Kiwi pride took on a whole new meaning in June 1919 when a giant chalk kiwi took up position on Beacon Hill, overlooking the Salisbury Plain, in wartime England. Constructed from solid white chalk, the sprawling memento to the presence of New Zealand troops at Sling Camp was designed by Sergeant major Blenkarne of the army's education staff.
The design was drawn from a true-to-life sketch of a kiwi based on a specimen held in the British Museum in London. Measuring a total of 600 by 335 feet (approximately 183 by 102 metres), it still stands as a lasting monument to the contribution of Kiwi soldiers to World War One.
This photo postcard of Sling Camp and the chalk kiwi returned to New Zealand unwritten, perhaps serving as a reminder to the soldier who purchased it of military life a long way from home.
Search the Puke Ariki Heritage Collection
LinkPlease do not reproduce these images without permission from Puke Ariki.
Contact us for more information or you can order images online here.
The information on this website is provided for general research and reference only. While we try to keep content accurate and current, we make no guarantees about its completeness or correctness. It should not be considered a replacement for a LIM or a Property Report. Some content is supplied by third parties. Puke Ariki has not verified this content and users should check its accuracy before relying on it.The inclusion of a building on the website does not imply heritage status. See SCHED1 in the NPDC District Plan for a list of buildings that have rules about what can happen to or around them (administered by NPDC). See the New Zealand Heritage List for a list of buildings that are celebrated for their heritage significance but are not subject to rules (administered by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga). Should any corrections need to be made to the records or for more information please contact us.
