Arrowtown History & Gold

Two years after the first European settlers established high country farms in the Wakatipu area, gold was discovered in nearby rivers.The find was concealed for a short time, but news soon spread. In 1862 Jack Tewa, a shearer working for William Rees, had found gold in the Arrow River.

Originally named Fox's (after William Fox, a Californian gold miner) the canvas town grew rapidly. Within weeks 1500 people occupied the river banks, and as the news of the rich new gold strike spread, miners arrived in their droves. Tents and shanties erected on the river bank were washed away in a spring flood of 1863 and many lives were lost. After this disaster the town was built more solidly on the terraces above the river.

After the initial goldrush passed,Arrowtown developed from a mining town into a solid permanent community, which included several hotels, a Bank, Post Office, Gaol, School, and Hospital.

At the height of the gold rush, Arrowtown population including miners camped beside the river, grew to over 7000. The bustling town soon became the hub of a larger community including the new quartz mining  towns of Macetown, Skippers and Bullendale (now ghost towns).