Past events

Courier 113 was distributed.

Nick Fifield introduced ‘Arrowtown Audio Tours’ - the historical app which he has created covering Buckingham Street and the three churches.

Marion Borrell presented ‘Frankton Over the Years’ covering changes to the 1960s.

A panel honouring the local men who died. This was researched by Denise Heckler for the Historical Society and funded by the Arrowtown RSA.

Afterwards at St John’s Church, Denise talked about the impact of WW1 on the local community.

31 of us enjoyed a visit to Ophir on Sunday the 2nd of March. We visited David and Wendy’s house, the jail and hall, Pitches Store, had a guided tour of the Post Office and finished at the Dan O’Connell bridge.

Kerry Dunlop was made Chairperson and Jenny Howitt and Carolyn Beggs joined the committee.

Marion Borrell stays as Immediate Past Chairperson after 12 and a half years at the helm.

Ed Elliott described restoring the Julien Bourdeau information on the Skippers Road which he completed with his son.

The Lakes District Museum’s archivist talked about methods of digitising the museum’s collections.

There was also 1950s Baking Challenge with some interesting and tasty results.

Sunday 13 October. 40 members attended. It was a successful afternoon with members having the opportunity to view three interesting sites.

Presented by Amanda Viana from the Education Unit at the Lakes District Museum we learned about the geography that first attracted tourists to our ‘Switzerland of the South’, and the forces that have propelled tourism from 1870s until now.

St Margaret’s Presbyterian Hall, Frankton, 2pm.

20 members had searched their bookshelves and brought along items ranging from the great Family Bibles and other religious books to classics, documents about the goldfields, children’s books like Beatrix Potters, ‘naughty’ pop-up books from the 1920s, and a precious collection of a father’s World War 2 diaries, photos and other records which we hope will be published some day.

This event concluded our Activities Programme for Spring 2023 to Autumn 2024.

About 60 people attended to encounter:

Rev Donald Ross, Scottish first Presbyterian minister,

Peter Tomanovich, Croatian, miner of Gibbston,

Rosie Grant, farmer of Glenorchy,

Margaret Templeton, campaigner of Queenstown.

24 people met at Garston where local expert (and our member) Richard Soper talked about the history from colonial times and the backgrounds of key people, and led us around the older areas and the cemetery. Then on to Athol to the site of the railway station with historical panel, the cemetery and the former church.

35 people attended and many rabbit stories were told.

The Arrow Doctor’s Residence and the Arrow Kilwinning Lodge.

About 35 people attended and appreciated the restorations and history.

About 40 people and a varied collection of old instruments attended this tuneful afternoon.

• On Rees’s Sheep-Run with Marion Borrell

• Gold-rush Music with Colin Macnicol

• From Tin Whistles to Brass Bands with Peter Doyle

• Music Builds the Community with Pauline Lawrence

Pianist: Cheryl Collie Violinist: Natasha Matla

Old instruments and information were provided by members and the Museum.

Queenstown Courier 109 was distributed, and 35 members toured the refurbished displays and archives facilities. Our thanks to the Museum staff.

Four people from the district’s past appeared to tell their stories:

Alfred Duncan (Chris MacKenzie),

Helen Southberg (Cheryl Collie),

Elizabeth Grant Hansen (Kirsty Sharpe)

and Robert Lee (Rob Lee).

80 members and friends attended.

21 members and friends attended for the fascinating tour.

About 40 people attended. Tony Hanning spoke about his new book The Mary Cotter Tree which arose from his family history, about the planting of the avenue in Arrowtown in 1867.

Ben Teele, archaeologist, demonstrated how new technology - drones, LiDAR and digital 3-D modelling - can assist in the recording and preserving historical material.

60 people came including some from the Central Otago Heritage Trust. Our experts opened our eyes to the histories of these former goldfields, so different from the Whakatipu ones.

