Stoney Terrace (Stony Terrace; Stony Creek Terrace), Skippers, Queenstown-Lakes District, Otago Region, New Zealandi

Regional Level Types
Stoney Terrace (Stony Terrace; Stony Creek Terrace)	- not defined -
Skippers	- not defined -
Queenstown-Lakes District	District
Otago Region	Region
New Zealand	Country

Alluvial gold in gravels.

Stoney Terrace is located 1.5 kilometres south of the Skippers town site, with the Pleasant Terrace and Stoney Creek bordering it to the north, and Maori Point to the south (but on the eastern side of the Shotover River). Like the Pleasant Terrace it shows a huge north-south sluicing face at the back of the terrace. Access appears difficult with the walk south of the town ending at the precipitous Stoney Creek, and access from Skippers Road blocked by the Shotover River bordering to the east.

In fact the claim holder that was here several decades also complained long and loud about the lack of access. This was the Davis family who got to the claim by pulling themselves across the river by rope and a chair, said to be a death trap by all who viewed it. The Davis' did not get many visitors.

Like most of the terraces in the area it is likely to have been the focus for alluvial miners during the 1863 gold rush. However the terraces in the Skippers area are deep, requiring capital to elevate the material out of the pit, and get to the gold in the gravel layers at depth. In 1884, it is said the terrace had been deserted for years.

Shortly after the two Davis brothers started mining here, the family remaining connected to the site until the World War One years. In 1895, it is reported they secured 400 ounces from the lease over the summer working months. Said to be the most difficult and expensive alluvial flat in the district. If the name is correct, stones and boulders when sluicing gravels is not a good thing, as they have to be manually stacked to one side.

Historic small mining communities can be fractious affairs. Hard work, long hours, sparse gold, plentiful alcohol, and an urge to discuss matters with a fist, rather than eloquent language all contribute to the scene. William Lovel Davis did not get along with Robert Johnston (known to the miners as Hydraulic Johnston), or John Aspinall, two of the major miners nearby. Neither were Johnston or Aspinall angels. Long letters to the local newspaper complaining about others in the area, may seem petty (maybe are petty) when seen back across 130 years.

Early 1908, one of the brothers, William Lovel Davis died, with his half of the claim placed up for sale January 1909. Its noted in 1915 that the Paterson brothers have purchased the half claim, and are working under the direction of William Lovel Davis, but are undertaking a lot of 'dead work'. Then I realised William's eldest son was also named William Lovel Davis, and must control the other half of the lease at this time. He died in 1943, aged 68. While he worked with his father for many years at the mine, he left the mine to work elsewhere at some stage shortly after 1915.

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