The town was named for a former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Richard Seddon.
Geography
Earthquakes
Seddon has been close to the epicentres of several significant earthquakes.
On the morning of 16 October 1848, Marlborough was struck by a damaging earthquake later estimated to be between magnitude 7.4 and 7.7.[7] The epicentre of this earthquake was 45 km southeast of Seddon.[8]
On 23 April 1966, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake with an epicentre in Cook Strait, 40 km east of Seddon[9] was most strongly felt in the town, damaging the chimney on almost every house in town.[10]
In July and August 2013 Seddon was closest settlement to the epicentres of a doublet earthquake event.[11] First, in late July, a series of sizeable earthquakes struck the region over a period of a few days being felt strongly in Blenheim, Wellington and the rest of Central New Zealand, the strongest being a magnitude 6.5 and having its epicentre in Cook Strait.[12] Then on 16 August 2013 a magnitude 6.6 earthquake with its epicentre under Lake Grassmere struck about 2:30 PM [13] and was followed by a series of aftershocks over the next few hours, one of which was above magnitude 6 and several others above magnitude 5. This came just a few years after devastating earthquakes affected Christchurch, 285 km away.[14]
Demographics
Seddon is defined by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers 1.66 km2 (0.64 sq mi)[1] and had an estimated population of 590 as of June 2024,[2] with a population density of 355 people per km2. It is part of the wider Awatere statistical area.[15]
Seddon had a population of 552 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 63 people (12.9%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 57 people (11.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 192 households, comprising 300 males and 252 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.19 males per female, with 96 people (17.4%) aged under 15 years, 93 (16.8%) aged 15 to 29, 282 (51.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 75 (13.6%) aged 65 or older.
Ethnicities were 78.3% European/Pākehā, 16.8% Māori, 13.0% Pasifika, 2.7% Asian, and 2.7% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.
Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 56.0% had no religion, 27.7% were Christian, 0.5% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.5% were Muslim and 2.2% had other religions.
Of those at least 15 years old, 30 (6.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 126 (27.6%) people had no formal qualifications. 33 people (7.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 261 (57.2%) people were employed full-time, 66 (14.5%) were part-time, and 12 (2.6%) were unemployed.[16]
Transport
State Highway 1 passes through Seddon on its route between Blenheim and Christchurch.
The Marlborough section of the Main North Line railway reached Seddon from Blenheim in October 1902.[17] This also saw the construction of a combined road-rail bridge over the Awatere River north of the town, with the single-lane road below the rail. The bridge remained in service for road traffic until October 2007, when a new two-lane road bridge opened.[18] Seddon was the southern terminus of the railway until the line was extended to Ward in April 1911; the full line through to Christchurch didn't open until December 1945.[17] Today, Seddon is served by the Coastal Pacific train, which runs once daily each way during the summer months.
A train derailment at Blind River, south of Seddon, on 25 February 1948, killed six people and injured 40 others.[19]
The double decker bridge across the Awatere River
Trains use the upper level of the bridge. Road transport used the lower level until a new bridge was opened in November 2007.
Education
Seddon School is the sole school in the town. It is a coeducational full primary (year 1–8) school with a roll of 136 as of August 2024.[20] The nearest state secondary schools are Marlborough Boys' College and Marlborough Girls' College in Blenheim.
