Piako Railway Station
Piako was a flag station, at the junction of SH26 and Horrell Rd, on the former Thames Branch, 2.87 km (1.78 mi) east of Morrinsville and 4.03 km (2.50 mi) west of Tatuanui.
The area was owned in succession by politicians:
- Thomas Gillies
- William Murray, who built nearby Annandale House about 1881 and planned a township, hoping the Kinleith Branch junction would be here, rather than Morrinsville
- William Shepherd Allen who built sheep pens and a loading race in May 1890 and stockyards in 1898. The Allen family owned the farm from 1887 to 1920 and still owns Annandale House, which has been a Category 1 listed building since 1989.
Work was continuing when the branch opened to Te Aroha. Murray's had a platform, then a shelter was added in 1887. In December 1912 it was renamed Piako, as had been expected when it opened. It closed to passengers on 22 November 1948. The station building was removed in December 1961 and the stock yards in 1968. The site became Murray Oaks Scenic Reserve in 1975.
References
- ^ "Waikato Train Service". Te Aroha News. 17 March 1888. p. 6. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ "Sheet N57 one inch map". www.mapspast.org.nz. October 1943. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ Yonge, John Roger; Company, Quail Map (1993). New Zealand Railway and Tramway Atlas. Quail Map Company. ISBN 9780900609923.
{{cite book}}:|last2=has generic name (help) - ^ "Annandale: Piako". Te Aroha News. 19 March 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ^ Stanley, Joan (2009). Matamata-Piako District Heritage Trail (PDF). Matamata-Piako District Council. ISBN 978-0-9597740-2-3.
- ^ "Annandale: Piako". Te Aroha News. 19 March 1887. p. 2. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ "Page 13 Advertisements Column 5". New Zealand Herald. 15 May 1920. p. 13. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ "Annandale". www.heritage.org.nz. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ "The Aroha and Ohinemuri News and Upper Thames Advocate". Te Aroha News. 24 April 1886. p. 2. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ "Our Railway". Te Aroha News. 19 April 1884. p. 7. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
- ^ Scoble, Juliet (2010). "Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations" (PDF). Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand.
- ^ "Murray Oaks Scenic Reserve". www.mpdc.govt.nz. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
