Waimate District: Silos, History and Trails

Waimate District combines historic buildings and public art with nearby trails. In Waimate, the former courthouse shapes the streetscape; the tall grain silos feature murals depicting the town’s past. There is also a historic park with a miniature railway, an art gallery and regular markets. If you’d like to include culture, outdoor activities and local events in your travel plans, you’ll find a range of options for your stay here.

A former courthouse turned museum

Waimate Museum & Archives is housed in the town’s former courthouse. The neoclassical building shapes the streetscape and dates from 1879. The museum complex also includes the former police station, a jail, stables and a pioneer cottage. These buildings bring together different aspects of local history in one place, so you don’t have to visit separate buildings around town.

Historic buildings and a miniature railway

The seven-hectare Bushtown Heritage Park is a historic visitor attraction a short distance from Waimate town centre. The grounds feature Edwardian cottages and other historic buildings. This gives the park a different perspective on the area’s built history from the museum complex in the former courthouse: here, the cottages and buildings are part of a larger site.

A miniature railway runs through the park on the second Sunday of each month from 1 to 3 pm. This regular event may affect your visit plans; confirm the details before you travel. The historic buildings and the train ride offer different reasons to include the park in your day’s itinerary.

Grain silos as landmarks of local history

Waimate’s distinctive grain silos were built by hand in 1920 and are 36 metres high. Their murals depict the town’s past. The silos thus combine a specific building history with public art: the scale of the structure and the murals’ subjects make them a worthwhile attraction in their own right when visiting Waimate.

A signed trail runs along the edge of the silo site, and there is a viewing platform on Dash Street. Access for visitors may be affected by rules at the industrial site. If you’d like to explore public art on foot, you can also discover it on a self-guided walk around town using the Waimate App. The app’s availability and functionality may change, so check them beforehand.

Trails in nearby Studholme Bush Scenic Reserve

The Railway Track in Studholme Bush Scenic Reserve is close to Waimate. It follows a two-kilometre former railway embankment beside Deep Creek, wetlands and regenerating bush. The landscape along the trail is quite different from the historic buildings and silos in town. Trail conditions can change, so check the current track status before setting out.

Other trail connections lead to Centrewood Park and the Clydesdale horse monument: the Whitehorse Link Track connects with the park and the monument. The Whitehorse Walkway climbs to Centrewood Park, where the White Horse stands. Waimate and its surrounds also have shared and separate walking and cycling tracks. When comparing the options, consider their different highlights: the Railway Track, with its creek and wetland edges, or trails leading to Centrewood Park and the horse monument.

Art, films and local events

Waimate Art Gallery is a regional gallery featuring established and emerging artists. The Waimate Regent Theatre screens current films and also hosts live events and performances by visiting artists. Check the current programme if you have a particular evening in mind. The gallery and theatre complement the historic sites with changing artistic and cultural offerings.

The Waimate Community Market takes place every Saturday morning in Seddon Square. The Waimate Strawberry Fare is also held in Seddon Square, in the centre of Waimate, on the second Saturday in December each year; it features locally grown Waimate strawberries, among other things. As the market, fare and miniature railway follow regular schedules, check the details for each event before travelling.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Lake Pearson, Staveley, Mount Peel, Arthur's Pass, Hunter, Glenavy, Burnham, Springfield.

For the broader travel overview: Canterbury.