Township 6 km north-west of Stratford. One of the most distinctive features of the township is the towering concrete and glass milk-powder drying plant, which was one of New Zealand’s most advanced in its time (1980). The factory closed after amalgamating with Kiwi Dairies in 1983.
Meaning of place name
At first it was named after a pioneer settler, Hirst. Subsequently a Mr Hurst took a prominent part in getting the railway line put through the settlement, and the name was changed to Midhurst. But eventually the pioneering days triumphed, and the name reverted to Midhirst.
