Invercargill | New Zealand | Britannica.com New Zealand Alternative Titles: Inverkelly, Kelly’s Point Related Topics list of cities and towns in New Zealand Invercargill, city, Southland regional council, South Island , New Zealand . Invercargill lies in the southernmost part of the South Island along the Waihopai River, near its confluence with the New River estuary. A service centre for the region’s agricultural industries, the city is situated on a plain that stretches to the north, east, and west; to the south, the estuary leads into Foveaux Strait, which separates the South Island from Stewart Island . Waihopai River at the edge of Invercargill, New Zealand. Courtesy, Venture Southland Tourism Maori had inhabited the region for centuries by the time Europeans arrived in the area. Captain James Cook and his crew were the first, sailing around the southern tip of South Island, including Foveaux Strait, in 1770, and passed by again three years later.

Europeans, often transient , began arriving in the region in the late 1700s and early 1800s, attracted by the prospects for seal and whale hunting. The area including what is now Invercargill was bought from the Maori by the New Zealand Company in 1853 in an agreement called the Murihiku Purchase. Within a few years of the purchase, New Zealand officials, among them Governor Thomas Gore Brown, began planning the establishment of a township to be called Invercargill; the name was chosen to honour Captain William Cargill, a prominent settler and administrator in what was then Otago province. John Kelly, an Irish-born sealer and whaler, arrived with his family in 1856 as the first European settlers near what would soon be chosen as the site of Invercargill. They were quickly followed by a small number of others, forming a settlement known at first as Kelly’s Point or Inverkelly. That same year the chief surveyor for Otago province, John Turnbull Thomson, chose the existing settlement as the location of Invercargill and surveyed and laid out the town site.

The first sale of town lands took place in March 1857, and by the end of the year, there were several dozen residents, many of them Scots, and a small number of businesses. Invercargill served as the capital of Southland province (1861–70) during its short existence independent of Otago province. (The provincial system was abolished in 1876.) The town was made a borough in 1871. With the development of the Southland region from the late 19th century as an agricultural and food-processing centre, Invercargill grew rapidly, and it was incorporated as a city in 1930. Similar Topics New Plymouth Invercargill is the centre of a sheep- and dairy-farming region and has food-processing plants, wool-processing facilities, sawmills, joineries, storage facilities, and engineering plants. The city airport, located approximately 2 miles (3 km) from the city centre, provides domestic connections. Stewart Island can be reached by air from Invercargill or by ferry from the port of Bluff, some 17 miles (27 km) south of the city.

The city’s prominent cultural institutions include the Anderson Park Art Gallery, the neo-Georgian former home of a noted local businessman that now houses the work of New Zealand artists; the Southland Museum and Art Gallery; and a number of historic churches, houses, and administrative buildings. Invercargill has an established network of historic walks, parks, and nature trails. The main park, Queen’s Park, features an aviary and rose gardens. The landmark brick Invercargill Water Tower (1889), capped by a cupola, can be climbed for a scenic view of the city. Pop. (2006) 46,773; (2012 est.) 49,000. Public art in downtown Invercargill, New Zealand. Courtesy, Venture Southland Tourism Invercargill - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up) The southernmost city on New Zealand’s South Island is Invercargill. The city lies on the Waihopai River near its confluence with the New River estuary. It is the largest city in Southland, a largely rural, agricultural region known for its breathtaking fjords and other natural scenery.

Cultural attractions in Invercargill include the Southland Museum and Art Gallery, the Anderson Park Art Gallery, and a system of historic walks, nature trails, and parks. The Southern Institute of Technology and the University of Otago’s Southland Campus, which offers teacher-education programs, are also located there. Article Contributors New Zealand Country Code 64 Country Code NZ About New Zealand Hide CountryCode.org is your complete guide to make a call from anywhere in the world, to anywhere in the world. This page details New Zealand phone code. The New Zealand country code 64 will allow you to call New Zealand from another country. New Zealand telephone code 64 is dialed after the IDD. New Zealand international dialing 64 is followed by an area code. The New Zealand area code table below shows the various city codes for New Zealand. New Zealand country codes are followed by these area codes. With the complete New Zealand dialing code, you can make your international call. Invercargill | Southland. New Zealand. Things to do Founded in the 1850’s, New Zealand’s southernmost city, Invercargill, is considered the capital of Southland.

