It seems such a long time ago and a lot of water under the bridge since we went on our Field Weekend to Mt Somers. We have since attended the Christchurch show, drumming up prospective members and talking to current ones. During this time I had a very quick ride (in my go fast red car) back to Timaru to be with my daughter as she had our first Grandchild: so exciting! I would like to thank our members Bob and Faye who were so kind to let me stay with them during the show, their hospitality was amazing and also to everyone who worked with us at the show and did a fine job of selling those hats.

Bendigo Bakehouse

We have worked with DOC on the stabilization of the Bendigo Bakehouse; I found it fantastic working with the archaeologists scraping around the old oven with something the size of a teaspoon as we unearthed the rubbish that had covered over this. All this being done through sleet and freezing temperature but we came back to base for hot cuppa to thaw us out.

Mount Somers

The Mt Somers Field Weekend was another success story. The accommodation at the Staveley camp site was perfect as there were so many rooms for accommodation. We all shared this large kitchen and living area, enabling it to be very social. We started the Saturday morning meeting with our guide David Howden who took us firstly to a World War 2 ammunition dump. These were a series of about seven buildings built into banks of the surrounding land. Ammunition was stored there in purpose-built double brick buildings, ready, in case the Japanese attacked. These were so well camouflaged that most of the locals did not know they existed.

From there we went to the Buxton Lime Kilns which were built in 1888 and still have some old machinery and a workshop intact. Following this we visited the Stone Quarry which show- cased a restored cottage built in 1862. We all stood in this cottage while David recited a poem about the times and history, giving the feel of actually living in those times. I looked around at this stage and couldn’t find a dish washer or even a washing machine so decided living in the now is a better prospect but I certainly did appreciate a little of the conditions they had to endure, especially with the bitterly cold winters. We went to Webb’s silica sand quarry that provides the sand for glass making and also for golf bunkers. This is a massive hole in the earth where you are able to see the lines of colour of the different minerals. They found the silica sand deposit while they were looking for coal which is on the other side of the hill; it is so amazing to have such a diverse range of minerals in one area. We went up the road towards Erewhon Station on the edge of the Southern Alps where they did some of the filming of the movie, The Lord of the Rings. On the Sunday we went to Blair and Sarah Gallagher’s place where we had our lunch in their beautiful garden while Reg serenaded us, it was magic and especially for the ladies as Sarah has this amazing range of jewellery which she makes out of the agates found on or near their farm. This is just a small part of what we saw and did. Some of us were disappointed that we never saw any sign of the elusive Black Panther but we did watch an interesting film on it making some of us rush to our rooms afterwards in-case it was lurking in the undergrowth ready to pounce!

Next field weekend

We are now organising our next Field Weekend to Doctors Point in the Roxburgh Gorge on the 17/18^th April, taking a River Cruise where we explore the mighty Clutha River taking us to the isolated reaches of the historic and picturesque thyme studded Roxburgh Gorge where we will see miner’s huts and some of the most stunning scenery. We will also go to Tuckers Hill, the Conroy’s and maybe the modern Earnscleugh Gold mine. Some of you will recall doing a similar trip some nine years ago.

Could anyone interested, please contact our office with your intentions. We will then send you detailed information of the weekend.

TrustPower Community Awards

Most of you will be aware that we won the Central Otago preliminary last year and only last weekend were feted royally at the National Award in Nelson, competing with 24 other regions. Sadly we didn’t win (a tad difficult being up against a $12M hospital!) but were chuffed to be told we were in 3^rd or 4^th placing! Our (Roberta Laraman & Martin Anderson) presentation was first up, so we were determined to make a strong first impression. Many thanks to Mayor, Malcolm MacPherson and Mayoress, Susan MacPherson for accompanying us; and to Ross Wilson for the brilliant DVD he produced as background. It and the music he put to it still gives me goosebumps! Apparently Jim Mora is to produce a 26 programme, Channel 6 TV series and the award presentations should be TrustPower website soon.

The whole experience was amazing. All around NZ people are doing fantastic volunteer projects. As one man said, “New Zealand is made up of 90% volunteers and 10% credit cards!” I just wish we could have pulled it off for the benefit of all our hard working volunteers within the Trust and the Cavalcade – the unsung hero’s who make what we do possible.

