A bird’s-eye view of Hampden

Hampden, 35km south of Oamaru on State Highway 1, was named in honour of the English politician John Hampden by early surveyor W.B.D. Mantell. A borough was proclaimed in 1879 and the first mayor was William Murcott. The borough existed until the 1960s. Hampden is now part of Waitaki District. Hampden School, in the township, is a full primary school catering for years 1 to 8, with a roll of 46 pupils as of February 2024.