Driving Tour of Historic Levin

START OUTSIDE THE MEMORIAL HALL:

All this area was reserved for Education in 1889. Stables and a carrier operated on the hall site and Chamberlain Street went through to Bath Street until Levin Mall built about 1970. Hall built by RSA with public funding in 1956 and now owned by Horowhenua District Council.

TURN LEFT INTO QUEEN STREET:

Site of the first school built in 1890 - Levin school built in 1903 and centenary celebrated earlier this year.

Fire station on right built in 1982, originally on same site from 1921. Before that in Oxford Street opposite old Chronicle site.

PAST ROUNDABOUT:

Levin Park Domain from 1889; grandstand was on north side until demolished when present grandstand built. New Horowhenua Aquatic Centre before Levin Tennis courts, first built of timber in 1890s. Squash courts built in 1965 and glass courts added later.

ON RIGHT:

Original saleyards from 1893 to 1925.

They were shifted to Cambridge Street in 1925, after much agitation by the borough council which wanted the
smelly yards out of the borough.

PAST TIRO TIRO ROAD:

Home of Mrs Joyce and the late Ken Douglas. The pillars on front gates are from the old Levin Library (where State Insurance is now). Ken's father built many fine substantial homes around Levin.

Te Kowhai Restaurant built in 1892, now owned by Mr and Mrs Cotter - many weddings and celebrations here. Named for the kowhai trees on left past house.

Levin Domain -a reserve since 1889. First racecourse here from 1897. Used as Golf course and a Motor camp till late 1940s. Pond on corner is settling pond for all Levin's stormwater system.

LAKE DOMAIN: Set into gate posts are pieces of a grinding stone. From a flour mill, run by a French priest in the 1870s just before Waitarere turnoff. Called Waitarere (rushing water) from the mill race - check if still there!!! turning water wheel. This area of 4 hectares (10 acres) given by Muapoko tribe as a reserve. Their pas were on western side of lake and all this area wa scovered in native forest (see 1860s print in exhibition). Need to find a copy!!!!!

First European settler in area was Hector McDonald who arrived in 1858 and built a boarding house for Cobb & Co patrons near Hokio Beach to south. See exhibition for map of area, pa sites etc. ???????

Roto Horowhenua covered 361 h (900 acres) and is nearly 3 km (2 miles) long. Width varies from ½ to 1km and only 11m (36 feet) above sea level. Adkin argues that this lake was one of several, along coast and remains of glaciers many centuries ago. That is why Levin soils are so stony in places - the moraine from glaciers.

This lake was centre of Levin's recreation about turn of century. Boating club formed in 1898 with grandstand on roof and many dances and carnivals held. by Kete HorowhenuaEvening carnivals featured lighted Chinese lanterns swaying on supplejack stems over water and along long jetty. Boats built and hired, bathing sheds and tearooms. Boxing day 1910 saw 200 people board 'Lake Queen' for picnic on far shore and moonlight dance to Kersley's orchestra.

Leaving lake is corner where proposed motorway route is planned.

TURN RIGHT INTO TIROTIRO ROAD:
Pass new site for Levin School and Levin Intermediate school. Industrial area on right from 1950 expansion (see exhibition). Showgrounds on left from 1952.

TURN LEFT INTO MAKOMAKO ROAD:
On right is sewage treatment plant and on left is old Levin cemetery. Race course on right in use since 1902. Used as showgrounds and motor race circuit - now training track. Original Catholic .chu4ch between Reeve & Seddon Sts 1906-1952 and Weraroa Reserve -reserved for gravel excavation since 1889. Stone arch and peace gates were erected on corner in 1923 and replaced when road widened in 1968.

TURN RIGHT INTO OXFORD STREET:
Building on right was originally large 2 storied building built in 1904 and burnt down in 1911. Rebuilt in 1916. Weraroa Hotel (1895 and burnt in 1912) where dairy is now. Weraroa Town Hall behind built in 1896 and removed to be Ohau store in 1914. 1st railway station opposite Ward Street (1898 and burnt in 1909) Present station built 1910. as was Post office.

