Population, location, and facilities information for this township.

Location: 40 mins from Christchurch, 21kms west of Darfield via Glentunnel

Whitecliffs farm building Whitecliffs takes its name from the river terrace cliffs above the Selwyn River, and was so named by Lady Barker, author of "Station life in New Zealand," who lived at nearby Steventon.

Also known as South Malvern, it was once the terminus of the Whitecliffs Branch railway from Darfield (the engine shed still stands).

For a while, Whitecliffs was a centre of pottery, brick, and tile production, and coal and sand mining, with a hotel, church, school, and several shops.

Few signs of Whitecliffs' busy past remain, but the residents of baches and those who live here and work in Christchurch, have developed a very strong sense of community.

For several years the Whitecliffs Festival was held here, and the Domain is popular with holidaymakers.

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