HERITAGE TALKS

The Central Otago Heritage Trust’s program of Heritage Talks celebrates the history and heritage of our region. Partnering with our local Central Otago museums, we invite guest speakers to present on a range of subjects, from prehistoric landscapes to coal and gold mining, love and marriage, local heroes and more. Keep an eye on our events page to find out what’s coming up next!

Some of these Heritage Talks have been recorded. So if you missed them, or want to see them again, click on the Youtube links below.

The Life and Times of Vincent Pyke – 25 September at Clyde Museum

Pyke St, Dunstan Hospital’s Vincent Ward, the Vincent Community Board are names we’re familiar with, but from whom did they originate? Meet Vincent Pyke: draper, miner, politician, writer, explorer and nineteenth century go-getter.

Russell Garbutt highlights some of Pyke’s lesser known activities in the Dunstan region.

This talk, held on 25 September at Clyde Museum, was  the third in a series to showcase some of the fascinating items chosen for the Central Museums 100 project which will be launched on 16 October across our five Central Otago Museums.

Black Gold – the history of coal mining in our region – 3 May 2023, Clyde Museum

For the swarms of miners that came to the area in search of gold, there was very little wood to build with or keep warm. Coal became a pivotal resource for domestic use and eventually to power dredges operating along the Clutha River. Russell Garbutt sheds light on our district’s little-known coal mining industry ? Presenter, Russell Garbutt shared this presentation as part of the Central Otago Heritage Trust’s ‘Heritage Talks’ program on 3 May 2023, at Clyde Museum.

Celebrating the life and works of John McCraw -3 August 2022 , Central Stories Museum & Art Gallery.

The McCraw Glacier in Antarctica is named after Dunedin born soil scientist and local historian John McCraw. And yet, little is known about McCraw locally. Russell Garbutt sets the record straight by putting the life and works of John McCraw firmly in the spotlight. Presenter, Russell Garbutt shared this presentation as part of the Central Otago Heritage Trust’s ‘Heritage Talks’ program on 3 August, 2022 at Central Stories Museum & Art Gallery.