Influenced by early European settlers, Invercargill is full of grand architecture, ingenious people and world class facilities. Whether it’s a day outdoors on the coast and recreational reserves, wandering the shops and enjoying local restaurants and cafes, or taking in the variety of heritage attractions, Invercargill is a place for friends and family. Texaco Tanker at Transport World Classic Motoring Capital It all started with Burt Munro setting a land speed record that still stands today on his trusty old Indian Scout Motorbike which you can visit at E Hayes and Sons Motorworks. Invercargill now boasts the impressive Bill Richardson Transport World which is the largest private collection of its type in the world. Home to around 300 vehicles, a wearable arts collection, children’s play zones, The Grille Cafe and themed bathrooms fast becoming as famous as the vehicles. Transport World has something for everyone. Coastal Playground Just minutes from the city centre there is a great array of coastal landscapes for visitors to explore from the long coastal highway of Oreti Beach, to the native wonders of Waituna Wetlands and Omaui, or the boardwalk on the estuary and heritage wharfs.

Southland Museum and Art Gallery Situated in the Southern Hemisphere’s largest pyramid, the museum is nestled in Queens Park. Along with its fascinating exhibitions, it is the home of the successful Tuatara breeding programme, which has aided the recovery of our most ancient New Zealanders. Savour the South From sheep’s milk to sweetbreads, swedes to seaweed, salmon to saison, Southland is a foodie’s dream destination. Visit one of the local cafes, delis, restaurants or taverns for a Southern take on some of the finest & freshest ingredients in the world. Check out New Zealand’s most Southern craft brewery – Invercargill Brewery to find a beverage that compliments the Southern flavour. Statues in Queens Park Queens Park Situated in the heart of the city – this NZ Garden of National Significance incorporates 80 hectares of gardens, wildlife and sporting fun. As well as an 18-hole golf course, the park has animal enclosures, a bird aviary, a castle, a stumpery and much more!

About Invercargill City & the Southland Region About Invercargill City & the Southland Region 5 Campuses + Distance Learning, 218 Courses, 33 Subjects » 0800 4 0 FEES (0800 4 0 3337) outside NZ +64 3 211 2699 +64 3 214 4977 about this image» Mike is studying at the Southern Institute of Technology. In the next 3 years, he will read 97 books, 117 articles, attend 2098 hours of tutorials, gain 1013 hours of hands-on industry training, write 32 essays, 56,000 words and 18 hours of exams. John is studying somewhere else. He will also read many books and articles, attend tutorials, write essays and sit exams. So what's the difference? On average, Mike's student loan will be 60% less than John's.

International > Living, Studying & Working in New Zealand > About Invercargill City & the Southland Region The Southland Region & Invercargill City Southland is a large region with a low population density. The regional economy is fueled by primary industries such as farming, fishing and forestry. The major population centers are Invercargill, with a population of 51,696 (Census 2013) and Gore, which has a population of 12,033 (Census 2013). Invercargill is New Zealand's southernmost city, and the regional captial. However there are numerous townships spread throughout the region, ranging in size from thousands of residents, to places with resident populations in single figures. A unique feature of Southland’s climate is our long summer nights: we enjoy more daylight hours than any other part of the country. At the summer solstice, we have nearly 16 hours of daylight. On a dark, clear night, you may be able to witness the world famous Aurora Australis (Southern Lights).

