The Little River Railway Station (1886) is one of the few remaining branch line railway termini in New Zealand. During the nineteenth century, the arrival of the railway revolutionised the district's timber milling and farming industries. The train was a breakthrough in transport and also provided a much-needed alternative to the tedious and often dangerous ride by coach. The township of Little River, at the head of Lake Forsythe on the western side of the peninsula, thrived as it became the gateway to Banks Peninsula. Today, as well as being a valuable community asset and tourist attraction, the historic building and environs are also symbolic of an important era in Banks Peninsula's economic, political and social history. In pre-European times, Little River was important as a communication and trading centre, with several Maori settlements in and around this area. The site of the future township was also on the track used by early Akaroa settlers travelling to the Canterbury plains and in 1858 a bridle path was opened for horse traffic.
Sawmills were the first European industry established in the district. Transport became an issue immediately. In 1863 settler William White recognised the potential for milling timber in this locality and established a mill. His first task was the provision of timber to build a tramway to improve transport of the mill's output. The tramway began with two short stretches, the first from the mill to Lake Forsyth where timber was punted or rafted to Birdlings Flat, the second to Lake Ellesmere for water transportation to the western side of the lake by various means including White's small steamer. Distribution continued further south by bullock wagon and later by rail once the branch line from Christchurch to Southbridge was constructed. The tramway continued from Birdlings Flat towards Christchurch but because of swampy terrain it ceased some eleven kilometres distant and the timber was transferred to bullock wagon. In early years the high price of timber in Christchurch was largely due to the high cost of transport.
The Canterbury Provincial Government made the provision of a rail transport system an early goal. They recognised the need for a link from Christchurch and the Canterbury Plains to the port at Lyttelton. By 1863 there was a rail link between Christchurch and the Ferrymead Wharf (the first public railway in New Zealand); by 1867 a tunnel was constructed through the Port Hills. Work then began on development of the rail link extending to the Waitaki River, Canterbury's southern boundary, with the formal turning of the first sod at Christchurch on 24 May 1865. By 1878 the link from Christchurch to Dunedin was complete, and further rail expansion had been encouraged and supported by Vogel's 1870 Public Works Scheme.
From Hornby, on the outskirts of Christchurch, a branch line to Lincoln and then to Southbridge was completed in 1875. In 1874 a Mr Greenwood had suggested to Mr W. Montgomery, the local Member of Parliament, that Banks Peninsula 'was badly in want of a railway'. An era of relentless political debate followed about a route and destination. Although there was talk of a possible tunnel to take a line beyond Little River, the central issue was how far the branch line from Lincoln should extend and whether the people of Akaroa would ever enjoy the luxury of having their own station. Unfortunately, they never did get the train to their door and so began an historic rivalry between Little River and Akaroa that, in a sense, still exists today.
There was also argument about the best position for the railway station. The people from Akaroa and the various bays wanted the station at the base of the Coach Road in nearby Cooptown, to shorten the other half of their long journey by coach, whereas Little River residents wanted the station in the middle of their town. The second option was more compatible with the government's budget and the Little River residents got their way. The station, goods shed and station master's residence were designed by the Public Works Department circa 1884. A tender for the formation of the permanent way and station buildings was accepted in May 1885 from A. Swanston of Christchurch at a cost of £13,488.
The route between Lincoln and Little River skirted flood prone Lakes Ellesmere and Forsyth, and travelled over swampy ground. By 1882 work had been completed as far as Birdlings Flat and the line reached Little River in 1886, opening on 16 March. The total cost for construction over this difficult route was £85,929. By December 1885 when the station buildings were almost complete, a correspondent for the Akaroa Mail reported that:
I was quite overwhelmed with the grandeur of the appearance of the new station buildings. They struck me as more suitable for Oamaru or Timaru than for an ordinary way-side station. They are said to be the best out of Christchurch itself, and certainly if one can judge them, in there present unfinished condition, they are altogether 'too big for their boots'. The amount of filling and levelling is also enormous, and all residents from this (Akaroa) side can say when they look on them is 'what a pity the greater part of it was not spent on bringing the line nearer to Akaroa'. In saying this, I do not in the least begrudge Little River its beautiful station, telegraph office, station master's house and engine shed, but I think that Little River might have been more benefited had they had less pretentious buildings and a part of the present long journey saved to Akaroa.
