Significant Events In Local History
Te Puoho, a Taranaki chief, in 1836 led a war party across Haast Pass, raided the Upper Clutha area then continued on to Southland.
“Memory” maps of Lakes Wānaka and Hāwea drawn by Rakiraki near Kaka Point and Huruhuru at Te Puna-a-maru on the Waitaki River
Nathaniel Chalmers, first documented European to visit the Upper Clutha, is guided inland and through the region by mana whenua Chief Reiko and Kaikoura.
J.T. Thomson surveying the Upper Clutha from Grandview Range named Mt Aspiring, Mt Pisa, Black Peak, the Cardrona River and Luggate Creek.
Government opened up the Upper Clutha to large pastoral run leases to be applied for – fee £20.
John McLean first runholder leased Morven Hills (Sep 1858). His brothers and sister leased adjoining runs. (Deferred Payment Licences). They had 352,000 acres.
First detailed survey of the Upper Clutha area by Edward Jollie and William Young, mainly to define Otago/Canterbury boundary.
Otago Provincial Gazette reports the McLean brothers had 12,000 sheep depasturing and a year later (1860) had 18,000
Run 334 (Wanaka South) taken up by John Roy, Run 333 (Wanaka West) taken up by J.Stuart & J.Kinross.
Henry Norman, manager of Roys Station, and his wife Mary Ann Norman were probably the first European family to settle in the Upper Clutha. Built a small dwelling on Roys Station not far from where Wanaka Station homesteads were later built.
Robert Wilkin buys Runs 239 (Mt Burke to Hawea River), 240 (Albert Town to Lake Wanaka) & 245 (Mt Pisa) from previous landholders, and obtains leases in his own name and a relative, Archibald Thomson.
H.S.Thomson managing Kinross & Stuart’s run. John Heuchan, from Dumfries, is the first manager for Wilkin and Thomson.
He obtained a contract to fell timber on West Wanaka Station
Shepherd Henry Norman and his wife Mary Ann (nee Edwards) increased their family with a second son, Robert Henry, born 11 May 1861 at Roys Bay, who became the first child of the early settlers to be born in the district. Robert’s elder brother Henry Robert Norman (later known as Richard Robert Norman) was born 11 January 1859 when the Normans were living in Wellington.
J. McKerrow, Bryce and Goldie began their survey of the Upper Clutha area, producing first map in 1862.
Wanaka Station woolshed completed at Albert Town; payable gold discovered in the Lindis River.
Include Caleb Pipson, James Isbell, ‘Red Bill’, J D Ross, A I Farquhar, Josiah A Wryatt and James Johnson
He used a whale boat to ferry travellers across the Clutha at Albert Town (on the north bank) in the early months of 1862.
Born 7 June 1862, Jane McCallum was the first daughter of early settlers born in the Upper Clutha region.
Roy suffers financial difficulties and his father-in-law, Richard Barton, is granted a bill of sale (security) in return for paying creditors. In 1863, Roy sells the Station to Wilkin and Thomson. Wilkin and Thomson also purchase Run 340 (Branch Creek Station).
Logs rafted down Clutha River to Cromwell
Gold discovered by Fox at Cardrona and the Gold Rush started on 9 November
Major Claims:
Gold Mine the ” Pirate”
Gold Mine the “Homeward Bound”
Gold Mine the “Try Again”
Gold Mine the “Georgie Gang”
Gold Mine the “Fenian”
Gold Mine the “Enterprize”
Gold Mine the “Empire”, – flooded in 1878
Gold Mine the “Alanta”, Branch Creek
Gold Mine the “Banner of War”
Gold Mine the “Anglo Saxons”, Branch Creek
Gold Mine the “Band of Hope” – flooded in 1878
Charles Cameron travels over the Haast Pass from the Makarora Valley, sighting the Tasman Sea. Sir Julius Haast follows shortly after.
Sir Julius Haast, a German geologist, and his party left Makarora on 22 January and found the way over the Haast Pass to the West Coast.
It caused much damage in the gold workings and settlements. Casualty numbers not known.
Otago Provincial Geologist, he commenced in January to try to find a way to the West Coast via the Matukituki Valley. The party crossed Hectors Col and down the Waipara Valley. They sighted the Tasman Sea but were forced back due to their supplies situation.