This magical atmospheric condition is like a spectacular light show in the night sky and results when particles from the sun interact with the earth’s magnetic field. The resulting electric charge makes the gases in the atmosphere glow red, yellow and green. Southland is a nature-lovers paradise, as the region contains the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage site of Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park, Stewart Island/Rakiura National Park, and the rugged Catlins. Activities such as skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking, jet boating, surfing, tramping (hiking), kayaking and more, are all available in multiple locations about the region, most within minutes of Invercargill city, and the most remote locations being no more than two hours journey by car. Welcome to Invercargill City Invercargill, Southland’s capital, is a flat and spacious city situated just minutes from the coast; Oreti Beach is just ten minutes drive from SIT. It’s a compact city and is easy to find your way around to enjoy the excellent shopping, lively cafes, restaurants and bars, cultural attractions and outstanding nature reserves and parks.

Sport is a major theme for the city, and we have an abundance of sports facilities, including an indoor stadium and cycling velodrome, Olympic size pool, and countless parks and sport grounds. Our major recreational area, Sandy Point, is 2,000+ hectares of recreational land, and caters for both casual and organised recreation, including walking and running trails, mountain bike trails, horse riding, dog sledding, rowing, water skiing, motorcross, motor racing and speedway, field sports, and much more. The city itself is home to a wide range of heritage and cultural facilities, including the Civic Theatre, Museum and Art Gallery, and Queens Park. The variety and number of heritage buildings in the city centre add to Invercargill’s character. Known as the 'City of Water and Light' due to long summer daylight hours and glorious twilights, and the abundance of our most important natural resource - water, the city reflects the importance of the farming sector it supports. Based on primary produce, Invercargill is critical in supporting the booming dairy industry, which in turn drives our renown engineering sector to increasing levels of innovation and excellence.

Accommodation and living costs in Invercargill are considerably lower than in other major cities in New Zealand due to the abundance of available land for housing, and gentle landforms, meaning relative ease of housing and infrastructure construction. Invercargill is favourably placed on the Southern Scenic Route and is the gateway to some of New Zealand's most beautiful scenery and destinations including the Southland heartland, Stewart Island, Queenstown, Fiordland and the Catlins. The people of the City of Invercargill warmly invite you to come join us to experience the friendliness and hospitality that makes our city such a great place to live. Event central Living in Southland brings a wealth of lifestyle opportunities, including the many flagship events that are held each year. The Burt Munro Challenge is a motorcycle rally of international acclaim. Held over five days in November each year, the event celebrates Invercargill's own world land-speed record holder, Burt Munro, and his 'World's Fastest Indian' motorcycle. The world famous Bluff Oyster Festival is a chance to taste some of the freshest oysters plucked out of the ocean before they are exported around the world.

Shakespeare in the Park is held in Invercargill’s Queens Park. This annual festival showcases some of Shakespeare’s best works in an accessible, interactive outdoor environment. The Southland Festival of the Arts showcases outstanding imported and local arts activities in a range of genres: theatre, music, dance, literary arts and galleries. The annual Tour of Southland captivates the country as road cyclists from around the world participate in this six-day stage race right across Southland. Buskers from around the world descend on Invercargill for the annual Southland Buskers Festival, which unleashes several days of humorous hi-jinks. You can’t miss it! The International Food Festival offers the opportunity to tantalise your taste buds with food and entertainment from around the world. Run, walk or bike the 12 kilometre Surf to City fun race which starts from Oreti Beach and ends up in the centre of the city at Queens Park. There is a wealth of other activities held during the year, including international and national sports competitions, the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, a number of shows and performances, and popular New Zealand bands and singers. You can find out what other events are going on at .