Ross Naylor revealed how large Matakanui once was; Dr Peter Petchey and Professor Hallie Buckley explained their bio-archaeological findings from the unmarked graves at the Drybread Cemetery; Bob L. de Berry taught us in the historic school at Cambrian.

55 people, 22 framed paintings and drawings, and about 12 prints gathered for a fascinating exhibition combining local history and artists.

The oldest subjects were hundreds of years ago.

The oldest artworks dated from the 1880s.

About 50 members attended and appreciated David Clarke’s talk as well as honouring him and giving him an old-fashioned Testimonial.

Over 60 members attended to encounter six people from the district’s past: Captain George Budd (Jim Sullivan), Bendix Hallenstein (Simon Stamers-Smith), John and Peter Butel (Guillaume Charton), Cherry Ryan (Amanda Viana) and Mary Boyd (Jo Boyd).

About 50 people and numerous fascinating old objects assembled.

First we were shown the difference restoration had made to some of the photos in the Courier and the details revealed.

Several people talked about their old objects, then we browsed around the tables with much conversation.

About 50 people met at the Presbyterian Church Hall for a talk about the formation of Christian congregations in Arrowtown. This was followed by guided visits to the churches to learn about the architecture and the stained-glass windows in St Paul’s.

POSTPONED DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS

Instead, eleven members emailed photos of their old objects with explanations and/or questions.

About 70 people attended at St Margaret’s Church Hall.

2pm at Arrowtown Presbyterian Church. Over 100 people attended.

The six ‘people’ who were postponed in 2020 by the COVID lockdown appeared or were represented:

Donald Hay, Captain William Hayes, Eliza and William Jenkins, Joan Cooke and Henry Barker.

With local guides. From noon on the lawn behind McNulty House in Inniscort St. See photo. 60 people attended.

St Margaret’s Church Hall, Frankton

50 people attended. The DVD Journey to Lan Yuan made by Toitu Otago Settlers Museum was greatly appreciated and can be found as a series of videos on YouTube.

40 members met at the Kingston Community Centre for a picnic, then heard history and memories from local people, followed by an inspection of the Kingston Flyer restoration which is being restored.

St Margaret’s Church Hall, Frankton

45 people gathered. Members Denise Heckler (nee Hunter), Owen Todd and Danny Knudson spoke and showed photos of the cribs their families had owned in Arrowtown and Queenstown.

2pm at St Margaret’s Church Hall, Ross St, Frankton. Entry $5.

CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

Courier 103 was published on time and was hand-delivered or posted to members.

‘Members’ Memories of Cribbie Days’ took place in September.

2pm at St John’s Presbyterian Church Hall, Arrowtown.

POSTPONED DUE TO COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

Optional picnic from 11.30 at Cardrona Hall; talk, and trip to historical areas around the district. About 50 people attended on a still, hot day.

Thanks to Tim Scurr for his very knowledgeable talk and tour on the other side of the river.

St Margaret’s Church Hall, Frankton.

Thurlby Domain, Speargrass Flat, with a short trip in Bryant’s bus to a private vehicle collection.

12 vintage cars (dating from 1912), three trucks and the bus gathered on the grass, admired by about 60 people of all ages.

The picnic was held in the historic stables as the rain arrived.

Lakes District Museum

Dr Catherine Bishop discussed her book on colonial businesswomen, which includes some local women.

About 50 people attended and were enthralled.

Arranged in collaboration with the Museum.

St John’s Presbyterian Church Hall, Arrowtown.

About 40 people and numerous games and pastimes assembled for a convivial afternoon including some talks, a singalong of old favourites, and a traditional afternoon tea.

About 40 people attended, viewing the short film by Pat Paulin about the history and process of silting at Head of the Lake, and listening to George Singleton about his book about the Kawarau River.

Four monologues by early residents from gold-rush times onwards, and a musical performance by goldfields entertainers of 1863 Charles Thatcher and Madame Annie Vitelli.

Over 120 people attended.

