Romahapa

Romahapa is a locality in the Catlins region of Otago in New Zealand's South Island.^[1] It is located between the towns of Balclutha and Owaka.

Education

Romahapa has a small primary school, named Romahapa School. It was established in 1856 and is one of the oldest schools in South Otago.^[2] In mid-October 2006, it celebrated its 150th anniversary.^[3]

Railway

On 15 December 1885, a branch line railway from the Main South Line in Balclutha was opened to Romahapa. The village became a railway terminus for a few years and a number of bush tramways also operated in the area during the 1890s. Romahapa lost its terminal status on 7 July 1891 when an extension opened to Glenomaru.^[4] The railway line came to be known as the Catlins River Branch and ultimately terminated in Tahakopa; it serviced Romahapa until its closure on 27 February 1971. In the early 1900s, up to sixteen trains ran through Romahapa a week; these were predominantly mixed trains.^[5] Today, the Romahapa station's goods shed remains in its old location, while the station building has been resited a few kilometres away, and the wooden railway bridge over the Romahapa Creek still stands.^[6]

References