Invercargill Travel Guide | Invercargill Attractions & Facts, Southland Tweet Located on New Zealand’s South Island, Invercargill is the country’s southernmost city and offers a warm heart with plenty of character and friendly locals. Established in the 1850s by Scottish settlers from Dunedin, Invercargill offers an excellent range of shopping, dining, bars and entertainment yet features an old world charm with its many Art Deco, Victorian, Edwardian and heritage buildings. Invercargill holidays are known for their natural beauty, green spaces, art galleries, architecture and local food specialties. This Invercargill travel guide is designed to help you make the most of your time in this popular holiday destination that offers all the convenience of a big city, with all the charm of a small town. Queens Park offers a golf course and lovely rose gardens while the Southland Museum and Art Gallery features an interesting range of artefacts and even live tuatara lizards. In and around Invercargill you’ll discover natural beauty in abundance including Sandy Point Reserve and Oreti Beach, where you simply must try the blue cod and oysters.

Invercargill Attractions Considered the gateway to some of the most beautiful scenery in the country, Invercargill is situated on the Southern Scenic Route. Attractions in Invercargill and its surrounds range from the Catlins, Stewart Island and Fiordland to the heartland of Southland. Experience the ‘real’ New Zealand and soadk up the leisurely pace of the city or venture out to a number of significant scenic reserves right on your doorstep. Invercargill attractions offer some of the best boutique shopping in the country as well as native birdsong and bushland as well as horse riding on the beach. The port-town of Bluff is one of the oldest settlements in New Zealand and is a popular Invercargill attraction known for its famous Bluff oyster, harvested right out of the Foveaux Strait. There’s also Porpoise Bay just a short drive away, offering the opportunity to spot rare hector dolphins which are most active in summer. Porpoise Bay is also home to sea lions, fur seals and yellow-eyed penguins.

Invercargill Facts Invercargill is New Zealand’s southernmost city, however it is also the country’s westernmost city. Being the southernmost city, many people assume it’s also the coldest city, however temperatures are actually quite warm, particularly in summer when the temperature can top 30 degrees. Located in Invercargill, Slope Point is the southernmost point in the entire country, with very few houses. A signpost at Slope Point shows the distance to the South Pole and the Equator and is a popular photo spot for tourists. Southland New Zealand Invercargill Stewart Island Southland Tourism Information Introduction to the Southland Region A Diverse Province If you are looking for a destination that offers quality as against quantity then Southland, New Zealand is that destination. Southland is ideal for those who want to escape the noise, hustle and bustle, pollution, high rise buildings, neon lights and thousands of other visitors. It is the place to re-establish that special kinship between people and nature and to restore the soul. Rugged, natural, unspoilt, untouched green, contrasting of landscape, all describe Southland.

It is a fertile place of green farmland and forest, laced with sparkling clean waters and small towns. Craggy mountains loom on the western and northern horizon and the rugged coastline forms our eastern and southern borders. The Southern Scenic Route links Fiordland with the rest of the Southland region. This route will take the visitor through to our city Invercargill and then on to the spectacular Catlins area. Driving the Southern Scenic Route from Te Anau to Invercargill the visitor will experience the contrasting landscape - from the wild coastline to green lush farmland home to New Zealand's sheep. Attractions include Wairaurahiri experience, the Bushmans Museum at Tuatapere , Percy Burn viaduct (the largest wooden viaduct in the Southern Hemisphere), fishing village Riverton with a range of art and crafts. Southland's city Invercargill offers many opportunities. Just three hours from Auckland (with one stopover in Christchurch) on jet aircraft Invercargill provides the option of the visitor starting their New Zealand holiday in the south.

Invercargill is an easy two hour drive to Fiordland and Queenstown , and two and a half hours to Dunedin , via State Highway 1. Offering good quality and a wide range of accommodation, excellent shopping and restaurants, Invercargill is a convenient place to stay. Invercargill is known as The Friendly City - a reputation earned through the incredible friendliness and hospitality of the Southland people. It is also home to a unique museum. The Southland Museum and Art Gallery housed under a spectacular pyramid like roof features a large enclosure called a tuatarium. Here visitors can see the tuatara which is the only living being left from the dinosaur age. Another excellent attraction is the Southland Aquatic Centre - Splash Palace. There is so much to do to at Splash Palace, with facilities ranging from a 50 metre main pool, to waterslide and wave action leisure pool. Great for kids and adults alike. Five Islands collectively known as The Subantarctic Islands lie 600 miles to the south of Invercargill.

