Middlemarch, New Zealand

Demographics

Middlemarch is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 1.05 km2 and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. It is part of the much larger Strath Taieri statistical area.

Middlemarch had a population of 153 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 3 people (−1.9%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 12 people (−7.3%) since the 2006 census. There were 66 households, comprising 81 males and 72 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.12 males per female. The median age was 50.2 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 21 people (13.7%) aged under 15 years, 18 (11.8%) aged 15 to 29, 90 (58.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 30 (19.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 96.1% European/Pākehā, and 21.6% Māori. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 62.7% had no religion, and 31.4% were Christian.

Of those at least 15 years old, 12 (9.1%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 30 (22.7%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $25,200, compared with $31,800 nationally. 15 people (11.4%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 51 (38.6%) people were employed full-time, 21 (15.9%) were part-time, and 6 (4.5%) were unemployed.

Education

Strath Taieri School is a co-educational state full primary school for Year 1 to 8 students, with a roll of students as of . The school opened in 1880, and was initially a high school. It became a full primary in 1975.

Museum

Middlemarch Museum, located on Aberafon Street, shares the social history of the region.

The museum's collection includes the Platypus, a 10-metre long iron-plate submarine. It was built in 1873 in Dunedin to mine for underwater gold, and is thought to be the only submarine to have been built in New Zealand.

Climate

| Jan record high C = 37.4 | Feb record high C = 35.6 | Mar record high C = 32.6 | Apr record high C = 28.0 | May record high C = 25.3 | Jun record high C = 21.1 | Jul record high C = 19.4 | Aug record high C = 21.5 | Sep record high C = 24.7 | Oct record high C = 27.9 | Nov record high C = 31.2 | Dec record high C = 36.0 | year record high C = 37.4 | Jan avg record high C = 32.1 | Feb avg record high C = 30.9 | Mar avg record high C = 29.0 | Apr avg record high C = 24.6 | May avg record high C = 20.7 | Jun avg record high C = 17.9 | Jul avg record high C = 16.6 | Aug avg record high C = 18.1 | Sep avg record high C = 22.1 | Oct avg record high C = 24.7 | Nov avg record high C = 27.1 | Dec avg record high C = 29.9 | year avg record high C = 33.6 | Jan avg record low C = 1.8 | Feb avg record low C = 1.8 | Mar avg record low C = -1.1 | Apr avg record low C = -3.5 | May avg record low C = -5.8 | Jun avg record low C = -7.5 | Jul avg record low C = -8.0 | Aug avg record low C = -6.1 | Sep avg record low C = -4.9 | Oct avg record low C = -3.4 | Nov avg record low C = -1.1 | Dec avg record low C = 0.8 | year avg record low C = -8.5 |Jan record low C = -2.1 |Feb record low C = -1.4 |Mar record low C = -4.1 |Apr record low C = -5.6 |May record low C = -10.1 |Jun record low C = -12.3 |Jul record low C = -10.6 |Aug record low C = -8.6 |Sep record low C = -8.0 |Oct record low C = -5.7 |Nov record low C = -4.6 |Dec record low C = -2.1 |year record low C = -12.3 |access-date = 12 Aug 2024}} |access-date = 19 May 2024}}{{cite web |access-date = 8 Nov 2025}}

The Taieri Pet is a lenticular cloud formation that occurs in the Strath-Taieri region. The cloud formation is created when north-westerly winds are forced upward over the Rock and Pillar Range. The cloud is a common feature in the skies near Middlemarch.

References

References

1. "2016 Strath Taieri Community Board Boundary". [[Dunedin City Council]].
2. (27 June 2023). "Taieri - Electorate Profile - New Zealand Parliament".
3. [http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc04Cycl-t1-body1-d5-d27.html p 596 THE CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW ZEALAND [OTAGO & SOUTHLAND PROVINCIAL DISTRICTS], 1903.]
4. "The Squatters’ Club".
5. "History". Middlemarch official website.
6. Thomson, J. (ed) (1998) Southern People A Dictionary of Otago Southland Biography Dunedin, NZ: Longacre Press with Dunedin City Council. {{ISBN. 1-877135-11-9. p. 240.
7. "ArcGIS Web Application".
8. {{NZ census place summary 2018. strath-taieri. Strath Taieri
9. {{NZ census 2018. 7028205
10. {{TKI. 3837. Strath Taieri School
11. (14 January 2019). "Our History". Strath Taieri School.
12. Loughrey, David. (31 December 2018). "Middlemarch history comes alive.".
13. Bisset, John. (3 February 2019). "Beached as: Super-rare 1870s submarine washes up in landlocked Otago town.".
14. Doermann, Lindsey. (18 September 2024). "Suspended in Sky: The Ethereal Dance of Otago's Taieri Pet Cloud". [[SciTech (magazine).
15. Lewis, John. (1 September 2020). "Spectacular cloud formation takes pilot's eye".
16. (21 April 2020). "Wind in the Mountains".