Albert Pinn built a cottage on Pigeon Island (Mou Waho) and grazed 200 sheep.
Having sold his Albert Town ferry in December 1862, George Hassing and his partner Wm. Ellacott commenced their new businesses in March 1863 at Sandypoint (about 8km in a straightline down the Clutha River from the Red Bridge location).
In April he surveyed areas for proposed townships of Wakefield (near Bendigo), Pembroke ( to be re-named Wanaka), Newcastle (Albert Town) and Gladstone (just east of the current Lake Hāwea township).
John Roy sells Run 334 to Robert Wilkin on a “time payment” schedule.
The 1864 Return shows they stocked 46,317 sheep on Runs 239, 240, 245, 334 & 340 ranging from Motatapu & Cardrona through the Clutha to Cromwell.
About this date Thomas Anderson built the Way-Side Inn at Kidd’s Gully.
Henry Norman, who had purchased an accommodation house, store and ferry business where Albert Town was originally settled (on the northern side of the Clutha River), moved his family and businesses onto sections he had purchased across the river (the southern side) where Albert Town now exists.
Anna Jane Hendry, who married Caleb Pipson, was the first non-Maori woman to live at Makarora. Caleb Pipson was known as ‘Strathallan Jack’.
Stevenson took over as manager when Candy moved to North Canterbury. Left in 1871. Stevenson’s Island and Stevenson’s Arm in Lake Wānaka named after him.
H.S.Campbell bought the Wanaka Station Runs (239, 240 & 334). Howell & Loughman Bros bought Runs 245 & 340.
Four fallow deer released by John McLean on Morven Hills Station. Later, in 1871, Otago Acclimatisation Society released seven red deer yearlings near Lake Hāwea.
On 18 April the World’s first recorded sheep dog trials were held at Dogmatch Flat (near foot of Hillend) on Henry Campbell’s Wanaka Station. John Craig and dog ‘Sweep’ won £5 first prize.
Cardrona developed a bakery, general store and hotels in response to the increasing population of gold miners.
Bringing together two influential families, the marriage of Theodore and Celia was significant to the early development of Pembroke as they both contributed much in terms of business (tourism, timber milling) and social development of the community (arranging the first sporting meets, hosting public meetings in their hotel, etc).
Thomas Anderson built and opened The Queensberry Inn.
Mary Ann Halliday was the first child of the early settlers born at Cardrona.
Horse racing is held annually at a racecourse in Albert Town; Rabbits and quail found near Lake Wānaka.
Theodore Russell & Charles Hedditch built and operated the first Wanaka Hotel, and advertised for tourists.
“Eureka” was a 40 ton sailing ship built on Pigeon Island (Mou Waho).
Cutter yachts “Water Lily” and “The Lady of the Lake” offered excursions on Lake Wānaka.
First school in the district opened at Albert Town in 1868/9. G.S. Pope teacher. Christine Munro was the last teacher at Albert Town when the school closed in 1876. It reopened again in 1878.
Store and hotel (named Albion Hotel & Store) was opened at Luggate by Harry Maidman and his wife Fanny Cole. Harry later moved to farm at Mt Barker.
Opened on 7 February, initially in a local residence before a classroom was built. Albert Town School’s original teacher, G. S. Pope, relocated to become the first teacher at Cardrona School. In 1877 George Hassing is the school’s teacher. Closed in 1948.
Early in the 1870s, John McLean built the Morven Hills Station Woolshed which still stands today.
2460 acres of Run 236 was subdivided into 49 sections of about 50 acres each for farming and settlement.
David Scurr arrived in Cardrona; the Drake brothers, Arthur & Fordham, settled on Hāwea Flat. The brothers were sons of Rev. Benjamin Drake, Presbyterian Minister in Upper Clutha from 1844-90.
Theodore Russell appointed postmaster and operated from the Wanaka Hotel store. His widow Celia became postmistress after his death in 1877.
The Urquhart family, well known residents of Hāwea Flat, originally settled near the Dingle Creek outlet into Lake Hāwea.
John McLean sold Morven Hills Station when his 14 year lease term expired.
Campbell added Runs 337 (Minaret), 340B (Branch Creek), and Runs 338 & 430B (to the north between Lakes Wanaka & Hawea) to Wanaka Station.
Closed at end of 1925.
