- Est. Median Value
- $547K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $330/wk
- Safety Score
- 88/100
- Green Space
- 4%
- Current Weather
- 6.5°C
- Median Age
- 43 yrs
~37 crimes/1k/yr
overcast clouds
Living in Lochiel
Lochiel is a Southland locality carrying the name of a Scottish clan chief - Lochiel being the traditional title of the chief of the Camerons - applied to the Southland plains by settlers who found the flat, wet country not particularly reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands and named it romantically anyway. The Camerons and their Lochiel had a notable role in the Jacobite rising of 1745, which gives the name more historical weight than most flat farming localities carry, though the Southland plain has been considerably more peaceful than the Highlands.
The farming around Lochiel is the northern Invercargill hinterland model: dairy and sheep on the flat, productive country that the Southland interior supports, with the community running the operations that the district's farming families have managed across generations. The locality sits in the outer residential and farming fringe north of Invercargill, where the city's influence extends but the agricultural character predominates.
Invercargill's full services are within straightforward driving distance for the Lochiel community, and the flat Southland roads make the city connection easy for the families farming the surrounding properties. The Jacobite cause is not actively pursued in the locality.
Children from Lochiel attend local Southland schools or Invercargill's primary network.
Is Lochiel a good place to live?
Lochiel is home to roughly 425 people across 67.0 km². On Suburb's overall livability scale, Lochiel scores 54 out of 100, with a safety score of 88/100 and 4% green space.
Schools: Lochiel has 6 schools in or near the suburb, spanning early-childhood through to secondary education. See the Schools tab below for the full list.
Housing: The estimated median value is around $547K, and weekly rent typically sits around $330.
Lifestyle: The current temperature is 6.5°C. See the Weather tab for monthly averages.
Whether Lochiel is right for you depends on what you’re looking for. Use the data and community tips below to decide if it suits your lifestyle, family and budget.
Livability Breakdown
- Safety88
- Amenities10
- Schools79
- Housing Affordability69
- Green space14
- Community78
- Transport14
Property & Economics
- Est. Median Value
- $547K
- Median Weekly Rent
- $330/wk
- Median HH Income
- $73K/yr
- Pop. Growth (5yr)
- +5.9%
- Data Year
- 2023
Key Financial Indicators (NZD)
† Est. Median Value is suburb.co.nz's own estimate, modelled from available public data. We aim for accuracy, but where data is limited, estimates may be imprecise.
Nearby Suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is Lochiel?
- Lochiel is in the Southland district, in the farming country north of Invercargill on the flat Southland plain.
- Where does the name Lochiel come from?
- Lochiel is the traditional title of the chief of Clan Cameron in Scotland, applied to the locality by early Southland settlers. The Camerons' most famous Lochiel led the clan during the 1745 Jacobite rising.
- What is Lochiel like?
- Flat Southland dairy and sheep farming country north of Invercargill, with the city's services within easy driving distance.
- What schools serve Lochiel?
- Local Southland primary schools, with Invercargill's colleges for secondary students.
- How do I get from Invercargill to Lochiel?
- By car, a short drive north from Invercargill on the Southland plain roads.
- Which schools are in zone for Lochiel?
- Children living in Lochiel are in zone for Lochiel School, Central Southland College, St Thomas School (Winton), Verdon College, Southland Adventist Christian School, St John's Girls' School (Invercargill). Living in a school's home zone gives a guaranteed right to enrol.
- How do I check my school zone in Lochiel?
- Use the School Zone Checker on this page. Enter your address to check your school zone and see which schools you have a guaranteed right to enrol at.
Schools & Enrolment Zones in Lochiel
Schools in zone for Lochiel
Children living in Lochiel have a guaranteed right to enrol at these schools, based on Ministry of Education home zones.
Lochiel School
Full Primary · roll 75 · decile 10
Central Southland College
Secondary (Year 9-15) · roll 686 · decile 6
St Thomas School (Winton)
Full Primary · roll 89 · decile 9
Verdon College
Secondary (Year 7-15) · roll 716 · decile 6
Southland Adventist Christian School
Full Primary · roll 123 · decile 4
St John's Girls' School (Invercargill)
Full Primary · roll 124 · decile 9
Check your school zone
School Zone Checker
Enter your address to check your school zone in Lochiel. School enrolment zones (home zones) decide which schools your child has a guaranteed right to enrol at.
Address matching is approximate and based on OpenStreetMap geocoding — confirm an exact result near a zone boundary directly with the school.
Shops in Lochiel
Shops(1)
Wilson's Veges
Professional Services in Lochiel
Professional services(1)
Lochiel Trailers
Lochiel Weather
Current conditions: 6.5°C, overcast clouds
| Month | High (°C) | Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm/day) | Sunshine (hrs/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ☀️ Jan | 20.14 | 10.71 | 3.46 | 10.36 |
| ☀️ Feb | 19.03 | 10.4 | 3.96 | 9.88 |
| 🍂 Mar | 16.54 | 8.61 | 5.31 | 8.4 |
| 🍂 Apr | 15.39 | 8.04 | 3.38 | 6.97 |
| 🍂 May | 12.18 | 5.85 | 3.85 | 4.67 |
| ❄️ Jun | 10.31 | 2.9 | 3.18 | 5.61 |
| ❄️ Jul | 9.62 | 2.88 | 4.4 | 5.77 |
| ❄️ Aug | 10.89 | 3.53 | 2.65 | 6.77 |
| 🌸 Sep | 12.88 | 5.26 | 5.81 | 7.81 |
| 🌸 Oct | 14.05 | 5.72 | 4.32 | 7.99 |
| 🌸 Nov | 15.46 | 6.79 | 3.12 | 9.74 |
| ☀️ Dec | 18.32 | 9.8 | 5.1 | 9.73 |
Lochiel Community
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