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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Waimatuku Settlement
Waimatuku Settlement extends on both sides of the main road from Invercargill to Riverton, and of the Invercargill-Orepuki railway line. The Upper district lies on the north side of the line, and extends by a good main road towards Calcium or Limestone Plains, which is eight miles distant, and towards Drummond, which is twelve miles distant. South of the railway line the district is known as Lower Waimatuku, and is on both sides of the Waimatuku page 927 stream, which passes through the Waimatuku bush to the Waimatuku beach, at Howell's roads. There are numerous settlers in the district, with farms varying in area from 100 to 200 acres, up to 1,400 or 1,500 acres, mostly freehold; but there are also a number of educational reserves which are occupied under leasehold tenures. The flag-station known as Waimatuku stands at an elevation of thirty-six feet above the sea level, and is sixteen miles from Invercargill. The township had a population of 166 at the census of 1901, and is in the Aparima riding of the county of Wallace, while Waimatuku bush and Waimatuku stream are in the Wallacetown riding of the county of Southland. At the census of 1901 these places had, respectively, a population of 150 and 117. Waimatuku lies chiefly in the Awarua electorate. Alongside the railway station there is a large and fully equipped cheese factory, which was commenced on co-operative lines in 1888. The public school in the settlement dates from the seventies, but there is no church in the township, and the Presbyterian and Methodist churches conduct services periodically in the local public hall. The business of the postal department is conducted at the school-house, and the telephone bureau is at the local store. There is a blacksmith's shop in the township. Sheep farming and agriculture are the principal occupations of the settlers. The country is mostly level, and contains a large proportion of rich land.