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Historic place

Kawarau Falls

The lake's outlet, dammed by a gold company in 1926; the dam found almost no gold and left the district a bridge.

Photograph across still water to a long low bridge on concrete piers, its deck lined with people, with a bare scree hillside on the right, the snow-streaked Remarkables behind and a moored launch in the foreground — The grand opening of the Kawarau Falls dam bridge, August 1926, with the gates lowered and the lake still. Lakes District Museum EL2852, via Queenstown Courier No. 115, p. 14.

Stories

Story · Growth & Community
The Kawarau Falls dam
A gold company dammed the outlet of the lake in 1926, found almost no gold, and left the district a bridge.

In the Courier index

Magazine articles in Issue 115, 2026

Kawarau Falls Dam, p. 4 History for the centenary 2026, compiled by Marion Borrell

Magazine articles in Issue 104, 2020

Kawarau Suspension Bridge, p. 32 Historical panel made by QDHS for Queenstown Trails Trust 2020

Magazine articles in Issue 97, Winter 2017

Kawarau Falls Dam & Bridge, p. 23 Article by Ray Clarkson, reprinted from Issue 56, 1996

Magazine articles in Issue 92, Summer 2014

Kawarau Falls Station, p. 22 By George Singleton, calendar talk

Magazine articles in Issue 76, 2006

Kawarau Falls Station, p. 7 The Brunswick Flour Mill - Addendum as related by Mrs Jessie Jardine

Magazine articles in Issue 61, 1998

Kawarau Falls, p. 17 The Kawarau Falls Bridge. By Raymond R Timmins

Magazine articles in Issue 56, 1996

Kawarau Falls, p. 2 The Kawarau Falls Bridge by Ray Clarkson
Kawarau River, p. 7 The Kawarau Falls Bridge by Ray Timmins

Magazine articles in Issue 53, 1994

Kawarau Station, p. 15 Homestead – Visited by Society in April 1993

Magazine articles in Issue 46, 1991

Kawarau Falls, p. 9 Damming of the Kawarau: …the only time it was done successfully it was by accident.

Magazine articles in Issue 15, 1975

Kawarau Falls, p. 10 Boyes: Kawarau Falls - An extension of the Boyes history at Kawarau Falls. Courier Issue 12, pge 8.
Kawarau River, p. 8 Shooting the rapids: Article from the Southland Times, February 1922, tells of experiences at Kawarau Falls.

Magazine articles in Issue 12, 1974

Kawarau Falls, p. 8 Kawarau Falls Homestead: Owned by the Boyes Bros. History of the family by Peter Chandler

Magazine articles in Issue 9, 1972

Kawarau Gorge, p. 15 Roaring Meg and Gentle Annie: research into the naming of the Roaring Meg and Gentle Annie streams :

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