These Islands are New Zealand's most remote and sensitive nature reserves and harbour some of the world's last remaining areas of vegetation unmodified by humans and are strategic breeding grounds for thousands of seabirds, penguins and marine mammals. The Islands also boast a colourful human history of sealers, castaways and farmers who battled to survive in the bleak hostile climate. To protect these internationally important places entry is restricted to three of the islands and by special permit only. The Roaring Forties Experience at the Southland Museum and Art Gallery provides a more accessible introduction to the world of the Subantarctic. The Museum is located in Queens Park, a magnificent 80 hectare (200 acre) park situated right in the heart of the city. This park features outstanding rose gardens, an aviary, a small animal park and a challenging 18 hole golf course. A scenic drive around the city is well signposted, passing interesting architectural features such as the fine brick buildings of the city water tower, First Church and St. Mary's Basilica. Anderson Park, a beautiful Georgian style home just a short drive from the city centre, was built in 1924 and is managed as an art gallery and venue for exhibitions.

The grounds include a walking track and children's playground. Tiwai Point aluminium smelter in Bluff Harbour is open to the public for weekday tours at no cost. Bluff - just a half hour drive from the city centre is "Lands End". Its Island harbour is Southland's port, through which exports of meat, timber, aluminium. Fish and wool pass. The port is also home to the Bluff oyster fleet, which dredges Foveaux Strait for the famous Bluff oysters. Visit the unique paua house, Stirling Point and the Maritime Museum to complete your experience in the town where Highway 1 begins. Just a 20 minute flight from Invercargill, or an hour by catamaran from Bluff, Stewart Island is a naturalist's paradise. The Island is a smorgasbord of unspoilt inlets, bush clad hills and rugged coastline. Sense the difference. This is one place you cannot drive to. Once you arrive in Halfmoon Bay you will know you have come to a very special place.

Stewart Island is a haven for native birdlife, the place to se kiwis, sooty shearwaters (Muttonbirds), wekas and perhaps the rare kaka, a native parrot. The unique experience of 'kiwi-spotting' (viewing kiwis at night in their natural habitat) is a world first. Sea kayaking, launch cruises, visiting the salmon farms, walking on Ulva Island (a bird sanctuary) or tramping the many tracks are some of the exciting things you can do on this special 'third island' of New Zealand. Visitors who want to 'get away from it all' will find Stewart Island a gem. Following the Southern Scenic Route from Invercargill heading north to Dunedin you will view some of the magnificent bold landscape which these parts are known for. Stretching from Waipapa Point to Nugget Point The Catlins is one of New Zealand's best kept secrets. To do it justice you will need time to experience the magnificence and beauty of this area. Tahakopa and Tautuku Bays provide superb examples of native coastal forest which provide ample opportunities for short treks.

From 20 minutes to four to five hours you can park your car, walk on well defined tracks and along the way view great examples of the native coastal forest, view the native birds and breathe in the spectacular scenery. Around the rocky bush fringed coastline it is possible to see Fur Seals, Yellow Eyed Penguins, Hooker Sea Lions and Hector Dolphins. At Curio Bay the fossilised remains of an ancient forest can be viewed at low tide. Nature tours both on and off the water introduce more indepth knowledge of The Catlins and visitors can learn first hand about this unique part of New Zealand. Boat tours offer the opportunity to view the Hector Dolphins - the smallest dolphin in the world. Travelling inland away from the rugged coastline you will discover the green, mainly flat, fertile, lush farmland which Southland is known for. Southland lends itself to a host of farm experience opportunities, from farm stays to farm tours, there is ample to choose from. Although sheep is still the predominant type of farming there is a wide diversity of farming including dairy, beef, deer, grain and ostrich. Situated inland and nestled on the banks of the Mataura River is Southland's second largest town - Gore .