Anybody interested in a Limited Edition Bronze Sculpture “Gold panner”

by Brian Moore

We are very pleased to offer you the opportunity to invest in one these beautifully detailed and enduring collector’s edition bronzes by New Zealand artist Brian Moore.

Born in Timaru, Brian grew up in Christchurch and has a great interest in the South Island and its rich history.  He is an established professional artist of some 30 years standing, whose works have been presented to such notables as HRH Prince Philip, Sir Edmund Hillary and Sir Peter Blake. Check it out at www.brianmoore.co.nz/gold.

And Finally …

Now one last note from me. As most of you know Roberta is finally resigning on the 31^st of March as Cavalcade Co-ordinator so she will have time to spend with her grandchildren but will always be in the background (thank goodness). Roberta feels that after months spent learning the ropes that Terry Davis will be splendid in taking over her role. We have great confidence in Terry’s abilities, he has passion, energy and has grasped the concept so he will take it into the new era beautifully. Terry is also going to be taking over my role, as due to health issues I have very sadly resigned but will still be kept on as minute secretary, and like Roberta will always be in the background if needed as this Trust, which includes you all members, does amazing work and I feel very privileged to be part of it.

We are very pleased to offer you the opportunity to invest in one these beautifully detailed and enduring collector’s edition bronzes by New Zealand artist Brian Moore.

Born in Timaru, Brian grew up in Christchurch and has a great interest in the South Island and its rich history.  He is an established professional artist of some 30 years standing, whose works have been presented to such notables as HRH Prince Philip, Sir Edmund Hillary and Sir Peter Blake.

Bronze sculpture

240mm x 280mm x 300mm high

Edition limited to 100 numbered & signed castings

$3750.00

(including GST & NZ delivery)

Well-known Alexandra identity Bill Tinker, Otago Goldpanning Champion, was keen to help Brian keep history alive with his artwork.  He was originally photographed panning on the banks of the Clutha, for one of a series of pen & ink drawings on early days in New Zealand, which then inspired this detailed sculpture. You can see the fine balance, muscle tension and concentration as he searches for specks of colour in the bottom of the pan.

Go to the web page: www.brianmoore.co.nz/gold for the background story and to see a slide show of views from various angles.

Bronzes are cast to order and take around eight weeks to go through the many foundry processes.

Email: info@brianmoore.co.nz for installment options.

We accept payment by direct credit, cheque, Visa or Mastercard, by phoning 09-427 5728

or on our a secure on-line order form: https://sales.net.nz/brianmoore/index.htm .

www.brianmoore.co.nz/gold

Bruce McMillan will be our Vice-president, Bruce was acknowledged for the time and energy he puts into the Trust

NEWSLETTER-AUGUST 2009

Greetings Everyone,

It was lovely to meet so many of you at the AGM in Dunedin. Well what a great weekend it was too. The AGM went well, followed by a lovely lunch which included a huge crayfish, courtesy of Fleur Sullivan, then onto the Otago Settlers Museum where we went on a very informative tour with many of the group finding photos of their ancestors hanging on the wall and many more making plans to return as there is so much information available. We then did a tour of the Chinese Gardens; I think these are a must when you are next in Dunedin.

From there we went for a tour of the Speights Brewery with a very hard case tour guide giving lots of rib, but he did get it back as well (we can’t let our side down). This was followed by sampling of the fine beverage which I was told went down very well. I had to leave the group at that point as I had a touch of food poisoning so I headed back to my bed while the rest indulged in a lovely three course meal being serenaded by Reg on the mouth organ-wish I was there. Oh yes guys and maybe girls we have to keep drinking Speights as the used yeast is turned into our very own Vegemite and that is soo good for us!

The next day some of us headed to the Otago Museum to take in the butterflies (beautiful), West Africa Rhythm & Spirit or whatever took their fancy then onto the Gas Works, I thought this was a man’s domain but again I learnt so much with Bill Cowan (thanks Bill) teaching us about the history of gas in Dunedin. I thought that gas comes from the ground but now know it also comes from coal along with over 300 other different derivatives – caffeine being one of them.

