Smiths Terrace, Skippers, Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago Region, New Zealandi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Smiths Terrace | - not defined - |
| Skippers | - not defined - |
| Queenstown-Lakes District | District |
| Otago Region | Region |
| New Zealand | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
44° 50' 24'' South , 168° 42' 5'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Arrowtown | 2,151 (2011) | 13.8km |
| Queenstown | 10,442 (2018) | 21.3km |
| Wanaka | 4,428 (2011) | 38.7km |
| Kingston | 2,460 (2018) | 54.8km |
Alluvial gold in gravels.
Smiths Terrace is a small area of workings wedged between the Shotover River, and The Branches pastoral station road, 2 kilometres north of Skippers.
Unfortunately Smith is a common name, but (Otago Witness, 1899) states A. and GL Smith was working a site called Smith's Terrace in 1869, six years after the original discovery of gold in the Shotover River. (This is a letter written by G.L. Smith). It seems probable the site was named after these Smiths, possibly brothers, with G.L. Smith stating he had retired from mining many years ago, and lists himself as a settler.
Beyond this is less certain. Various Smiths (including A. Smiths) occupied various claims, like many of the alluvial miners in the district moving from one to another in rapid succession in the hope of finding a patch of gold missed by prior miners. A. Smiths were found into the 1930's, so the later ones must be a different person.
Gilchrist McNay applied for a lease on the terrace in 1907, with C. Wood, then surrendered it in 1910.
Land Information New Zealand (2006) states of the terrace, that Drew's and Smith's workings occupy the site, the sluicing occurring from 1870 to 1880. The workings cover 300 metres by 200 metres, contains two huts, a stoned lined tunnel, and reservoir 15 metres by 14 metres in area. When inspected in 1979, the Smith family still occupied the huts, the fourth generation to do so. Drew's workings were pre 1900, and below Smith's workings.
The Smiths stated they invented a jet pump for working the river beds for gold.
List of minerals for each chemical element
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Australian Plate
- Haast SchistAccretionary Complex
New Zealand
- South IslandIsland
- Southern AlpsMountain Range
Pacific PlateTectonic Plate
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