Woodhill, Auckland

Woodhill
Woodhill
Coordinates:
Country New Zealand
Region Auckland Region
District Rodney District

Woodhill is a locality in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is in the Western Ward of the Rodney District. Woodhill is approximately 6 kilometres northwest of Waimauku and 10 km south of Helensville on State Highway 16. The North Auckland Line passes through the area. The Woodhill Forest lies to the west.[1][2]

The railway line reached Woodhill in the 1880s, and allowed expansion of the existing farming settlement. Ambury's Creamery shipped the cream by rail to be made into butter in Auckland. A post office was established, and a store opened up opposite the creamery, becoming a social centre until it was destroyed by fire about 1970. The Woodhill Hall was another centre for social gatherings. It contained a library in the late 1920s, and was also used for church services.[3]

In the 1920s, planting of trees to reclaim the sand dunes to the west brought forestry workers to the settlement, and a pine tree nursery was created in Woodhill in 1934. A settlement was created on the hill for the workers and their families. After the forest was privatised in 1987, this settlement disappeared.[3]

Education

Woodhill School is a coeducational full primary (years 1-8) school with a decile rating of 7 and a roll of 141.[4] The school celebrated its 126-year reunion in 2003.[5]

Notes

  1. ^ Peter Dowling (editor) (2004). Reed New Zealand Atlas. Reed Books. pp. map 10. ISBN 0-7900-0952-8. 
  2. ^ Roger Smith, GeographX (2005). The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand. Robbie Burton. pp. map 34. ISBN 1-877333-20-4. 
  3. ^ a b "Woodhill". Helensville & District Historical Society. http://www.helensvillemuseum.org.nz/districts/woodhill.htm. Retrieved 2008-10-18. 
  4. ^ "Te Kete Ipurangi - Woodhill School". Ministry of Education. http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/display_school_info.php?school_id=1577. 
  5. ^ "Jubilees & reunions - Woodhill School". Education Gazette New Zealand 81 (12). 8 July 2003. http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/notices.php/?id=58440. Retrieved 2008-10-17. 

External links