Shotover River gold rush
The Otago river where two men found gold in November 1862, starting the largest gold rush in Otago's history; in 1863 the Otago Witness called the Shotover 'the richest river in the world'.
Dated events and their evidence
- 1862 CE mainstream
in November Thomas Arthur and Harry Redfern find about 4 ounces of gold in 3 hours on the Shotover at what becomes Arthurs Point; Arthur and three others take 200 oz in eight days source - 1863 CE mainstream
in February the Otago Witness calls the Shotover 'the richest river in the world' source - 1868 CE mainstream
the first Chinese miners arrive in the Wakatipu district; by 1871 they outnumber the European miners there source - 1901 CE mainstream
the Skippers suspension bridge over the Shotover is officially opened source
Where
44.9890° S, 168.6720° E
The point is Arthurs Point near Queenstown, where gold was found on the Shotover in 1862. The goldfield ran upstream through Skippers Canyon for many kilometres.
Sources
- https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/7549
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skippers_Canyon
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthurs_Point
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shotover_River
- https://ozgeology.com/blogs/news/the-richest-river-of-gold-in-the-world-in-new-zealand
Each event carries Aion's own evidence grade (mainstream, disputed or speculative). This page repeats what the globe shows for this place.