwood site. Cheese has been used as a central theme in the town and in 2002 the towns water supply tank was painted to represent a large block of cheese. Eltham's other main industry is Riverlands freezing works, which also has a satelite plant in Bulls. Both plants can kill up to 1250 heads of cattle daily. Both the dairy and meat industry bring revenue into this small town and are important both locally and provincially. The historian Ronald Syme and architect Amyas Connell are perhaps its best-known natives. Eltham was also home to Chew Chong The founder of the factory system of butter manufacture in the late 1880s.
Eltham is home to the latest gang feud in the South Taranaki, with the Stratford homeboys and the E town homeboys fighting each other in open warfare in the streets of Eltham and Stratford.
High Street which runs through the centre of town and Bridge Street that goes westwards towards Kaponga, were the first Tarsealed Roads in New Zealand. Eltham is the gateway to Lake Rotokare & Lake Rotorangi. The Eltham and surrounding community enjoy a full library and council service. The Eltham Library Plus is open 8.30-5.30 Monday to Friday.
For more information on the history of the town the Eltham Historical Society is located on the corner of Bridge and York Street. The society has historical and current information, document and photographs of Eltham and the surrounding area.