Carterton today is a bustling rural town situated an hour and fifteen minutes drive from New Zealand's capital city, Wellington. Due to it's close proximity to the capital, it's beautiful unspoilt landscape and friendly inhabitants, Carterton has become a popular place to live. It has interesting antique and craft shops, great eateries and a burgeoning wine industry that attracts many visitors.
Carterton is known as the Daffodil Capital of New Zealand and has a spring daffodil carnival each year that attracts thousands of visitors.
It is clearly an interesting town!
Carterton, originally known as Three Mile Bush, was established in 1857 to house the workers who built the road from Greytown (to the South) to Masterton (to the North).
Carterton was named after Charles Rooking Carter, a generous benefactor and ambassador to the town. Carter was involved in many projects such as helping to establish the first public school and building Black Bridge over the Waiohine River. He also gave money to establish a home for men who had come to the end of their working lives and had nowhere to live.
Carter's Reserve, one of the few remaining examples of lowland bush, was bequeathed to the public by Carter. He was also a great patron of the Carterton Library to which he donated generously over the years. It seems he thoroughly deserved to have the town named after him!
For more information please visit – www.cartertondc.co.nz
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