Cambridge, New Zealand
Cambridge (Māori: Kemureti) is a town in the Waikato Region of the North Island of New Zealand. Situated 24 kilometres southeast of Hamilton, on the banks of the Waikato River, Cambridge is known as "The Town of Trees & Champions".
History
In the 1840s Cambridge had a Maori population but in the 1850s missionaries and farmers from Britain settled in the area and guided Maori in modern farming practices -helping them set up 2 flour mills in Cambridge and importing grinding wheels from England and France.[citation needed] Wheat was one of the main crops grown in those days. During the 1850s it was a prosperous time with migrants arriving in Auckland and high prices. However merchants in Auckland began purchasing cheaper grain from Australia and the market went into decline.[citation needed] Maori had established their own bank in a whare in Cambridge but the money was stolen by the chiefs in charge. There was a riot when the depositers burnt the bank down. Kingitanga rebels threatened the European who were all forced to leave in 1863.[citation needed]
With a population of 15,192 as of the 2006 census,[1] it is the biggest municipality in the Waipa District and still growing rapidly.
Notable residents
Notable natives are members of The Datsuns, Fields Medal winner Sir Vaughan Jones, as well as the equestrian double Olympic gold medal winner Mark Todd. World Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist cyclist Sarah Ulmer also lives and trains in Cambridge. Joelle King, winner of the Australian Open squash title in 2009, and two medals at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, hails from the town. Former New Zealand and Australasian champion archer Brooke La Pine also called Cambridge home for 23 years.
Sport
- Thoroughbred horse studs
The town is now best known for its thoroughbred studs and stables, which have produced many champion horses in the sports of racing and show jumping.
Internationally known Thoroughbred studs in the area include:
- Cambridge Stud
- Chequers Stud
- Blue Gum Lodge
- Trelawney Stud
- Windsor Park Stud
- Rowing
Lake Karapiro, recognised as one of the premium rowing lakes in the world, is close by, producing several world rowing champions, notably Rob Waddell and the Evers-Swindell twins, Georgina and Caroline, Mahé Drysdale and James Dallinger. The 2010 World Rowing Championships were held at Lake Karapiro.
- Rugby Union
Cambridge is home to two clubs, Hautapu Sports Club, founded in 1903, and Leamington Rugby Sports Club, founded in 1897.
- Association football
Cambridge is home to Cambridge FC who compete in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2.
Transport
State Highway 1 runs through the town. Cambridge was formally the terminus of the Cambridge Branch railway, but this closed in 1999.
Schools
Notes
- ↑ "Demographic Trends 2006" (pdf). Statistics New Zealand. Archived from the original on 2007-11-25. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
References
- Reed, A. W. (2002). The Reed Dictionary of New Zealand Place Names. Auckland: Reed Books. ISBN 0-7900-0761-4.
External links
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Coordinates: 37°53′S 175°28′E / 37.883°S 175.467°E