Fairlie | |
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town | |
A statue of James Mckenzie and his dog, in the centre of the town
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Coordinates: 44°06′S 170°50′E / 44.100°S 170.833°ECoordinates: 44°06′S 170°50′E / 44.100°S 170.833°E | |
Country | New Zealand |
Region | Canterbury |
Territorial authority | Mackenzie District |
Population (2013) | |
• Total | 717 |
Time zone | New Zealand Standard Time (UTC+12) |
• Summer (DST) | New Zealand Daylight Time (UTC+13) |
Postcode | 7925 |
Website | http://www.mackenzie.govt.nz/ |
Fairlie is a Mackenzie District service town located in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand. As of the 2013 census, the population was 717.
From 1884 to 1968, the town was served by the Fairlie Branch railway, though until 1934, this branch line actually terminated a kilometre beyond Fairlie in Eversley.
Fairlie is commonly known as the gateway to the Mackenzie Basin. It was first known as Fairlie's Creek and supposedly named because it reminded early settlers of Fairlie in Scotland.
Fairlie hosts the annual Mackenzie District Agricultural and Pastoral show every Easter Monday. The 105th annual show was in 2006.
Being on the tourist highway between Christchurch and Queenstown, tourism is fast becoming a major industry within the town.
Fairlie has three schools.