Cronadun is a small village located in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island. It is situated on the east bank of the Inangahua River, near its junction with Boatmans Creek. SH 69 and the Stillwater–Westport Line railway pass through the village.

Cronadun
Inangahua Valley looking south, Cronadun at far left
Inangahua Valley looking south, Cronadun at far left
Cronadun is located in West Coast
Cronadun
Cronadun
Coordinates: 42°1′46″S 171°51′47″E / 42.02944°S 171.86306°E / -42.02944; 171.86306
CountryNew Zealand
RegionWest Coast
DistrictBuller District
ElectoratesWest Coast-Tasman
Te Tai Tonga

Name edit

Sometimes recorded as Cronaden and Cronadon, the locality was named by three brothers – Timothy, John, and Dominic Gallagher – after their home in County Donegal. Crough na dun (Irish:Cró na Doinne) means "hill of the fort", and Anglicised is Cronadun.[1]

History edit

In 1901 Cronadun had a population of 39, with a hotel, post office, store, and telephone bureau.[2]

Railway edit

For a few years, Cronadun was the terminus of the Stillwater–Westport Line as construction progressed from Reefton alongside the Inangahua River towards the Buller Gorge. Cronadun became the terminus in 1908, and the next section to Inangahua Junction opened in 1914.

References edit

  1. ^ Reed, A. W. (1979). The Reed dictionary of New Zealand place names (2002 ed.). Auckland [N.Z.]: Reed. ISBN 0-7900-0761-4. OCLC 49290681.
  2. ^ "The Cyclopedia of New Zealand". NZETC. 1906. Retrieved 5 September 2020.