Concert

Narrator: Sue Harcombe

Charles Thatcher: Blaise Barham

Annie Vitelli: Jane Robertson

Pianist: Cheryl Collie

Over 30 members visited on a perfect, still day.

We had several talks about past times there, and Kinloch Lodge provided a superb lunch.

Stories of Wakatipu is a beautifully illustrated special issue, an anthology of extracts drawn from past magazines, selected to cover eight major themes of local history.

It was created by Danny Knudson, who was awarded Honorary Membership of the Society.

16 members enjoyed a picnic by the lake, a very informative talk by Gordon Stewart and a tour of Stewart Town guided by Bruce McMillan, showing the newly-restored house and large dam.

Produced by the Glenorchy Museum & History Group.

84 people attended. The fundraising event produced a good sum for the Glenorchy Group.

St John’s Presbyterian Church Hall, Arrowtown

Five speakers recounted the social, political, religious and personal factors which motivated their ancestors to leave their home countries to emigrate to New Zealand.

They came from Scotland, Ireland, England, Germany and Norway.

Their stories were both enlightening and moving. About 80 people attended.

Public invited, admission $5. With narration by Dr Christopher Pugsley. 60 people attended. Courier 99 was distributed.

Public invited, admission $5. 150 people were enthralled by Albert and Julia Eichardt, Frank McBride, June Hansen Thompson, Bessie Kinross and David Cockburn.

Over 60 people gathered for fascinating visit with talks and tours by Ray O’Callaghan and Tim Scurr.

A talk by Colin Cassels and distribution of Courier Issue 98.

Talks and explanations by David Clarke of the Wakatipu Heritage Trust and Roy Bagley the contractor.

60 people including many members of the public attended this showing of film footage from 1910 to 1994 with many local items.

At St Margaret’s Church, Frankton, 45 members relished the tales of childhoods at the Head of the Lake and around Arrowtown.

130 people attended this public event at the Presbyterian Hall in Arrowtown following the reopening of the Arrowtown Gaol after its restoration by the Wakatipu Heritage Trust. The historical figures were: Sergeant-Major Hugh Bracken, Mary Ann Anderson, Warden and Magistrate Richmond Beetham, solicitor George Burnett Barton, Hannah Moriah Ferguson and Catherine Firth.

20 people enjoyed inspecting the eclectic articles, many collected locally.

The hall (1911) has been saved from demolition and seismically strengthened. The adjacent former Presbyterian Church (1909) also belongs to the community. Local experts provided information about the two buildings and others nearby. 25 people visited these interesting community buildings.

St Margaret’s Church Hall, Frankton. Seven varied and intriguing objects and 50 members attended.

50 members enjoyed our very informative tours of the cemetery with Vince Jones and the Paulin cottage with Chris Grant, and Pat Paulin’s account of his family and memories of growing up in Glenorchy.

40 people and 29 old-fashioned gadgets attended. We puzzled and guessed before finding out the uses of most gadgets.

At the Arrowtown Presbyterian Hall, as part of the Arrowtown Autumn Festival: 6 historical figures from around the district were presented.

The publication of this authoritative history of the Upper Shotover is jointly funded by Danny, the Historical Society and the Museum, and brings to the public Danny’s many years of research and writing.

Six historical figures from around the district told their stories to an appreciative audience of over 100 people at this public meeting. The restored headstone of Charles Eckhardt was installed at the cemetery.

Guest speaker, local archaeologist Ben Teele about the recent dig beside Eichardt’s Hotel, revealing much about the history of the hotel site and conditions in the early days.

A dramatic presentation of her life, written by Danny Knudson and presented by senior drama students from Wakatipu High School directed by Victoria Boult. Over 50 people attended this moving event.

Over 50 people attended the talks given by people associated with the photos. The talks are being published in the next two Courier magazines.

Trip on the TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak Station, with function, and launch of Heritage Alive by Danny Knudson - the history of the Society.