Gore proclaims itself to be two capitals - the world capital of brown trout fishing and New Zealand's capital of country music. The Mataura River has an international reputation for the quality of its fishing and attracts anglers from all around the world as they seek the challenge of snaring a wily brown trout. It is not only the Mataura River that offers this quality fishing as within Southland, there are in excess of 27 quality fishing rivers and streams. The challenge of catching a brown trout, the clearness of the water, the relative uncrowded rivers and easy access will leave any fisherman totally satisfied. Heritage plays a big part in the Eastern Southland area which has a colourful past. It was here in the Hokonui Hills that the illicit yet romantic New Zealand whisky industry had its beginning. The recently opened Hokonui Moonshine Museum tells stories from this time and industry as well as give a wonderful insight into the social history of New Zealand during the 1880-1920 era. Aviation of yesteryear can be captured by experiencing the thrill of open cockpit flying at the Croydon Aircraft Co at the Mandeville airfield.

Vintage aircraft - particularly Moths are restored here as well as being able to be hired for flights. Events represent a major part in the life of Eastern Southlanders and for the 10 days leading up to Queens Birthday the town of Gore comes alive to the sounds of country music as the New Zealand Gold Guitar Awards festival brings all types of musicians to town. Late February sees Festival Time in Gore with one of the highlights being the Moonshiners Whisky and Food Festival. Fact Sheet Invercargill - 53000 Climate: Southland is both the most southerly and most westerly area of New Zealand which spans latitudes 34 to 47 degrees south and so lies within the Southern Hemisphere temperature zone. Prevailing winds are westerly and moderate. Rainfall: There are two distinct rainfall regions: Western ranges with annual falls of over 8000 mm, in some parts are among the rainiest places one earth. The drier eastern lowlands and hills form a complete contrast with annual falls of between 1200 mm and 800 mm. Driving Times: Southland has the longest daylight hours in New Zealand. Within Southland is New Zealand's third island - Stewart Island .

There is evidence in Southland of Maori settlement dating back to 10 century AD. Riverton (Jacob's River) - is one of the earliest European settlements in New Zealand. The famous Maori canoe Takitimu (one of the original fleet to sail from Hawaiki) ran aground at the mouth of the Waiau River near Tuatapere . Ancient Podocarp forests exist in South Fiordland. Curio Bay's Petrified Forest is 180 million years old. The Percy Burn Viaduct (near Tuatapere) is believed to be the largest wooden rail viaduct remaining in the world. The Southland Museum and Art Gallery's tuatarium is home to over 50 live tuatara ranging from baby tuatara to tuatara over 100 years old. The Hokonui Hills are famous for the legend of Hokonui Moonshine Whiskey which was distilled there illegally during the 1800s.

More Information Back Country Cuisine - fast, nourishing food for adventurers P: 0800 BCF LTD (223 583) P: +64 3 2162 001 (internationally) F: 03 216 1771 Web: About Back Country Cuisine Back Country Foods is owned by Kara and Brent Crossan, and equity partner Invest South Limited. Brent is a qualified butcher with an extensive background, in both the retail and wholesale markets. Kara has a background in sales and office management and enjoys all aspects of marketing, communication and customer relationships.Kara and Brent have a strong community sense with a great love of the outdoors. Back Country Foods Ltd operates from the city of Invercargill at the southern tip of New Zealand. Back Country Foods Limited was established in August 1998 to take over the freeze dried meal business founded by the Alliance Freezing Company. Alliance was a pioneer in freeze-dry processing for military and commercial use. The company owns freeze drying plant and other equipment necessary to manufacture our freeze dried meals. Many raw materials, for example meat and vegetables are produced by other food processors in Invercargill.

