Washdyke

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Suburb in Timaru, New Zealand

Washdyke
Suburb
Coordinates: 44°21′S 171°14′E / 44.350°S 171.233°E / -44.350; 171.233
Country	New Zealand
City	Timaru
Local authority	Timaru District Council
Electoral ward	Timaru
Area [1]
• Land	1,066 ha (2,634 acres)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	1,200

Pleasant Point	Levels	Waipopo
Hadlow	Washdyke	(Canterbury Bight)
Marchwiel	Waimataitai	(Caroline Bay)

Washdyke is an industrial suburb in the north of Timaru, in south Canterbury, New Zealand. State Highway 1 passes through Washdyke on the way north out of the city. The northern terminus of State Highway 8 is in Washdyke.

Washdyke is home to Timaru's horse racetrack, "Phar Lap Raceway" - named after the champion racehorse, Phar Lap, who was foaled here in 1926.

The Main South Line railway passes through Washdyke, and it was formerly the location of a railway junction. On 18 February 1874, construction began on a branch line to Pleasant Point; this line ultimately became known as the Fairlie Branch when it was opened past Pleasant Point to Fairlie in 1884. Declining traffic led to the closure of the branch on 2 March 1968 and since then, the Main South Line has been the only railway through Washdyke. Passenger services through Washdyke ceased on 10 February 2002 with the cancellation of the Southerner express that operated between Christchurch and Invercargill.

Slightly south of the suburb is Washdyke Lagoon, a medium-sized tidal lagoon which a variety of wading birds frequent.