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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Arrowtown

Arrowtown is a well-known incorporated town in Lake district, twelve miles from Queenstown, and 172 miles north-west of Dunedin. It has had an eventful history as a goldfield, and is close to the Shotover and Arrow rivers, famous for their rich discoveries. The nearest point of railway communication with Dunedin is Lawrence, with which there is regular contact by means of a line of coaches. Coaches also run to Queenstown, and connect with the Government steamers for Kingston, and thence with Invercargill by rail. Further coach services are maintained with Pembroke and Lake Wanaka, via Cromwell and Cardrona. Arrowtown has, practically, daily mail communication with Dunedin and Invercargill, and there are the usual telegraph facilities. The district supports its own newspaper, “The Lake County Press,” published twice a week. Fine crops are grown in the neighbourhood, and Hour mills are in active operation. Arrowtown is within the boundaries of the Arrow riding of Lake county, and in the electoral district of Wakatipu. The entire population of the riding is 674, exclusive of the population of the borough, 410. There is a population of 150 at Arrow Flat and vicinity; 194 at Lake Hayes Village and vicinity; and 158 at Gibbs-town, nine miles to the south-east towards Cromwell. The township of Arrowtown stands on a rich flat, amidst bleak, gaunt, wild and precipitous hills, and appears a very oasis in that wild country. The junction of Bush creek with the Arrow river is near the township. page 1031
Arrowtown In 1897.

Arrowtown In 1897.

Gold was discovered in the district in 1863 by the original prospectors, Messrs McGregor and Low. The place was named Fox's, because a man named Fox took the news of the discovery of gold to other mining settlements, and it was in consequence of this news that the “rush” took place. In the winter of 1903 the weather at Arrowtown was of a very severe type, and the temperature is said to have receded to a point 28 degrees below zero. This extreme cold resulted in the destruction of the whole of the gum trees, and a considerable number of pine trees; a loss experienced generally throughout the Lake district, where the ruin of so many groves of handsome trees very much modified the picturesqueness, not only of Arrowtown, but also of Queenstown, and the scenery on the roads in the district. In the summer time, however, the weather is frequently extremely hot and dry. The Crown range is not far from the township of Arrow, and has attained celebrity for its magnificent crops of cereals. Arrowtown has three hotels, four stores, two tailors' shops, three blacksmiths' shops, bootmakers and saddlers' establishments, churches belonging to the Anglicans, Presbyterians, Roman Catholics and Methodists, a public school, a Roman Catholic Convent school, a district hospital, and a branch of the Bank of New Zealand.