The story of Gilchrist’s Store is one of endurance, community and surviving against the odds. For nearly 125 years, the store has been a cornerstone in Oturehua — and the wider Maniototo — servicing communities and providing a central hub for rural folks. It [...]

A piece of Cromwell history has been given a secure future with its ownership being finalised. Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust chairman Warwick Hawker said the trust had completed the purchase of the former Methodist church at the corner of Donegal and Erris Sts. "It’s [...]

Otago Daily Times, 22 May 2023 The remains of 12 early European and Chinese settlers were reinterred in Drybread Cemetery, Central Otago, on Saturday, marking an important final step for Southern Cemeteries Archaeology Project. Since 2016, a team of archaeologists led by Dr Peter [...]

Otago Daily Times, 18 May 2023 The restoration of Central Otago landmark Earnscleugh Castle inched forward yesterday with a resource consent hearing, in Alexandra, regarding the plastering of the building. The Central Otago District Council hearings panel, which was comprised of Crs Neil Gillespie, Martin [...]

Otago Daily Times 11 May, 2023 A Council planner has given the thumbs-up to the planned renovations to the Earnscleugh Station homestead. A Central Otago District Council hearing is set to take place in Alexandra next Monday about resource consents being sought by the owners [...]

Otago Daily Times 4 May 2023 Stories of the last time Waikaia hosted the finish of the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust Cavalcade are still being told, trail boss Bill Butler says. In 2024 the cavalcade will converge on the Northern Southland town. Mr Butler, [...]

Warm up your winter with a healthy dose of heritage. Central Otago Heritage Trust has teamed up with our local museums to offer three events that put Central Otago’s heritage in the spotlight. For the price of a cup of coffee, we’ll make sure [...]

Otago Daily Times, 16 May 2022 Up to 300 people turned out in Cromwell on Saturday to farewell not only a complete stranger but a man who died generations before anyone in attendance was even born. The unknown gold miner’s remains were discovered buried [...]

Haka Tourism Group founder Ryan Sanders first learnt the Earnscleugh Station Homestead was for sale when a staff member sent him the link as a possible site for luxury backpackers accommodation. He had other ideas, sending it to his husband, Marco Creemers, with a [...]