Macetown

Macetown is an historic gold mining settlement in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. In 1862 the sailor, William Fox discovered gold in the Arrow River. By the end of that year over 1,500 miners were camped along the river and a small canvas town had grown up at the junction of 12 Mile Creek and the Arrow River. Amongst those that flocked to the area were three brothers: John, Charles and Harry Mace after whom the town came to be known. In 1863 the population was around 300. At its height the town boasted a school, a church and two hotels. By 1865 most of the alluvial gold had been extracted and many miners left for the gold fields of the West Coast. Quartz mining attracted more people in the 1870s and the population...