The Little River Station is a standard 'Vogel Period Gable Station' characterised by the gable roof form, the use of similar joinery components to ensure economic production and little architectural detailing. These stations were planned to provide the facilities required in the 1880s and were prepared by the Public Works Department. The Little River example included a public office as well as a large post and telegraph and railway office, the ticketing lobby and waiting room and a separate ladies' waiting room. There was internal access between the various rooms and each one opened directly onto the platform. The building was officially completed and together with the railway line, was passed by the Government Engineer on 11 March 1886. On 16 March the Akaroa Mail reported that:
The extension to Little River opens today. There is to be no celebration of the event whatever and, as our readers know, the first public intimation given to the country appears in today's issue - very short shrift indeed. We presume from this that the railway authorities in general and the present traffic manager in particular look upon the opening of this additional piece of line as a gloomy and untoward event, to be passed over in funereal silence. Such, in our opinion is not the way in which an extension of one of the best paying branch lines in the colony should have been declared open for public traffic.
Regardless of the 'Railway Wars' the opening of the branch line was undeniably a notable milestone for the entire region, especially for the township of Little River. In its first year of operation 935,450 super-feet of timber and 2,445 tons of firewood were railed to Christchurch. There was also a substantial quantity of other freight including wool, livestock and general merchandise and 4,906 passenger tickets were issued at Little River. Coaches carried passengers and mail between Akaroa and Little River and the station was a busy transfer point. As Christchurch was being built largely from the peninsula's timber supplies the easier access to the Christchurch market resulted in a new era of prosperity for both Little River and the city. Little River also became a popular destination for picnic excursion trains which brought large crowds of passengers through the station.
By the turn of the century the timber supplies on the peninsula were exhausted. Cocksfoot was grown extensively on the cleared land and a substantial seed cleaning plant was sited at Little River during the heyday of this important Banks Peninsula industry. Dairy, sheep and cattle farming soon became the mainstays of commercial activity. As the roads improved coaches were gradually phased out and were replaced by cars and trucks. A public lobby for the Post Office was added in 1914 and this remains today, though the post and telegraph operations moved to a purpose built Post Office opposite the store in 1928. As road transport became increasingly popular however, the use of the railway inevitably declined. To overcome this decline a unique service was introduced here in 1927 with the provision of an Edison battery-electric railcar which travelled to and from Christchurch twice daily. Cleaner, faster and more comfortable than the combined freight/passenger steam trains it could make the journey to Christchurch in 69 minutes. The rail car was destroyed by fire in 1934 and was not replaced.
For a time, after World War II, it seemed that the Little River rail line would keep up its momentum, but falling patronage and shortage of locomotive coal led to the passenger service ending on 12 April 1951. New Zealand Railway Road Services had also been running daily services between Christchurch and Akaroa and they now took over, carrying passengers mail and parcels. The Little River Station was their depot for the link to Akaroa and other parts of the peninsula.
The line continued to be used for transporting livestock and other freight until its total closure in 1962. Like many other branch lines around New Zealand, the Little River line has not endured to the present day and lasted only 76 years. This was a short period considering the amount of debate and resources that went into its planning and construction. A special excursion train on 30 April 1962 marked the final use for passenger traffic. Packed aboard were 228 Banks Peninsula school children and 272 adults. The trip was treated as an educational excursion for eight peninsula schools, which were closed for the occasion. The last freight train followed on 30 June 1962 and marked the formal closure of the branch line to commercial traffic. The railway tracks were uplifted in 1964.
The Wairewa Council acquired the railway complex in 1965 and used the railway building as a local service centre until September 1987. In December 1988 a group of Little River residents formed the local craft co-operative, renting part of the building from the council for a craft shop. Once again, life at the railway station began to flourish. The building was in a state of disrepair and in danger of being demolished by the council, so a concerned member of the craft co-operative, Jen Farge, decided to take action. The Little River Railway Station Trust was formed on 4 March 1993 with the objective of restoring, maintaining and protecting the old railway complex. Public funding grants were obtained to the tune of around $120,000. With the help of several dedicated local volunteers the railway building restoration project began that year and has continued, with some general maintenance funded by the Council. An authentic heritage rail colour scheme has been prepared for the building's re-painting in 2006.
Also scheduled for completion in mid 2006 is the formation of a cycle trail along part of the branch line's original route from Motukarara to Little River. Most of the former rail land is now managed by the Department of Conservation, but a final section close to the station is in private ownership and, though there are uncertainties as to precisely where in Little River the trail will end, its use will bring greater attention to the well presented station complex.