Theodore Russell and Joseph Ewing set up Matukituki sawmills at Mill Creek, in the Matukituki Valley
William Monteith arrived in Pembroke and later set up a store at Albert Town and on Criffel Goldfield.
Campbell and McLean started operating the top punt at Albert Town. Punt was positioned on the west side of the current Albert Town Bridge. It ceased operations the day the bridge opened in 1930.
Pembroke founding father, Theodore Russell, died aged 32 years.
Lake County Council approves funding [£30] for the Pembroke Library and the same amount was promised to the newly formed Cardrona Library committee.
Runs 458 and 468 at the head of the Matukituki Valley and named Glenfinnan Station by the Camerons. Abandoned to the rabbits about 1885.
The ‘Great Flood’ of lakes & rivers in Upper Clutha – Lake Wānaka’s level rose to 281.8m [compared with the flood of 1999 when the lake reached 281.3m asl]. Flooded almost every settlement, especially Albert Town [Newcastle] where buildings [Norman’s stable and store], stock and equipment were lost to flood waters. Very heavy snowfalls that year.
Robert McDougall senior, who had previously opened a store in Cardrona, built a new store in Pembroke opposite the Wanaka Hotel.
Robert McDougall sets up a tree nursery near the mouth of the Cardrona River; managed by Robert Studholme.
Many newspapers reported on the rabbit infestation which was a major problem for farmers.
Bought land and built a homestead in the east branch of the Matukituki Valley. The Run was named Mt Aspiring Station later on.
School built on Tenby Street opened with 22 pupils on 13 January. First teacher Reverand Charles Connor. Renamed Wanaka District High School in 1940 when Pembroke was renamed Wanaka. New classrooms were added in 1950.
Newly erected punt opened for operations across the Clutha River near Luggate. 1882 Vincent County approved a transfer of operations to a new site (where Red Bridge is now). 1887 Vincent County took over control of the punt.
Gold discovered at Long Valley, Lake Hāwea. Richard Cayford opened the Panama Hotel and Store at Long Valley.
Luggate Mill was opened by partnership of Thos Anderson and Peter McIntosh.
Joel Cayford starts his blacksmith business in Ardmore Street.
PS “Theodore” was built by Asher Smith, but co-owned by Asher and Charles Hedditch. “Theodore” was launched in 1881 on Lake Wānaka but did not enter commercial activities until 1883.
Flourmill opened at Luggate owned by Thomas Anderson, farmer of Mt Barker and Peter McIntosh, carrier.
Primary school opened March 1882. Mungo Allison first teacher.
Wilson, Halliday & Beattie discovered gold on the Criffel.
Postal and phone service opened up in Robert McDougall’s store.
Robert McDougall Senior went into partnership with his son Robert Junior, trading as Robert McDougall & Son.
Thomas Trevathan opened the new Albion Hotel at Luggate. Building still exists as Luggate Hotel.
Stoats, weasels and ferrets introduced to the Upper Clutha; 67 weasels were released on The Peninsula (between Lake Wānaka and Stevenson’s Arm); 23 stoats released on the east side of Lake Hāwea; 177 ferrets were also released at the head of Lake Wānaka.
Opened with a roll of 13 pupils. Closed 19 June 1950.
John Kane was farm manager on Grandview 1885-1890; he then leased it and Mt Barker for 10 years with a right of purchase. Grandview has remained in the Kane family since.
Robert & Maggie Moffat built and opened the Wharf Hotel at Water Fall Creek, Makarora.
Opened on 14 September.
Robert McDougall and William Monteith open stores on the Criffel Goldfields.
Opening of Commercial Hotel at Pembroke by William Allan.
Abandons Glenfinnan Station to the rabbits and moves his stock to his new Run.
John Ironside established a partnership with Archie Chalmers but Chalmers died (29 April 1886) before Butchery was opened.
At the corner of Dunmore and Helwick Streets, the first police station, gaol and police residence were built, known as Plods Patch. Gaol still exists.
John Faulks, aged 16, arrived Hāwea Flat in 1886 to work for an uncle (Mclennan)
Built by Celia Russell opposite the Wanaka Hotel and used for community purposes.
Directories record 39 households in Pembroke.
Wanaka Station liquidated – result of overstocking, falling wool prices, rabbits & effect of the Great Flood.
