Location History

 

Armstrong Forge Knife Making Courses & Custom metal Works is located on a quiet rural setting in Mandeville / Swannanoa, North Canterbury just 35 kilometres northwest of Christchurch. Just 8 kilometres from the beautiful historical township of Ohoka, where in the mid to late 1800’s stood Benn Whitham’s Shoeing & Blacksmithing business on Mill Road the main road that travels through Ohoka. In March 1900 this business was purchased by F B Ramsey who also did general repairs to farming implements which serviced the surrounding areas including Mandeville / Swannanoa

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The settlement of Swannanoa (named after the Swannanoa River in Weston North Carolina) started around the 1850’s. For most of its history Swannanoa was to be almost exclusively pastoral. Sheep was it on this dryland!

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In 1875, a railway line was built through the district and the official location of Swannanoa, at the intersection of Two Chain Road and North Eyre Road was the location of the train station.

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The Eyreton branch line was a ‘flag-stop’ railway line which you could flag down to get on, & stopped to let people off. This train earned the name “Ohoka Punt” because the land it passed through was so swampy it resembled a boat! The opportunity to catch the train to Swannanoa ended in May 1954. On North Eyre Road now (opposite the driveway) you will see the “hump” where the train once travelled

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Mandeville / Swannanoa, Ohoka & surrounding North Canterbury areas today, offers many experiences & activities from a picnic & swim at the nearby Waimakariri River to a scenic drive around the local arts, crafts & treasures and not forgetting all the cuisines, cafes & pubs along the way!