In the New Zealand Herald Thursday 15 August 1867, the correspondent reported on the dramatic news of a gold find at the Thames. The discovery date was the 10th August 1867, the claim would become known as the Shotover. The lives of the four prospectors - Messrs Cobley, Hunt, White and Clarkson would be changed forever.
The First Photograph of the Shotover taken shortly after the reef was discovered.
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| Description: Showing workers at the Shotover claim in the Thames goldfields where the first significant amounts of gold were discovered. Source: Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19170802-34-8 |
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| Description: Showing men and women at the Shotover Mine, Kuranui, Thames. "The men photographed here probably include the discoverers of the claim - George Clarkson, W A Hunt, William Cobley and John Ebenezer White". Source: Alexander Turnbull Library record, reference number: 1/1-003165-G. |
ABOVE: Today the area is marked by a Lions Club Heritage sign at the bottom of a driveway/track that leads to the old Shotover Claim
BELOW: Satellite view of the Kuranui-Eureka Road, sign located at sea-end.
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MAJOR ARTICLE & VIDEO IN THE NEW ZEALAND HERALD
Online 10 August 2017
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