Robert Stewart, Manager announces shearing on 2nd January.
Originally known as the Wanaka Road School, the Queensberry School opened in 1889 with Isabella Hitchcock as its first teacher. In the early 1900s the school closed, re-opened, closed again, finally re-opening in 1923. It had a reputation of being the smallest school building in New Zealand. In 1927 the Education Department part-funded a replacement building (same size) which opened in early 1928 and was finally closed in 1964.
Gold dredges started operating on the Clutha River. At one stage, there were four dredges operating between the Luggate Punt and Albert Town.
Wanaka Station bought by R.M. (Robert) & C.A. (Charles) Turnbull; Motatapu & Glendhu blocks were subdivided off the lease. Mt Burke, Mt Albert & Minaret runs abandoned.
Building started in early 1895 on the foreshore at Pembroke. William Allan (on right) was the owner. Launched in 1900.
Opened June 1895.
Mack Templeton purchased the Pembroke Blacksmith business from Joel Cayford and sold it in August 1899.
Run 334 split up and parts sold to J & R Studholme, R Paterson and Henry Barker.
Sheep Dog Trials recommenced and a Trials committee was formed with its first AGM held in 1899.
He was a nephew of the seller, Hugh MacPherson. Run extended to the top of Mt Aspiring.
Provincial boundary between Canterbury and Otago affecting the Upper Clutha northern region was finally resolved. Makarora now part of Otago.
Used for freight and passenger services on Lake Wānaka.
John Miller and his family move to Mt Barker and farm the area approximated by the current Faulks Farm location. Previously operated packhorses over the Crown Range from Branch Creek, Cardrona Valley.
Also Vicar from 1924-26
James Robertson, teacher. Closed in 1906, but re-opened again 1924; permanently closed 28 February 1946.
Robert Turnbull, the new owner of Wanaka Station, acquired water-right for 6 heads for farming purposes. Seen as a key to realising potential of the land.
On land donated by the Faulks family.
Andrew McDougall built a new McDougall & Sons store next to the old store that was demolished.
This becomes the longest continuous business operated in the Upper Clutha in one family name. The business (Templeton Engineering) was sold in 2021.
School resumes with classes held in the Albert Town Hotel dining room.
Ran ashore and wrecked near Stoney Creek (towards Wanaka Station Park, Wanaka)
First ascent on 23 November by Major Bernard Head, Jack Clarke and Alec Graham
Two years later, Tourist Service Cars extended its operations to include Mt Cook to Queenstown after motor cars were permitted to travel over the Crown Range in 1912.
A newly formed golf club opened a nine hole links course on The Commonage (now known as Pembroke Park).
Also purchased the senior water rights to the Cardrona. Sir Percy was knighted in 1935.
First commercial lorry owned by George Partridge, operated in partnership with S Hunt of Pembroke.
Sir Percy Sargood planted 8,000 fruit trees to create Wanaka Orchards. He also imported the first tractor to the Upper Clutha this year. The Wanaka Homestead was destroyed by fire and a new one designed and built.
In a mortgagee sale, McDougall & Sons Store, Ardmore Street, (owned by Peter McDougall since 1910) was sold to David A Jolly. The Jolly family had the store until 1939 when it was sold to Wanaka Stores Company.
During the four and a half years of WW1, 206 men and a nurse from the Upper Clutha served on active duty. The nurse and 49 men gave their lives.
Replaced the punt service.
Long held as the “Father of Pembroke” due to his service to the community, Robert was chairman of the Pembroke School Committee, Justice of the Peace, and the first elected member of the Lake County Council, amongst other roles.
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The announcement that World War I had ended on November 11,1918 was received by residents on November 12 and celebrated with a gathering at Pembroke.
Opened In September 1919 and closed in 1940 when all pupils were transferred to Tarras Primary School.
John (Jack) Aspinall and Theo Russell purchased the lease 5 May, 1920. Ownership still remains in the Aspinall family to the present date (2022).
John Faulks purchased the land opposite the Wānaka Hotel on which stood the Olympic Hall (also known as Russell’s Hall or Pembroke Hall) from Theodore Russell (Jnr).
An Avro aircraft, piloted by Capt. Buckley, landed at Pembroke Flats. Took three single passengers on separate flights.
