Tahakopa couple Don and Eleanor Sinclair, along with Russell Harris from Balclutha have done a splendid job spearheading the Our Hut Heritage Hub Sir Truby King Bridge Track sub-committee, which has been responsible for marking King's association with the Catlins, and the lasting legacy of his decades as a bush pioneer.

Dr King the renowned doctor and founder of Plunket was a resident of the Catlins village of Tahakopa between 1893 and 1929. During that time, the railway came to the Tahakopa district and King was instrumental in helping that happen.

Sir Truby spent his time in Tahakopa as a doctor, a farmer and sawmiller. He was also Medical Superintendent at Dunedin’s Seacliff Lunatic Asylum and a lecturer at the University of Otago. So he used the train to get to and from Tahakopa.

“He used to bring people, often patients down in the train to get them out of Seacliff,’ says Sinclair. “Out of the institution. Seacliff was the biggest building built at the time in New Zealand. Huge Building. And he said ‘Nah, nah, nah. You got to get yourself out of that building and out in the fields, work in the fields. And you’ll feel a lot better.’ So he brought them down on the train and they worked on the farm and in the sawmill.”

Don Sinclair believes a track to the bridge will let visitors to the district learn about its history. The track travels across an unformed legal road and will have wheelchair access. It is a pleasant short walk along the Tahakopa River, through an established stand of native trees, to the historic Sir Truby King Bridge.

Opening of Sir Truby King Railway Bridge Track

• 2pm on Saturday 28th November 
• BYO Afternoon Tea Picnic
• Tahakopa Valley Rd, at the Tahakapa Rd Bridge site

Don Sinclair and the local community have done a lot of work on the track. Working closely with the Walking Access Commission’s regional field advisor, securing funding and support from Clutha District Council, Otago Community Trust, The Walking Access Commission and numerous project donors, volunteers and supporters.