Wingatui

Wingatui

Wingatui Railway Station and Signal Box, Dunedin, NZ

Wingatui is a small settlement almost 15 kilometres west of Dunedin, and two kilometres east of Mosgiel. It has become a suburb of Mosgiel, but continues to maintain its own unique identity and heritage.

Known primarily for its railway station and for Wingatui Racecourse, Wingatui is home to an increasing population of nearly 1,200 people, according to the 2006 census.^[1] Wingatui enjoys a low unemployent rate ^[2] and generally high level of income compared with Dunedin generally.

Wingatui is one of the principal stops on the Taieri Gorge Railway, and is also the entrance point to the currently defunct Chain Hills Tunnel single track rail tunnel, which links Wingatui with the Dunedin suburb of Abbotsford to the east. Construction of the railway at Wingatui began in 1879. ^[3] Local action groups are working with the Dunedin City Council in assessing the possibility of refurbishing and re-opening the disused tunnel to cycle and pedestrian traffic. ^[4]

Wingatui is home to several lifestyle blocks, the owners of many of which keep horses and are associated with the horse racing industry. On race days, trains from Dunedin are known to carry several hundred racegoers ^[5] through to Wingatui railway station for races.

Notable residents

• Brian J. Anderton - NZ Horseracing Hall of Fame Jockey,Trainer,and Breeder.Biography published 2013.^[6]
• Hector A. Anderton - Three-time champion horse trainer. (Father of Brian)^[7]
• Midge Didham - 1970 Melbourne Cup-winning jockey (Baghdad Note)
• Bob Heasley - Winning trainer, 1970 Melbourne Cup with (Baghdad Note)^[8]
• Show Gate - New Zealand Racehorse of the Year 1975 and 1977 - won 30 of her 51 starts.

Notes

References

Coordinates: 45°53′S 170°23′E / 45.883°S 170.383°E / -45.883; 170.383