The Cenotaph, on Chalmers Street, built in remembrance of those who served and died during World War I, was unveiled by James Horn MP.
Annette Gunn began work in Pembroke as a District Nurse.
John Faulks establishes a trust to manage the land (purchased in 1920) and to build a new Pembroke Hall on the land originally occupied by Wanaka”s first community venue, the Olympic Hall. The Olympic Hall building was relocated to a farm.
The block was subdivided in 1950/60s into sections to expand the area of Albert Town – Alison Avenue, Lagoon Avenue, Gunn Road, Dale Street etc.
Opened before Christmas ‘without fanfare’.
The hall was operating as early as March 4, 1924 but not officially opened until May 12. Its first ball was held on May 24, 1924. The Hall cost £2368; public funds were raised but there was also a mortgage of at least £800. This hall was renamed the Wanaka Hall when the town was renamed Wanaka in 1940.
Public bus service to Wānaka provided by White Star with a 24-seat Leyland bus.
Dunedin-Wanaka Motors Ltd buys the boarding house owned by Mary Allan in Ardmore Street and shortly afterwards it becomes known at the White Star Accommodation House.
Claude Capell opened the Lake House at Lake Hāwea and launched the “Bellbird” on the lake. The Lake House was the forerunner to The Lake Hāwea Hotel.
Bowling greens and a clubhouse were built on land owned by James Faulks and officially opened October 25, 1926. In 1971, the Club became incorporated and the land was transferred to the Club by the estate of Mrs Faulks.
Cabaret, organised by Sybil and John Hunt, began with attendees being ferried between Roys Bay and Ruby Island. Cabaret ran for three years until 1930 when the Hunts went farming.
D A Jolly & Sons built a new store (now the Four Square Store, Ardmore Street) following the fire at the bakery behind the original store.
John Hunt brought two launches to Wanaka to operate a weekly service to Makarora.
JS Hunt & JM Mackay established Lake Wānaka Ferry Service Ltd.
West Wānaka separated from Glendhu Station and was taken over by Noel Scaife and his sons Richard & Gerald, while Willis Scaife operated Glendhu.
Lillian Familton was the first woman to climb Mt Aspiring in December 1929.
It replaced the punts that had operated since about 1862.
Directories record 134 households in Pembroke.
The Wanaka Tree, a willow branch originally used as a fence post “planted” in Lake Wanaka’s lakebed, sprouted in the 1930s. It was still in use as a fence line post in 1939.
Having been relocated from Hindon to Luggate, St David’s Presbyterian Church opens.
Opened 21 November and closed in 1943 when pupils were transferred to Tarras Primary School.
First Upper Clutha Agricultural & Pastoral Show held at Pembroke.
First Air delivery of the regional Otago Daily Times newspaper to Pembroke.
The foundation thoroughbred sire was Paper Money which sired many well-performed gallopers.
Laid by James Arthur Drake
Electric power was sourced by the Otago Central Power Board from the Roaring Meg station. OCPB joined the South Island Power Grid in 1957.
Also Pembroke School was renamed as Wanaka District High School and included two primary classes.
Arthur P Harper laid the foundation stone for the hut built in the Matukituki Valley.
Bridge over the Hawea River giving access to Hawea Flat from the main highway to Makarora etc.
Wanaka becomes part of Lake County Council.
The road from Luggate to Wanaka was re-routed; traffic no longer had to travel via Albert Town.
Lake Hāwea, which flows into the Hāwea River and thereafter into the Clutha River, becomes a storage lake for the Roxburgh Hydro Electric Power Dam. 1992 Clyde Dam built on the Clutha, and Lake Hāwea Dam became the responsibility of Contact Energy which owned and operated the Clyde Dam.
The Wanaka Hall and its land was transferred to a new incorporated society, the Wanaka Hall Committee, which took over the hall’s management, (formerly known as Pembroke Hall).
Now part of Te Wähipounamu South West New Zealand World Heritage Area.
Located on Ardmore Street.
On Ardmore Street. Since replaced by a new Fire Station on Ballantyne Road.
Road (SH 6) from Hokitika to Wānaka, via the Haast Pass, opened by the Prime Minister, Sir Keith Holyoake on 6 November.
Started as a small club of enthusiasts in 1965 and developed into a major skifield up the Matukituki Valley.
