Dunsandel

Dunsandel
Dunsandel Methodist Church
Coordinates: 43°39′38″S 172°11′34″E / 43.66056°S 172.19278°E / -43.66056; 172.19278
Country	New Zealand
Region	Canterbury region
District	Selwyn District
Ward	Ellesmere
Electorates	Selwyn Te Tai Tonga (Māori)
Government
• Territorial authority	Selwyn District Council
• Regional council	Environment Canterbury
• Mayor of Selwyn	Sam Broughton
• Selwyn MP	Nicola Grigg
• Te Tai Tonga MP	Tākuta Ferris
Area [1]
• Total	1.94 km2 (0.75 sq mi)
Population  (June 2024)[2]
• Total	490
• Density	250/km2 (650/sq mi)

Dunsandel is a small rural town in the Canterbury region of the South Island, New Zealand. The town is located on the Canterbury Plains just south of the Selwyn River / Waikirikiri and about 40 km south of Christchurch. Dunsandel is a junction town on SH1, halfway between Christchurch and Ashburton, with roads leading to Leeston, Southbridge and Hororata. The town provides an important refreshment stop for main road travellers with eateries and coffee shops, as well as acting as a support town for the rural hinterland.

The town was established to serve the local farming community which includes dairy, sheep and cropping and continues providing veterinary, transport and vehicle repair services. It was named after Dunsandle Castle, the home of Robert Daly, who had owned the land on which the town as established.^[3] It has one primary school for approximately 150 children. The town is the home to the Dunsandel Cricket Club. The club's 'A' team has a reputation as one of the premier teams in the Ellesmere district.