Otautau

Otautau is a small farming, forestry and milling town (population 753 as of 2006 census) located inland on the western edge of the Southland Plains of New Zealand on the banks of the Aparima River. Otautau is located approximately 40 km north west of Invercargill. The average elevation of Otautau is 60 meters. Otautau is also known as “The Heart of Western Southland”. Otautau was founded after the discovery of gold in Central Otago in 1861 (Central Otago Gold Rush) to meet the needs of travelers on their way to the then newly discovered gold fields. 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...