Esher Place Drain

Naming

Esher Place was officially named on 22 March 1971 and first appears in street directories in 1977.  No record exists of the significance of the name.

Eshermap
Map of Esher Place Drain joinging the Ōpāwaho Heathcote River. Click to enlarge

For a higher resolution map, click here

About the waterway

This waterway both provides stormwater drainage for the properties on lefthand side of Esher Place but also takes the low flow from a spring in this area.  The drain starts off as just that – a concrete drain between handstand areas before developing into a wider wood-sided box drain and then becoming a naturalised stream as it flows through the patch of regenerating bush on the Riverlaw Esplanade Reserve.  It passes under a wooden footbridge before meeting the river in a naturalised channel.  There is excellent fish migration access at the confluence.

The Riverlaw Esplanade Reserve is maintained by an active community group, the Friends of Riverlaw Esplanade Reserve with volunteers co-ordinated by Finn Jackson

Where it joins the river

Img 2725
The well-hidden confluence of the Esher Place Drain with the river in the Riverlaw Esplanade Reserve. Click to enlarge

A view of the waterway

Img 2727
The waterway as it drops to the river passes under a footbridge. Click to enlarge
Img 2728
Above the footbridge, the waterway travels a naturalised path with stoney base. Click to enlarge
Img 2729
The waterway turns under a fence and becomes a formed drain with wooden sides. The spring that is the source of the flow appears to be in this section. Click to enlarge
Img 2730
The further the drain goes, the less it appears to be appreciated. It becomes a concrete sided, dry drain. Click to enlarge
Img 2731
In the end, the waterway is indeed just a drain taking stormwater as it flows off the driveways.. Click to enlarge