Kelso, New Zealand

The Kelso Monument, showing flood levels; an old railway shed in the background

Kelso is an abandoned small settlement in Otago, New Zealand, located ten kilometres north of Tapanui on the Crookston Burn, close to its junction with the larger Pomahaka River.^[1] Its population during the 1960s and 1970s was close to 300, with most of its economy based on sheep farming. A small dairy factory was a focal point in the village's early years.

The township was first surveyed in 1875, and the first settlement began the following year. It was named for the Scottish home town of one of the town's first settlers, James Logan. Originally intended as the main settlement in the West Otago area, this title eventually went to nearby Tapanui. The town was linked to Waipahi and the Main South Line railway on 1 December 1880 with the opening of the Tapanui Branch line. On 1 April 1884, this line was extended from Kelso to Heriot.

The township was frequently subject to flooding, notably in 1913 and 1917. It was inundated with flood water during two major floods of the Clutha River catchment in 1978 and 1980. The former led to the closure of the railway, and after the latter flood it was decided to relocate the settlement entirely.

Today, little remains to indicate the location of Kelso, other than a stone memorial and faded wording referring to the township on several remaining buildings.

A book of the history of Kelso was written by May Brownlie, called Kismet for Kelso (published 1992).

History

References

Conway, G. "In memory of a town that drowned." Otago Daily Times (Dunedin) 31 May 2008, p. 19.

↑ LINZ Topomap G44

Coordinates: 45°54′S 169°14′E / 45.900°S 169.233°E / -45.900; 169.233

Clutha River

Source: Southern Alps—Flows into: Pacific Ocean

Administrative areas	Otago Region Queenstown–Lakes District Central Otago District Clutha District

Towns and settlements (upstream to downstream)	Wanaka Albert Town Luggate Lowburn Cromwell Clyde Alexandra Roxburgh Hydro Roxburgh Teviot Ettrick Millers Flat Beaumont Tuapeka Mouth Clydevale Balclutha Stirling Kaitangata

Major tributaries (upstream to downstream by confluence)	Makarora River Matukituki River Hāwea River Cardrona River Lindis River Kawarau River Manuherikia River Teviot River Tuapeka River Pomahaka River Waitahuna River

Lakes in catchment (upstream to downstream by location or tributary)	Lake Wanaka Lake Hāwea Lake Dunstan Lake Wakatipu Lake Roxburgh Lake Tuakitoto

Islands in catchment (upstream to downstream by location or tributary)	Harwich Island Pigeon Island Pig Island Inch Clutha

Other features (upstream to downstream)	Old Cromwell Bridge Cromwell Gorge Clyde Dam Alexandra bridges Roxburgh Dam Kelso Balclutha Road Bridge

Longest New Zealand rivers	1: Waikato 2: Clutha / Mata-Au 3: Whanganui 4: Taieri 5: Rangitikei 6: Mataura 7: Waiau (Southland) 8: Clarence 9: Waitaki 10: Oreti

Towns and communities in the Clutha District territorial authority

Balclutha Ward	Balclutha Finegand Kaka Point Lochindorb Otanomomo Paretai Port Molyneux Stirling Waipeka

Bruce Ward	Adams Flat Clarendon Clarksville Crichton Glenledi Glenore Hillend Kapiti Manuka Creek Milburn Milton Moneymore Mount Stuart Pukekoma Round Hill Taieri Beach Taieri Mouth Titri Toko Mouth Tokoiti Waihola

Catlins Ward	Ahuriri Flat Awatea Caberfeidh Chaslands Glenomaru Hays Gap Hina Hina Houipapa Jack's Bay Kahuika Katea Maclennan Makura New Haven Nugget Point Otekura Owaka Owaka Valley Papatowai Pounawea Puerua Puketiro Purakauiti Purakaunui Purekireki Ratanui Romahapa Stuarts Tahakopa Tahatika Tahora Tarara Tautuku Tawanui Tirohanga

Clinton Ward	Arthurton Clinton Kuriwao Popotunoa Taumata Waipahi Wairuna

Clutha Valley Ward	Ashley Downs Awamangu Barnego Clifton Clydevale Greenfield Kaihiku Kakapuaka Pukeawa Pukepito Puketi Rongahere Stony Creek Te Houka Waiwera South Waitepeka Warepa Wharetoa

Kaitangata-Matau Ward	Benhar Kaitangata Matau Summer Hill Wangaloa

Lawrence-Tuapeka Ward	Beaumont Blue Spur Bowlers Creek Bungtown Craigellachie Forsyth Gabriel's Gully Johnston Kononi Lawrence Lee Flat Raes Junction Tuapeka Flat Tuapeka Mouth Tuapeka West Waipori Waitahuna Waitahuna Gully Waitahuna West Wetherstons

West Otago Ward	Black Gully Conical Hill Crookston Crossans Corner Dunrobin Dusky Forest Edievale Glenkenich Heriot Kelso Merino Downs Moa Flat Park Hill Pomahaka Rankleburn Tapanui Waikoikoi Wilden

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