Story: Southland places

Opening of the Seaward Bush railway

Opening of the Seaward Bush railway

The Seaward Bush railway ran from Invercargill to Tokanui, but took its name from a tract of bush near Invercargill, where there is still a scenic reserve. The first section of 5.5 miles (9 kms) was opened in July 1886. There was a mild drizzle on the day, reported the Otago Witness, but it was ‘not particularly wetting’, and more than 450 travellers made the journey to the end of the line ‘at the exceedingly moderate figure of sixpence return’.

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Southland Museum and Art Gallery
Reference: 2002.794

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How to cite this page:

David Grant, 'Southland places - The Southland bush', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/20195/opening-of-the-seaward-bush-railway (accessed 2 May 2024)

Story by David Grant, updated 25 May 2015