Otira (pronounced or-tear-ra) deep in the heart of the west coast of the South Island is up for sale. The small village (population 40), tucked into the foothills of the Southern Alps is on the market complete with it’s colourful history.

Uploaded on Flickr by digitaltrails

It was originally a stop on the Cobb and Co stagecoach from Canterbury to the West Coast to meet up with the railway line to Greymouth in the west.

Up until 1907 the settlement consisted of a railway station – the terminus of the railway from the West Coast, the Terminus Hotel, Cobb and Co’s busy stables, a school, two stores, a bakery and a handful of cottages near the station. The railway line was then built from Greymouth to Otira, with the pass navigated by coach, until the railway tunnel opened in 1923.

The township was principally old Railways housing to both build and support the tunnel and the railway line . Much of the town was constructed in Hamilton and shipped south to be reassembled on site. The tunnel began work in 1907 and was completed in 1923.

On 4 August 1923 the Otira Tunnel was opened by the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable W. F. Massey and the rail link between the east and west coasts of New Zealand’s South Island was finally complete.

The first hotel was opened in Otira in 1864. Originally there was two hotels, the Gorge Hotel and the Terminus hotel, now known as the Otira Hotel which is now for sale for $350,000.

Bill and Christine Hennah, who are originally from Auckland, are in their 60s and bought the village in 1998 after falling in love with it while driving through. “We felt sorry for the dilapidated pub and run-down houses and decided to buy,” says Christine. The couple says they would like to see Otira go to a younger couple bursting with enthusiasm and ideas. “We need someone to build it up again. There is a lot of potential and opportunity.”

Uploaded on Flickr by digitaltrails

Uploaded on Flickr by anaru

Uploaded on Flickr by bowtie_barbie

Related Posts:

• No Related Posts