Cromwell on the Clutha River in Otago. There was a gold rush here in 1862. The old Globe Hotel and blacksmiths in the historic precinct.
Cromwell and Clunes.
The central region of Otago New Zealand is an area of high mountains, river valleys and remoteness. The distance from the coast and the capital of Otago Dunedin was a long slow and difficult journey. Despite this gold was discovered in 1862 which set off a gold rush to Central Otago and emerging settlements like Cromwell, Clyde, Bannockburn, Bendigo etc. Cromwell rush began in 1862 and gold mining continued until the 1930s but the main period of gold mining stopped in the 1890s when mining by large companies ceased. The township was surveyed in 1863 at the junction of the Clutha and Kawarau rivers where are large plain offered fertile flat land for the town. The capital of Otago Dunedin was still a long way away until the railway was gradually pushed up river valleys through the mountains to reach Cromwell in 1921. The railway closed in 1976. About that time the district turned to fruit tree growing as the cold dry winters and hot dry summers of Cromwell were ideal for stone fruits especially apples, pears and peaches. The historic heart and business district of Cromwell remained a memorial to its busy past until the 1990s. Some years before a decision was made to dam the Clutha River and create Lake Dunstan which would submerge most of the old town centre. Sixty homes and 50 commercial businesses were affected. Most were moved higher up from the river but many were replaced with a new town centre. The 27 kilometre long lake started to fill from 1992. Local actions resulted in a number of the historic buildings being moved to a new street with a couple being partially covered by the new riverbank such as the old Athenaeum and the former stone school. Today Cromwell has a population of around 6,000 people.
Cromwell on the Clutha River in Otago. There was a gold rush here in 1862. The old Globe Hotel and blacksmiths in the historic precinct.
Cromwell and Clunes.
The central region of Otago New Zealand is an area of high mountains, river valleys and remoteness. The distance from the coast and the capital of Otago Dunedin was a long slow and difficult journey. Despite this gold was discovered in 1862 which set off a gold rush to Central Otago and emerging settlements like Cromwell, Clyde, Bannockburn, Bendigo etc. Cromwell rush began in 1862 and gold mining continued until the 1930s but the main period of gold mining stopped in the 1890s when mining by large companies ceased. The township was surveyed in 1863 at the junction of the Clutha and Kawarau rivers where are large plain offered fertile flat land for the town. The capital of Otago Dunedin was still a long way away until the railway was gradually pushed up river valleys through the mountains to reach Cromwell in 1921. The railway closed in 1976. About that time the district turned to fruit tree growing as the cold dry winters and hot dry summers of Cromwell were ideal for stone fruits especially apples, pears and peaches. The historic heart and business district of Cromwell remained a memorial to its busy past until the 1990s. Some years before a decision was made to dam the Clutha River and create Lake Dunstan which would submerge most of the old town centre. Sixty homes and 50 commercial businesses were affected. Most were moved higher up from the river but many were replaced with a new town centre. The 27 kilometre long lake started to fill from 1992. Local actions resulted in a number of the historic buildings being moved to a new street with a couple being partially covered by the new riverbank such as the old Athenaeum and the former stone school. Today Cromwell has a population of around 6,000 people.