Where possible the company uses local ingredients grown in the natural environment with a minimum of chemicals. The company takes pride in setting high standards of Quality and Food Hygiene. The company is licenced to the highest export standards and conducts regular testing on its products to ensure they meet strict standards. Invest South Limited Invest South Limited is an equity investor in the company and provides financial support and business advice. Invest South have been established to fund new and existing businesses in the Southland area to stimulate the growth of the local economy. Southland Southland, as the name suggests, is the southernmost province in New Zealand. All of the attributes that New Zealanders see as distintive of their country; beautiful scenery, green pastures, clean air, friendly people are found in Southland. 1. – Southland places – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand Invercargill looking north (1st of 2) Invercargill is New Zealand’s southernmost city, and the capital of Southland, with a 2013 population of 47,892. Mostly flat, Invercargill stretches over an open plain beside the Waihopai River estuary.

The city depends mainly on its farming hinterland, and to a lesser extent on the aluminium smelter 20 km to the south. The importance of the region’s productive pastures to the city is symbolised by the Blade of Grass, a revolving statue of polished steel outside the administration buildings in Esk Street. River roads When surveyor John Turnbull Thomson laid out Invercargill in the 1850s he named principal streets after Scottish rivers – Dee, Tweed, Tay and Clyde. He provided for spacious 40 m wide streets, which allowed ample scope for growth in traffic in years to come. Origins John Turnbull Thomson, chief surveyor for the Otago province, selected the site for the new town, and laid out the streets in 1856. Sections were first sold in March 1857. By December the town had 14 houses, two hotels and three stores. A hospital serving Invercargill and surrounding districts first opened in 1861. The Invercargill Times, later the Southland Times, was founded in 1862.

Boom and bust: 1860–1870 After Southland separated from Otago province in 1861, Invercargill became the centre of the new province. The gold rush in Otago’s Wakatipu district, closer to Invercargill than to Dunedin, boosted the town in 1863 but was not repeated. Railway lines to Winton and Bluff were started but not finished, and the debt-ridden province reunited with Otago in 1870. Inverkelly? Invercargill’s first settler was Irishman John Kelly, a seaman who was living on Ruapuke Island. In March 1856, he moored his boat in the Ōtepuni Creek, put up the settlement’s first building for his wife and children, and ferried settlers up the estuary and into the hinterland. For a while, the new settlement was named Inverkelly after him.

(‘Inver’ is a Gaelic prefix meaning ‘at the mouth of’.) It was only later that the growing town was named in honour of Captain William Cargill, the Superintendent of Otago province. A growing town: 1870 to early 1900s The first borough (town) elections were held in August 1871. Immigration, promoted by the government during the 1870s, saw the population increase. Gasworks opened in 1876 and waterworks in 1888: Invercargill’s 300,000-brick water tower remains one of the city’s landmarks. Horse-drawn trams first operated in the 1880s and cycling boomed in the flat town. Farming industries developed rapidly through the 1890s and early 1900s. Dairy factories and freezing works opened throughout the province, and Invercargill’s population doubled between 1891 and 1916. Presbyterianism Invercargill was marked by its Presbyterianism. Its churches were substantial constructions.

The First Presbyterian Church building, completed in 1915, is in the Italo-Byzantine style, with a 32-metre tower. Presbyterians were a strong force in voting the town ‘dry’ in 1905; it stayed that way until 1943. 1900 to 1930s A number of suburban districts joined the town in 1909 and the tramway system was electrified in 1912. At that time Invercargill had the world’s southernmost trams and electric lamp posts. In the First World War (1914–18), 430 Invercargill young men went to fight; 98 did not return. Between the world wars (1918–39), Invercargill rivalled Whanganui for the rank of largest town after the four main centres. It acquired city status in 1930. Post-war boom: 1945–1975 Southland’s pastoral economy thrived after the Second World War, and Invercargill followed suit.