At the Arrowtown Presbyterian Hall, as part of the Arrowtown Autumn Festival: 6 historical figures from around the district were presented.

Visit to the Lakes District Museum with guided tour by the Director, David Clarke, and to Arrow Kilwinning Lodge with talk by Taylor Reed.

By the Mayor, Vanessa van Uden, with sponsors, invited guests and members.

Guest speaker, Dame Elizabeth Hanan, talked about Lorenzo Resta, who built her house in McDonnell Road, Arrowtown.

The talks have been published in the next two Courier magazines.

At the Arrowtown Presbyterian Hall, as part of the Arrowtown Autumn Festival.

Six historical figures from around the district were presented: William Butler, James Healey, Ah Sip, Mother Mary McKillop (St Mary of the Cross), Ivy Ritchie, and Isabella Brodie Stevenson.

40 people enjoyed a perfect autumn afternoon, hearing the history of the Gardens peninsula, the bowls pavilion, the trees and the memorials.

37 people in 12 cars visited Kawarau Station where owner, Richard Anderson, told the history of the run, the Category I shearing shed, and the homestead buildings. Over Duffers Saddle to Nevis Crossing with Bruce McMillan giving commentary. Back to Watts Rock on the ridge. Some drove down the Young Australian waterwheel and on to Carricktown.

About 40 people attended, appreciating the hospitality of Sheena Haywood and Stephen Brent at their relocated and restored home. Neville Bryant kindly brought the former Routeburn Valley bus and took members to the Lower Shotover Bridge. Glenys Reynolds showed us through the former Ferry Hotel which is now a b-and-b.

About 40 people attended. Dr Coleman’s detailed talk gave a larger context for immigrant diaries.

40 people thoroughly enjoyed being shown over the Olivers complex by owner David Ritchie, Dunstan House by owners John and Maree Davidson, and Naylors’ Cottage by Chris Naylor.

About 50 people attended, hearing talks on each month’s pictures from 12 different speakers. The talks have been published in the next two Courier magazines.

Launch of the Winter Courier, featuring medical services in the Wakatipu, and an introduction to the DVD, The Glenorchy Road: a dream come true produced by the Glenorchy Heritage Museum Group.

75 people came to the cemetery on the Friday, and 105 to the Presbyterian church hall on a colder Sunday.

Letitia Tobin, Helen Mackie, John Augustus Miller, George Henry Pittaway, Rose Douglas.

50-60 members attended.

Arranmore Farm on Grants Rd, Frankton, was the subject of two articles in last summer’s Courier 86. Four families of past owners provided talks which brought the farm to life.

At the newly restored Boatshed, Slipway and Ticket Office at the Frankton marina members of the Maritime Trust explained the history of these notable buildings and the saga of their rescue and preservation for a new lease on life.

50 people attended on a perfect summer day in Jack Reid’s garden. Jack spoke of his family who arrived in the 1860s and memories of his long life in Arrowtown. Afterwards we looked through his cottage.

About 60 people attended. Five People from Our Past were presented often by descendants. The period covered extended from 1860 to the 1960s: James Flint, Henrietta White-Grant, Elizabeth Meldrum-Grant-Hansen, Mary (May) Drysdale-Boyd and Kenneth Archibald Chisholm. The AGM followed with launch of the next Courier.

Friday and Monday at 10am and 2pm: Guided Historical Walks. About 40 people came on the walks with guides, Rupert, Rita and Russell.

Saturday: Market Day - A busy market followed by the re-enactment of the goldrush in the Arrow River.

Sunday: Town Meets Country Day at Millbrook. Another stall and many interesting conversations.

St John’s Presbyterian Hall, Arrowtown. 50 members attended and heard talks on the era of hand-tinted postcards and the 14 photos.

Boat trip from Alexandra down the Roxburgh Gorge to explore the historic goldmining area at Doctors Point.

Speaker: Greg Lind from DOC re Visit to NZ’s Sub-Antarctic Islands