From there we met at a Portobello Café and I must tell you that we had beautiful weather being able to sit outside enjoying our coffee, while Bruce McMillan organises our venture into the unknown looking for the illusive goldmine at Harbour Cone. Four of our members armed with a map and a GPS stomped through swamp, wet grass and very steep terrain while the wise ones (we women) watched the goings on from an old log which was bathed in the sun and especially made for our posteriors. They found a shaft with an opening about a metre square which is believed to be 40ft deep. There used to be a steam-driven five-head stamper battery here and there were several tunnels. They found at least two other exploratory shafts. With the agreement of the landowners it would be great to have access constructed and interpretive signage put up. The goldmine could become one element of an Otago Peninsula Historic Trail!

Any Gold in there?

Back to the AGM: We are very lucky to have Martin Anderson as our new President. Martin has been president of the Central Otago Winegrowers Assoc. and was the director of information services at the University of Otago from 1995 to 2005. Martin and his wife Sue have lived in Lowburn since 1993. They developed the Mount Michael Vineyard at Cromwell and Martin was CEO of Nevis Bluff Wines from 2005 to 2008. Now retired Martin said he was looking forward to continuing the valuable work of the trust and fostering its relationship with the community.

Bruce McMillan will be our Vice-president, Bruce was acknowledged for the time and energy he puts into the Trust. There were no other changes in the committee other than Terry Davis as Field Officer and my position as Office Administrator.

Field Weekend: Yes it won’t be long before we have another weekend of good company, good food and where we can broaden our horizons, or mine anyway.

This time we head to Mt Somers 19 & 20^th September. This is a highly interesting geological area.

We will have David Howden as our guide taking us to see and learn about the Silica Sand Mine, Coal Mine, Lime Kilns Quarry and see Agate minerals, jewellery and a lovely garden as mentioned in the last newsletter. We have booked the Staveley Campsite at around $10 per night per person.  The facility has a hall, dining hall, kitchen, dormitories etc. The dorms are comprised of 8 rooms with capacity of 96 bunks. The kitchen has stoves, fridges, basic kitchen utensils etc. You will need pillows, personal crockery and cutlery, and toilet paper We do encourage all who are coming to consider this option but there is also the option of Home-stays and other accommodation but the camping ground has been booked out. There are power points at the Staveley Campsite for those of you with caravans or campervans. Lunches for the Saturday and Sunday will be provided as well as dinner on the Saturday night.  More information will be sent when you contact us with your intentions of attending.

We have booked the campsite for Friday and Saturday as most of us have a long way to go (but worth it I am sure). You will need to bring your own food for breakfasts and for your dinner on the Friday evening.

Books: I finished reading “The Far Beyond” by Warwick Thompson and it is one of the best books I have read in a very long time, so very informative about New Zealand’s early gold history of Otago as it is based on actual history, places and real characters. It even touches on a Maori war account. This can be purchased at Paper Plus stores in Alexandra, Cromwell, Wanaka & Queenstown.

We still have the booklet “Gold Trails of Otago” by John Hall-Jones for the cost of $12.95 (a bargain) of which the proceeds are going to the Trust. With Xmas not far away this would be a good idea to give to young and old as it is very informative and well illustrated with some amazing photos.

CAVALCADE 2010

Wanaka have not supplied us with a name as yet as they have put it out to the public as a competition.

Nothing much happens to report at this time of the year but things are ticking away in the background with budgets and details being worked on etc.

Terry has been chasing potential Sponsors with some degree of success but has had other issues loaded on his plate these last couple of months.

There is a lot of interest in this next Cavalcade to Wanaka with the trail Bosses working on some very exciting trails.  So good to see the days lengthening again – inspires a person to get out there walking and riding in some parts of the country dry enough to do so.

As information develops it will be posted on the website. www.cavalcade.co.nz

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS:

We may have some subscription renewals out-standing; you can pay these via our website www.goldfieldstrust.org.nz or send your payment to our office. These funds are very important to us to enable the good work of the Trust to continue.

Olive Webb has written this poem for you all. If you would like more information about the sale of her horse and cart you can contact her by e-mail owebb@iahs.co

Cavalcade Time

I’ve thirteen badges on my hat

I’m proud of everyone

They tell that I have done it all

In snow and sleet and sun

I started out at Nokomai

I left in sun and snow

I’ve arrived all over Central

I’ve been there at all those shows.

There’s something special on the trail

A ‘Nowhere-else’ pervades

A shot of Country deep in veins

A shot that never fades.

