Otautau

There have been claims made in some modern day publications, that Otautau was founded after the discovery of gold in Central Otago in 1861, to meet the needs of travellers on their way to the then newly discovered gold fields.[9] Yet others suggest that Otautau's early growth could be attributed to those traveling to Wakatipu, for similar reasons.[10] However, in an handbook printed for use by the newly arriving miners, no such route via Otautau exists for any goldfield, from Tuapeka to Wakatipu.[11]

Roadside sign

Early records do hold vital clues that it was mainly agricultural needs and newly arrived settlers, which provided the bulk of early travel in the area, such as the diary entries quoted and early accounts of station life in Southland, re-printed in the series, 'The Conquerors – Saga of the Stations' found in the Southland Times, (the articles of which are collated into a book of the same name, held by Riverton Heritage Society, at Te Hikoi). In these, there is the idea that gold played some part in opening up land in the region, which it did, as miners later settled in the area, and invested their gains into many of the small towns and farming districts there, including Otautau,[12] (see also below, account of Robert Campbell). In early news reports of the day, Riverton did advertise as being the closest port to the gold diggings, but this did not last long, as once the railway from Bluff, first to Invercargill then to Winton was completed, this moved the main of the southern goldfield traffic to that route.[13] There are accounts of a few waggoners taking supplies both early on in the Wakatipu diggings and in later years, from Riverton, (a Mr. Cassels being one of them, and the partnership of Newsome, Rice and McIntosh,[14] another), via The Otautau area to The Lakes. However, many more accounts are given of waggoners taking supplies and gold to and from Invercargill to The Lakes.[15][16][17] The main of the traffic to and from the goldfields situated in South Otago, to the north of Otautau, was through Dunedin and Port Chalmers,[18] which is much different to what has been suggested or claimed in some contemporary accounts.[19]

The most accurate representation of the early Otautau area found to date, is from the book on Scotts Gap (just outside of Otautau, named after early run-holder, Matthew Scott): "Before the 1870s Otautau had very little settlement, being only an overnight camping stop for drovers and their wagons, quenching their thirst before fording the stream the next day to continue the journey inland."[20] What can be proven without doubt, is that Otautau Township was not surveyed until March 1872, by E. Tanner, the resulting map being drawn by W.J. Percival in 1874.[21] Even in the 1867 map of Aparima Hundred, from which land Otautau was taken, there is a large blank space where Otautau would later be.[22] Giving further weight to the idea that the town may not have been founded in the 1860s as claimed, is the fact that the first general store in the township was not opened until 1876. This was owned by Robert Campbell, who was previously mining at Macetown.[23][24][25] In records held at Archives NZ, information shows that the first land sale in the township was not made until late 1872.

Although the locality was originally only a wagon stop on the way to the interior, a township later formed.[26] A very important factor in the growth of Otautau, came from the decision of the Wallace County Council, to move their office from Riverton to Otautau. This move was made official at the opening in March 1898 [27] and lasted nearly 100 years, until the amalgamation of county councils formed the new Southland District Council, in 1989.[28] Having the seat of administration for the County in Otautau meant many of its members moved there. The work created by and for the WCC (Wallace County Council), drew others to settle in the town with the promise of jobs. Between this and early agriculture which had originated with the Waste Land Leases in the area during the 1850s,[29] Otautau became the hub of farming and settlement for the whole Central Western Southland District. The railway having arrived in December 1879,[30] this added many advantages to both farmers and settlers.

Daniel Lynch and horse

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle (May 1905).

Otautau was home to the Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle from 1905 until publication ceased in 1946. The Otautau Standard was a weekly newspaper started by Frank Hyde. In 1906 Hyde sold the newspaper to John Fisher. The Fisher family remained in charge until its closure.[35]

Otautau war memorial

Main street

The Otautau war memorial is on Main Street, Otautau. It was opened by Prime Minister William Massey in 1922 and contains the names of local soldiers who died in World War I and World War II. Two canopied guns from Turkish and German forces are on either side of the memorial.[36]

Otautau is described as a rural settlement by Statistics New Zealand. It covers 2.60 km² (1.00 sq mi),[1] and is part of the much larger Otautau statistical area.

Otautau had a population of 753 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 51 people (7.3%) since the 2013 census, and unchanged since the 2006 census. There were 318 households. There were 405 males and 351 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.15 males per female, with 141 people (18.7%) aged under 15 years, 132 (17.5%) aged 15 to 29, 330 (43.8%) aged 30 to 64, and 150 (19.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.8% European/Pākehā, 13.1% Māori, 0.4% Pacific peoples, 1.6% Asian, and 1.2% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 59.8% had no religion, 29.9% were Christian, 0.4% were Hindu and 1.6% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 57 (9.3%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 207 (33.8%) people had no formal qualifications. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 294 (48.0%) people were employed full-time, 81 (13.2%) were part-time, and 21 (3.4%) were unemployed.[2]

Otautau School is a full primary school for years 1 to 8[39] with a roll of 161 as of April 2023.[40] The school first opened in 1880.[41]

Over the years, there have been various events and festivals held in Otautau. The You 'n' Lamb Festival[42] was an annual event organised by the now closed Otautau Lions Club, which is no longer held.[43] Another annual event which was run for 8 years, was the Flowers, Quilts & Crafts Day, but this was sadly wound up in 2020.[44] The Otautau Car Show is another long-standing annual event that is still currently held in February of each year (Covid permitting) and details of the current year's event can be found here.[45]

• Otautau School

• Bye, K. 1988. Trial By Fire, Trial By Water. History of Otautau. Otautau [N.Z.] : Published by the Centennial Book Committee on behalf of the Otautau Community Council, c1988. ISBN 0-473-00649-9 (hbk.)
• The Cyclopedia of New Zealand.