OTUREHUA

Oturehua School

First known as the Rough Ridge School, it opened in 1895. The school was located between the settlements of Idaburn, Reefs Road and Oturehua (then known as Rough Ridge). In 1981, a new school was built on the outskirts of Oturehua.

Oturehua Tavern

The Rough Ridge Hotel was built in 1899 by James Caldwell (who also built the store) and was known as the Rough Ridge Railway Hotel as its commencement in business coincided with the opening of the railway.

Gilchrists General Store

Built by James Caldwell in 1899 and then in April 1902, the store was bought by Thomas Gilchrist who made it one of the best known stores in Central Otago. The store is now owned by the local community and a manager is employed to run it. Visitors are welcome.

Beckers Transport & Garage

Originally a stable for coaches and horses. Andy Stuart built the first garage and operated it for 40 years before selling it to Brian and Owen Becker in March 1961. Burnt down in 1964, a new garage was built incorporating a larger transport operation. The business is now operated by Scobie and Catherine McConnell.

Golden Progress Gold Mine

Mining started in 1868 and several mines were in operation using underground tunnelling to extract the gold. The reefs were difficult to follow and the Mine closed in 1896. Re-opened in 1928/29, a further attempt was made. The Golden Progress had a 182' shaft and 165' drives going off the shaft. Two steam engine drove the winches and one drove the battery. Thirty-five miners, working shifts, manned the mine. As had happened in earlier times, the seam of gold was lost and the mine was closed down.

Blackstone Hill

Blackstone Hill, or Hill Creek as it was more widely known, was named after Mr Alfred Hill, an early shopkeeper. In the 1880's Blackstone Hill and its surrounding districts were the scenes of goldrushes and 13 hotels divided a large business between them. Today there is little to remind us of the busy community that was the centre of the district in the early days.

Blackstone Hill Cemetery

The cemetery recorded its first death in 1864. Peter Curle died in the lock-up and was interred in a public grave. The first "official" burial, documenting all details, was in 1874. The cemetery is still in use today.

Idaburn Dam

The Idaburn Dam was built in 1931 for the purpose of irrigation and has a holding capacity of .23 million cubic metres. Serving six farmers, it irrigates 230 hectares with 11.7km of main races and 1.9km of distributary races. The Idaburn Dam is a popular site for the winter sports of ice-skating, ice hockey and curling.. It is the venue for the national Bonspiel (a tournament for all curling clubs). Fishing for Trout and Perch in summer and the Brass Monkey Motorcycle Rally in deepest winter are other pastimes at the dam.

Hayes Engineering Works

Hayes Engineering Works was established in 1895 by Ernest Hayes. Ernest Hayes started off inventing tools to help him on his farm at Oturehua but, seeing a demand for farming equipment, he began his own business. Some of his more famous inventions were Pollard Cutters for cutting up pollard (a poisoned bran mixture used to kill rabbits), the Hayes Wire Strainers which gained world-wide popularity, and windmills. The first windmill Ernest Hayes made was to make power for his workshop. It was operated by overhead shafts, belts and pulleys which are still in working order today.

Ernest Hayes retired in 1926 and his sons carried on the business. In 1952 it was transferred to Templeton, Christchurch because of rising transport costs. The engineering works, still in their original condition, can be viewed by arrangement.

Further information and other walking guides are available at the Central Otago Information Centre, 22 Centennial Avenue, Alexandra. Telephone (03) 448-9515