Waipiata
Destination
Waipiata became a thriving settlement at the local train station for the Waipiata Sanatorium. Established in 1914 the 112 bed tuberculosis Waipiata Sanatorium, a private facility, was constructed 7 kilometres along the Waipiata/Patearoa road near the old Hamiltons gold field. The Sanatorium closed in 1961 and the buildings became a corrective and training centre for the Justice Department until 1979. They are now a private Christian retreat, 'En Hakkore' (meaning the spring of him who calls on God). The oringal large buildings of the sanatorium now look out of place on the rural landscape.
A factory with 78 employees processed rabbits from 1901 at Coneys Creek (Green Bridge) until a factory was built in Waipiata. This operated until a slump in prices closed it by the 1930s. The buildings were later used for a variety of purposes, e.g. as a woolshed and as a concrete works.
Waipiata (meaning Shining or Clear Water) today has an hotel, a bowling green, tennis courts, a domain, a library, a large public hall and private and holiday homes. The iron bridge, known locally as the 'Green Bridge', was built in 1896. Timber from the original bridge was used for the side rails and decking. It is the only flood-free road crossing of the Taieri River in the Maniototo. Considerable money has been spent rebuilding both the north and south abutments. It has recently been repainted its original green colour.
From Waipiata it is also a nice ride up to the Old Dunstand Trail and the original staging town of Pareau/Styx where the only building standing today is the gaol.
