|
| |
Macetown
(4WD)
|
When William Fox struck gold in the Arrow Gorge in
1862, prospectors poured into the area. Townships sprang up at either end
of the gorge:
Fox's,
later to be called Arrowtown, and at the northern end Twelve Mile, later
Macetown.
While
Arrowtown still thrives, Macetown had a shorter history, falling victim to
the harsh climate, its isolation and the decline of mining. In the 1860s
its population numbered 3000 but by 1906 mining operations had ceased. Now
it is a ghost town of tumbledown walls and chimneys, lent a more tragic
air by the groves of trees the miners planted to soften their setting.
Sycamores, cottonwoods, poplars and hawthorns grace the once treeless
terrace that was a main street of stores, smithies, hotels and cottages. |
|
Three
buildings remain intact, and the bake house and Needham's Cottage have had
their exteriors restored. The buildings, together with all other relics
in the township and surrounds, are now protected in a 145ha historic
reserve.
The
route to Macetown is that followed by the historic goldfield road, which
winds its way up the Arrow Gorge, crossing the river and side-creeks 33
times. To get the most from the drive, call at the Arrowtown Museum and
buy a copy of Macetown and the Arrow Gorge, an excellent booklet that
describes in detail many of the things you will see along the way,
including full descriptions of points of interest at each numbered yellow
peg. |
Below this terrace was a beach where a creek flowed into the Arrow River.
Here the Maces established their claim.
Two other brothers, John and Joe Beale, had come over the Skippers Hill
and followed the creek down to the junction of the Arrow River. They
pitched their tent on a site where the township later stood. Next morning
John Beale went down to the creek to get a billy of water. He saw gold in
the creek and filled a pannikin with it. As he returned to his camp he saw
some men pitching a tent across the river. These were the Mace brothers.
The two parties met and came to terms which were agreeable to all. |
HOW
TO GET THERE
Drive
to the riverside street at the back of the shopping centre in Arrowtown
and turn down the track into the Arrow River.
MAP:
F41 (Arrowtown)
S
>N. Start at F41 812773
DISTANCE:
30.4km return (including side-trip)
TRACK
CONDITIONS
Narrow
winding track with mostly gravel or rock surface and 33 river or stream
crossings.
For
further information see 4WD South Island Volume 1 (Ken Sibly & Mark
Wilson)
|
| |
|