Its population rose from 27,500 in 1945 to 47,000 in 1971 (the year in which the Tīwai Point aluminium smelter opened at Bluff) – a satisfactory result for the city’s ‘40,000 club’. Downturn from the 1980s After the growth of the post-war years, Invercargill began to stagnate. Returns from farming were flat. The smelter did not lead to downstream industries as hoped, as it was cheaper to ship aluminium to markets than finished products. Over 20 years, the city’s population dropped from 53,868 (in 1981) to 46,311 (2001). In a controversial move, primary and intermediate schools were merged, and two secondary schools closed in 1997. The Christchurch–Invercargill ‘Southerner’ passenger rail service ceased in 2002.

The Shadbolt era The enthusiastic public relations of mayor Tim Shadbolt (a well-known former political radical) put paid to Invercargill’s conservative image, and gave the city a national profile. Auckland-born and raised Shadbolt was first elected mayor in 1992 and was still in office in the 2010s. Japanese sister Invercargill’s James Hargest College operates an exchange programme with Kumagaya Nishi High School in Japan – Kumagaya is Invercargill’s twin city. Revival A $465 million revamp of the Tīwai Point aluminium smelter in 1996 indicated the confidence of Comalco (since 2006 Rio Tinto New Zealand) in the industry. The Southern Sting team dominated the national netball competition for the 10 years it ran, from 1998 to 2007, with sell-out crowds filling the new Stadium Southland. The Invercargill Licensing Trust’s underwriting of the ‘no fees’ policy of local tertiary institutions has seen a big increase in student numbers at the Southern Institute of Technology.

The population increased by 1,100 between 2006 and 2013. Marae and gallery The Murihiku marae, in the south-east of the city, dates from 1983, when the wharekai (eating house) was opened. The wharenui (meeting house), Te Rakitauneke, was opened in 1990. The pyramid-shaped building of the Southland Museum and Art Gallery, on the edge of Queens Park, is home to art and historical exhibitions, and to 50 live tuatara. Invercargill | Southland. New Zealand. Things to do Founded in the 1850’s, New Zealand’s southernmost city, Invercargill, is considered the capital of Southland. Influenced by early European settlers, Invercargill is full of grand architecture, ingenious people and world class facilities. Whether it’s a day outdoors on the coast and recreational reserves, wandering the shops and enjoying local restaurants and cafes, or taking in the variety of heritage attractions, Invercargill is a place for friends and family.

Texaco Tanker at Transport World Classic Motoring Capital It all started with Burt Munro setting a land speed record that still stands today on his trusty old Indian Scout Motorbike which you can visit at E Hayes and Sons Motorworks. Invercargill now boasts the impressive Bill Richardson Transport World which is the largest private collection of its type in the world. Home to around 300 vehicles, a wearable arts collection, children’s play zones, The Grille Cafe and themed bathrooms fast becoming as famous as the vehicles. Transport World has something for everyone. Coastal Playground Just minutes from the city centre there is a great array of coastal landscapes for visitors to explore from the long coastal highway of Oreti Beach, to the native wonders of Waituna Wetlands and Omaui, or the boardwalk on the estuary and heritage wharfs. Southland Museum and Art Gallery Situated in the Southern Hemisphere’s largest pyramid, the museum is nestled in Queens Park. Along with its fascinating exhibitions, it is the home of the successful Tuatara breeding programme, which has aided the recovery of our most ancient New Zealanders.

Savour the South From sheep’s milk to sweetbreads, swedes to seaweed, salmon to saison, Southland is a foodie’s dream destination. Visit one of the local cafes, delis, restaurants or taverns for a Southern take on some of the finest & freshest ingredients in the world. Check out New Zealand’s most Southern craft brewery – Invercargill Brewery to find a beverage that compliments the Southern flavour. Statues in Queens Park Queens Park Situated in the heart of the city – this NZ Garden of National Significance incorporates 80 hectares of gardens, wildlife and sporting fun. As well as an 18-hole golf course, the park has animal enclosures, a bird aviary, a castle, a stumpery and much more!

Question: In which country is the city Invercargill?
Answer: New Zealand