The cavalcade, the cavalcade

The stirring starts with Spring

Where to, when and how we ask

What will the next thrills bring

But time is done and done is time

The years keep marching on

It’s time to call a ‘whoa’ and ‘halt’

Before all youth is gone.

So I have for sale an old brown horse

And carts and harness too

Five thousand dollars for the lot.

Well done Olive, I hope you get a response.

Hope you are all getting as excited as I am with spring just around the corner, my favourite season.

Regards

Kay Boulton

Individual adult membership $40, family membership (all living under the same roof) $65.

Register your membership here on-line. (incures a 3% transaction fee)

Or feel free to contact us about it via the details below and we’ll post you out a registration pack.

You can also direct debit the amount to our account via internet banking. Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust account number is 010695-0034150-00. You would also need to email us with your contact details.

Physical address: The Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust
Cnr of Erris and Donegal Streets, Cromwell, Central Otago

PO Box 91 Cromwell 9342

Phone: (03) 445-0111

Email, please click here.

 Kay comes from a back gound of tourism and legal administration.

Kay can be contacted at the usual office number and email.

03 4450111

Goldfieldsinc@xtra.co.nz

The sections of the road crossing over Rock & Pillar Range and South Rough Ridge are normally closed in winter – first Tuesday in June to 30 September.
The Dunstan Goldrush began in 1862 when two Americans, Hartley and Reilly, discovered a rich gold claim on the banks of the Molyneux (Clutha) River, just up-river from the present township of Clyde.
Miners set out inland from Dunedin, Gabriel’s Gully and other parts of Otago intent on finding their share of gold in the new field. The Dunstan Road was the preferred route for those in a hurry. It followed an almost direct line from Dunedin to the Dunstan – a distance of 175km, crossing four major mountain ranges – Lammermoor, Rock and Pillar, Rough Ridge and Raggedy Ranges.
A small settlement sprang up at Outram where travellers were ferried across the Taieri River. Later, a bridge and toll house were built but all were swept away in the flood of 1863, and the present town of Outram was built on higher ground.
From Outram, the original Dunstan Road spread out as each traveller chose his own way up the leading spurs, the trail narrowing again where it was confined to cuttings. Little remains of the accommodation houses, stables and grog shops that once lined the route – there were about ten licensed premises recorded and probably as many unlicensed ones along the way. Only the remains of the Lee Stream Hotel and Oasis Hotel at Deep Creek still exist.
At Lee Stream, the old hotel is now in private ownership. The remains of the Oasis Hotel is near Rocklands Station right next to where the trail becomes a gravel road climbing over the Lammermoors. Near what was the Great Moss Swamp and is now the Loganburn Reservoir is Howell’s Hut, where there was once a sly grog shop. At McPhee’s Rock there was a halfway house run by Mother McPhee.

It took horse-drawn drays two or three weeks to complete the round trip from Dunedin to Dunstan and back, carrying supplies of food, timber and other provisions. Bullock wagons could take even longer. Wagoners often made more money than the miners they were supplying.
The first Cobb & Co. coach left the Provincial Hotel in Dunedin’s Stafford Street, for the Dunstan, in November 1862 – a journey of three days each way. The time was soon reduced to one day’s travelling (from 4 am until midnight) by the establishment of stables and relays of horses. As high winds often threatened to capsize the vehicles, the tops of the coaches were removed and passengers were quite pleased to get out and walk for warmth as well as to make it easier for the horses.

There was usually an overnight stop at Styx. The “jail” was in fact a lock-up where the gold bullion was protected. The chains which were used to padlock the gold chest in safety are still in place.
Just beyond Styx, the trail headed across country to the old Blackball Hotel. This part of the trail is on private land, but trail users can go north to the Paerau Junction and then turn west again to Linnburn Station. From Linnburn, the main trail leads over Rough Ridge to the Poolburn Reservoir and then down to Moa Creek where there is an old pub on the corner. The trail is on metalled roads from here on across the Raggedy Range and the Manuherikia River and via the sealed back road to Dunstan (Clyde).
The route was abandoned for coaches in 1864 when they changed to the more sheltered way through the Pigroot, but wagons continued to travel over the Dunstan Road for many more years. It is now gaining in popularity with mountain bikers and 4WD vehicle owners.

Please note: The Dunstan Trail is closed each year from the first Tuesday in June until the end of September.