Corner of SH 84 and Ballantyne Road, Wānaka. Owned and operated by Department of Conservation.
Hands Off Wanaka Lake (HOWL) protest group formed and legislation passed to protect Lake Wanaka from being dammed for power generation.
Developed by Stuart and Jan Landsborough, off SH 84, near Mt Iron. Now known as Puzzling World and includes optical illusion rooms & a cafe.
Central Otago’s first commercial vineyard, Rippon Vineyard is established off Mt Aspiring Road, overlooking Lake Wanaka.
On Russell Street. Closed in 2011 when the medical practice was relocated to the new Wanaka Lakes Medical Centre,
Gifted by the Sargood Trust.
Founders and owners were John and Mary Lee. Known as Cardrona Alpine Resort, it opened for just three weeks in the winter of 1980.
Became a private medical practice.
Located off SH 6 near Luggate. Owned by Queenstown Lakes District Council.
After extensive negotiations with Lake County Council, management of the hall was transferred from the Wanaka Hall Committee Inc to the Council.
Part of the Snow Farm complex at Waiorau and known as the Southern Hemisphere Proving Grounds. The only southern hemisphere vehicle testing facility.
The original Our Lady of Fatima Roman Catholic church was relocated from Wanaka and returned its original home at Cardrona.
New church situated on Brownston Street.
Situated on Plantation Road, it opened with 212 students. It replaced the Wānaka Area School.
Now known as Warbirds Over Wānaka International Airshow, the two-day event is held biennially at Easter. Attracts crowds of 50,000.
The College was officially opened by Her Royal Highness, the Princess Royal (Princess Anne) on 4 March.
Nordic (cross-country) ski area opened at Waiorau just north of Cardrona. Became known as the Snow Farm later on.
Located on Brownston Street by sole practitioner Dr Susie Meyer. 2012 relocated to Wānaka Lakes Health Centre on Cardrona Valley Road.
National Transport & Toy Museum, built adjacent to the Wanaka Airport, opened on Boxing Day.
The flood reached the second highest recorded level of 281.32 meters above sea level.
Average level of Lake Wānaka is about 277.3 metres above sea level. Many town centre businesses closed for a week or more.
Located on Bullock Creek, off Ardmore Street, in the town’s centre. Comprises a large auditorium with mezzanine; a medium sized meeting room, kitchen and bar; and a small meeting room. It replaced the Wanaka Hall, on Ardmore Street, built in 1924, and known as Pembroke Hall until 1940.
At Waiorau just north of Cardrona.
Built on the edge of Bullock Creek. Contains the UCHRS Records Room facility. Replaced the former library on Ardmore Street.
New school built on Ironside Drive, between Kings Drive and Totara Terrace opened. Close to Mt Aspiring College. Replaced the former Wanaka Primary School in the town centre on Tenby Street.
On Cardrona Valley Road. Contains two medical practices (Aspiring Medical and Wanaka Medical) a wide range of other health and associated services, including a helicopter landing pad for emergency evacuations.
Memorial Wall erected with names of people in unmarked graves in the Old Pembroke Cemetery.
As the subject of a winning entry in 2014 NZ Geographic photograph of the year, the Wanaka Tree became a social media sensation and one of NZ’s most photographed natural features.
Landsar = Land Search and Rescue. Situated in Ballantyne Road and opened by the Governor General, Sir Jerry Mateparae on 7 March.
QAC paid $14.5M for the lease of council land and assets (approved in 2017); but the 100-year lease lasted only three years when on April 21, 2021 a High Court case decided the lease was unlawful. Wānaka Airport returned to Council’s possession with a QAC operational management agreement.
Christchurch International Airport Ltd reveals it has purchased hundreds of hectares of Tarras farm land and proposes a new international airport. By 2023, CIAL had purchased almost 800ha.
The inclusion of a macron to several place names including Wānaka and Lake Wānaka was notified in the New Zealand Gazette on 26 August 2021 with the support of Ngāi Tahu.
Opened by Robert and Lynnette Duncan in 2011, Lynnette closed the museum after the death of her husband, Robert, a vintage car enthusiast.
Ceramic tiles recording significant events in our history laid beside a new public path; these replaced the original Millennium Tiles on the Roys Bay foreshore that were installed in 2001.