TURN RIGHT INTO HOKIO BEACH ROAD:
1st Weraroa Post Office (1901-10) where Wrightsons are. 1- roomed school shifted here 1904-1910 and now library at Levin school.In 1925 a section here cost $64.00. Right, on Mabel St. corner is house built for Peter Bartholomew 2nd in 1910. On right were Levin Abbatoirs, built 1930 and fifth largest in N.Z. at one time.Closed in 1972 and now Council depot etc. Further out is Levin Golf course, municipal tip and largest sand dune in N.Z. at Moutere.

TURN LEFT INTO C.D. FARM ROAD:
800 acres bought . state farm in 1894.(Central Development Farm) 1 changed to Weraroa Experimental Farm with 50 worke trying cropping, dairy, beef, poultry etc. Almost becams Massey College but Palmerston North won out. Still co- owned by Education & Social Welfare Depts and latterly Kohitere. Original manager's house on left and boarding house on right. A lot of market gardening and kiwi fruit development in recent years.

TURN LEFT INTO BULLER ROAD:
To the right is Lake Papaitonga with timber walkways above swamp and bush walks. Here plotting almost killed Te Rauparaha.-Road named after Sir Walter Buller, MP and author ofvaluable "Bullers Book of Birds".

TURN LEFT ONTO MAIN HIGHWAY:
All land on left was offered for sale in 1894 as Horowhenua Village Settlement in 10 acre lots. Railway was built between 1883 and 1886 by private company and bought by Govt. in 1908. Levin named after director of railway 'co. who envisaged major towns to be Manakau and Shannon.

TURN RIGHT INTO KIMBERLEY ROAD: All land on right was Weraroa Boys' Training Farm from 1906. Shifted to Kohitere site in 1939 and became Air Force station for recruits till 1944. Now Kimberley Centre under Dept. of Health. On left is Horticultural Research centre established in 1947 and covering 104 hectares.

TURN LEFT INTO ARAPAEPAE ROAD:
Attractions on right include Tararua ranges, Kimberley reserve, Waiopehu Reserve, and Outdoor Pursuit Centre.

TURN LEFT INTO TARARUA ROAD:
Past Model aircraft club site and proposed Levin aerodrome. Large industrial site on right and then largest employer in Levin - Printpac packaging plant due to go to 24hour shift next week.

Saleyards on corner.

TURN LEFT INTO CAMBRIDGE STREET: Industrial developmenthere with Fairfield Hatcheries (5000 chicks per day) Robert Hill & Sons, Lanes (now Levana) started in 1952 with hosiery, now fabric dyeing & printing etc.

TURN RIGHT INTO PROUSE STREET:
Named after Richard Prouse, sawmiller from 1891. Gave land for Methodist church and 1 of 1st councillors when Levin became a borough in 1906. Prouse bush to right.

BEAR LEFT INTO MATAI STREET: On corner is War Veterans. Home opened in 1959 with 104 romms and 30 hospital beds Owned and operated by the Patriotic & Canteen Funds Board.

TURN RIGHT INTO LIVERPOOL STREET: On right is Horowhenua hospital constructed in 3 stages from 1967 to 1979. 5 wards and many health services offered.

TURN LEFT INTO BARTHOLOMEW ROAD: Named after Peter Bartholomew, first sawmiller in area -1888. His original house remains up by Rosyn Road crossing, built in heart timbers in 1889. All of Levin was covered in beautiful native forest of totara, kahikitea, tawa and rimus. On right is Waiopehu College opened in 1973 as 2nd secondary,school in area; on left is Athletic Club rooms and playing fields on site of former tip. Levin East school on right, a result of tremendous industrial development in Levin in late 50s.

TURN LEFT INTO QUEEN STREET:
Formerly called Horowhenua Road and important pathway from lake to hills in pre-pakeha times. This road was originally a tram track through bush to get timber out. Further east is Waiopehu reserve, Masonic village and former Levin dairy factory. On right is Te Whanau Hospital with the original house built in 1903. Just around in Karaka Crescent is another early house built in 1901 but now substantially altered.

Past roundabout was the, Century hall built in 1900, also a picture theatre' . Over railway line on right, 2 storeyed building was built in 1904. Present Post office on site of former one built in 1903.