Featherston Military Camp

GPS 41.118 S  175.355 E

At the end of July 1915 the Defence Department acquired land between Featherston and the Tauherenikau River to build a new training camp for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. 100 acres to the north, and 50 acres south, of the main road were bought and nearby paddocks leased for the complex. Public Works Department  began building in August 1915, with 1000 workmen on the site by December. The barrack camp, housing 4500, and a tent camp across the road, opened on 24 January 1916, with men from Tauherenikau Camp marching into their new home. (more…)