I remember crossing the bridges as a kid. My parents went there just to do it one last time. Mum actually cried. I've seen people scuba dive the bridges and it just seems unreal..
Growing up in Dunedin I always loved central Otago and its Wild West looking landscape. Best place in the world and I’m always looking for more info of the central Wild West days
Grew up watching this project from scratch. A lot of controversy, sadness, and awe inspiring all in one. The Kiwi designed key boat.. take a look at that control in a tight spot. Downstream shows the real nut grinder skill... take your foot off, and it's concrete... A day out in the boat... well done for making a lasting memoire.... Jogged some memories of jet boating on the Clutha.. thank you
My People of Parihaka in Slavery digging the irrigation races in Central Otago so Pakeha could have water to farm the arid land. This is the Truth behind Central Otago Farming
John Ashworth- Sandhills dredge- was a relative of mine through his daughter Maria. Maria was born at Scotland Point in 1866. John got to display his gold finds to George Grey in early 1867. Part of the fabric of the past. I was born to a cottage at Ripponvale and knew the Murrays, and many other families, from a young age.
Hell, that tugged on the heart strings!!! I grew up in Dunedin and we used to go up Central each Christmas holidays during the late 1950's early 1960's. Cromwell was always a "stopping point" and as a child I just loved the scene of the "meeting of the waters". Absolutely wonderful that this has been preserved - a time when NZ was innocent. Thank you for posting.
Would like see any pics if you have them please. My uncles and grandfather worked on the Austral Malay Dredge before it was broken down and transported to Malaysia.
I'd have to say it looks like Cromwell had a far better selection of shops and places to eat than it did after the old town was flooded and everything was relocated, and that goes for present day as well ,in my opinion.
This is very pleasing to see, my earliest memory of Cromwell is being about 5 years old (1969 ish) on holiday from Dunedin with mum and dad ,I remember the old bridge and the war monument area mainly, and the walking track from the monument down to the rivers. Later on in the seventies and early eighties we had several more holidays there. I noticed in one of the photos there was a small Miller studios shop ,I remember being there once ,as I worked for Millers in Dunedin at the time ,and we did a lot of signage and shopfittings for the new mall. I lived in Cromwell from 1995 ish to 2022 . In my opinion Cromwell lost it's best feature when the old town was dismantled and flooded ,it was very unique and beautiful.
Nice video! I'm curious if anyone has panned the tailings to see how much gold might have gotten through the dredge? Sometimes those dredges were not as efficient as modern equipment and gold can still be pulled out of the tailings.
The electric dredges that processed these tailings were very efficient, and whilst there would be some gold left, any further recovery is supposedly uneconmic. In saying that, it was economic during the construction of the Clyde Dam to process the tailings gravel for gold as it was being crushed for making concrete. In addition, much of the ground has been worked over a couple of times, but there is always hope of getting some colour in the pan!
Fascinating stuff, I live in Alex' and wonder if that's the Vol Fire siren I can hear in the background of the commentary? heh. Very interesting collection of pix and great comments in the voice over. Thanks
Thank you for your reply. I find these large dams fascinating. Could you possibly connect me with your brother? I would like permission to photograph the axis drive tunnel, just as you did. Thanks in advance. Andrew @@scottybsactiveinterests6807
Hi, im a coach driver, and your videos are helping a lot to tell the travellers what happened around here around 1800`s at gold rush. tks for your time doing this videos, i hope to go at the Arrowtown and Cromwell museum to get more information, to be honest i didint know about the stories about Alex, Clyde and Cromwell, tks a lot
