This interview, facilitated by interviewer Sue Johnston, highlights Denis’s involvement with the construction of the Clyde Dam, one of Central Otago’s most significant landmarks.
Denis first reflects on his early years growing up near Arrowtown and later in Dunedin, sharing family stories that reach back to the days of his great-grandparents’ arrival from Ireland and their early experiences in Otago’s goldfields and farming communities. He recalls the realities of rural life, his school days in Dunedin and the family’s eventual shift from farming to urban employment.
Then the conversation explores Denis’s career in engineering, beginning with his cadetship at the Ministry of Works and progressing through to his involvement in the construction of the Clyde Dam. Denis discusses the technical challenges and community impacts associated with the dam’s development, from the initial surveying and land acquisition through to the major engineering feats required to address faults and landslides.
Beyond the technical, Denis shares his perspectives on the social and economic changes brought about by the dam and the transformation of Cromwell and surrounding areas. He speaks candidly about the community’s response to the project, and the ways in which population growth, viticulture and new industries have reshaped the region.
Interviewer: Sue Johnston
Interview Dates: August 2025
Denis McEntyre
Cromwell Junction before and after the Clyde Dam
All rights reserved ©
All rights to the recordings, photos and abstracts on this website, including the rights to copy, publish, broadcast and perform, are reserved. Written permission is required for any use of this material.
Please email [email protected].
OUR SUPPORTERS
Heritage Central Otago acknowledges the generous support from the following organisations:
