Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1905, Christchurch

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

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Otatara is in the Awarua riding of the county of Southland and in the electoral district of Awarua. The district lies to the south of West Plains and the Waikiwi stream, a tributary of the Oreti river, which flows through the district and enters the estuary near the mouth of the New River harbour. Otatara may be approached by Bay Road from Invercargill, or by boat from the Invercargill jetty. It is a district of small farms, mostly carved out of the bush, and the soil, though somewhat sandy, is very fertile. The entire district is more or less surrounded by water, and patches and clumps of bush on the farms give variety and beauty to the landscape. The district public school, which is attended by fifty children, is eight miles from Invercargill. It is the domicile of the local post office, and mails are received and despatched on Tuesdays and Fridays every week. Otatara had a population of 251 persons at the census of 1901.