North of Balclutha, the heritage township of Lawrence is gearing up for an epic celebration. In mid-March the town will be honouring the 150th anniversary of New Zealand's first major gold rush.
Tasmanian prospector Gabriel Read discovered gold here in 1861. Within three months, 6000 had descended on the gully, yearning
to make their fortune. The easy alluvial gold was swiftly snapped up and the site was soon exhausted. However, other goldfields were soon discovered nearby.
Gabriel's Gully is 4km from Lawrence and by 1862 the township's population had swelled to 11,000, making it one of the most populated centres in New Zealand.
You can visit the site of the first major gold rush at Gabriel's Gully which features a 90-minute loop walk around the historic sights, interspersed with user-friendly information boards.
Lawrence is a far more peaceful settlement today, compared to the wide-eyed hustle and bustle of the 1860s gold rush. The town has lovingly preserved a swag of historic buildings.
Grab a walking map from the information centre and take yourself on a self-guided walking tour.
The information centre also houses historic mining equipment and showcases the history of the Chinese mining community.
The 150th celebrations feature a diverse array of events including horse treks, swaggers dances, Chinese cultural performances, gully tours and gold panning contests.
