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.[http://www.tba.co.nz/pdf_papers/1998_wp_15_otautau.pdf A Case Study of OTAUTAU (June 1998)] 25 November 2010. Yet others suggest that Otautau's early growth could be attributed to those travelling to Wakatipu, for similar reasons.{{Cite web|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/southland-places/page-9|title=9. – Southland places – Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand|last=Taonga|first=New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu|website=teara.govt.nz|language=en|access-date=2020-02-22}} However, in a handbook printed for use by the newly arriving miners, no such route via Otautau exists for any goldfield, from Tuapeka to Wakatipu.{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT18630310.2.25|title=MANUAL OF THE OTAGO GOLD FIELDS, FOR THE USE OF NEW ARRIVALS.|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-23}}File:Otautau sign.jpgEarly 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 [http://www.tehikoi.co.nz/ 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,{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZ18630320.2.19|title=PROVINCE OF SOUTHLAND|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-23}} (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.{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST18701101.2.13|title=SOUTHLAND AND THE DUNSTAN|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-22}} 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,{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WSTAR19091119.2.9|title=Obituary of Matthew Newsome|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-23}} 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.{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT18621223.2.26|title=INVERCARGILL. LATER NEWS FEOM THE WAKATIP|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-22}}{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST18630901.2.10.1|title=Shortest and Most Direct Route to the Lake Diggings|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-22}}{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18630119.2.22|title=NEWS FROM THE SOUTH|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-23}} 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,{{Cite news|title=SUMMARY|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OW18611123.2.21|access-date=2022-01-19|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} which is much different to what has been suggested or claimed in some contemporary accounts.{{Cite book|last=Bye, Ken.|title=Trial by fire, trial by water : history of Otautau|date=1988|publisher=Published by the Centennial Book Committee on behalf of the Otautau Community Council|others=Otautau (N.Z.). Community Council.|isbn=0-473-00649-9|location=Otautau [N.Z.]|oclc=35287268}}

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."{{Cite book|title=Scotts Gap : a history of the people and the district, 1852–2000|publisher=Scotts Gap Book Committee|year=2002|isbn=0-473-08406-6|location=Otautau [N.Z.]|oclc=155863914}} 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.{{Cite web|title=Plan of Otautau Township surveyed by E. Tanner, March 1872; drawn by W.J. Percival.|url=https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE18331217|access-date=2022-01-19|website=ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE32373970|title=Crown Grant Map – Aparima Hundred|website=ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-22}} 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.{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LCP19110810.2.16|title=PERSONAL. Death of Robert Campbell|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-22}}{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OSWCC19110801.2.19|title=Obituary Robert Campbell|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-22}}{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OSWCC19230724.2.11|title=Obituary Mrs Robert Campbell|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-22}} 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.{{Cite web|title=Otautau {{!}} NZHistory, New Zealand history online|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/keyword/otautau|access-date=2022-01-19|website=nzhistory.govt.nz}} 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 {{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WSTAR18980316.2.12|title=Wallace County Council|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-23}} and lasted nearly 100 years, until the amalgamation of county councils formed the new Southland District Council, in 1989.{{Cite web|url=https://thecommunityarchive.org.nz/node/74060|title=Wallace County Council {{!}} The Community Archive|website=thecommunityarchive.org.nz|access-date=2020-02-23}} 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,{{Cite web|url=http://www.nzlii.org/nz/legis/hist_act/wla185418v1854n6249/|title=Waste Lands Act 1854 (18 Victoriae 1854 No 6)|website=www.nzlii.org|access-date=2020-02-23}} Otautau became the hub of farming and settlement for the whole Central Western Southland District. The railway having arrived in December 1879,{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WSTAR18791220.2.19|title=OPENING OF THE OTAUTAU RAILWAY|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-23}} this added many advantages to both farmers and settlers.

File:Canvas_Sheedy_and_Lynch_for_Wiki.png

One of the earliest businesses in town was the Otautau Hotel, (originally started in the old Accommodation House) which claims on its facade, to have been started in 1871.{{Cite web | url=https://www.otautauhotelpub.co.nz/about-us | title=Pub Western Southland – Otautau Hotel}} However, it seems from land records and electoral rolls, to have only been owned by Thomas and Julianna Price from 1874. After a fire, the business moved to its still current site, on the Main Street in 1875.{{Cite news |url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ST18750301.2.7 |title=DESTRUCTIVE FIRE|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-22}}

Other early businesses were blacksmiths, the earliest one on record is also that of Daniel Lynch's, built near to the above Otautau Hotel. This was advertised as being operational from Sept 1875.{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WSTAR18750918.2.3.1|title=Daniel Lynch: BLACKSMITH & WHEELWRIGHT|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-22}} Thomas Price himself built yet another Blacksmith's adjacent to his Otautau Hotel, advertised from July 1877.{{cite news|url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WSTAR18770707.2.3.1|title=NOTICE|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|access-date=2020-02-22}}

File:Otautau Standard.JPG

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.[http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=CL1.OSWCC&ai=1&e=-------10--1----0-- New Zealand National Library (Past Papers)].

File:Otautau.jpg

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.[http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/media/photo/otautau-war-memorial New Zealand History Online – Otautau war memorial.]

Soon after World War II the New Zealand Forest Service began operating from Otautau. The planting of alien species began in 1949 and grew rapidly from the middle of the 1960s as a direct result of seasonal labour.

Otautau is described as a rural settlement by Statistics New Zealand. It covers {{Convert|2.60|km2||abbr=on}},{{Cite web|title=ArcGIS Web Application|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6f49867abe464f86ac7526552fe19787| access-date=1 January 2024|website=statsnz.maps.arcgis.com}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2018|Otautau|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2018|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2018|Otautau|y}}|R}}/2.60|0}} people per km². It is part of the much larger Otautau statistical area.

{{Historical populations|2006|753|2013|702|2018|753|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for the settlement|source=}}

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, comprising 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% Pasifika, 1.6% Asian, and 1.2% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 59.8% had no religion, 29.9% were Christian, 0.4% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.4% were Hindu and 1.2% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 57 (9.3%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 207 (33.8%) people had no formal qualifications. 57 people (9.3%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. 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.{{NZ census 2018|7029252–7029258}}

Otautau statistical area covers {{Convert|703.25|km2||abbr=on}} and had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Otautau|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Otautau|y}}|R}}/703.25|1}} people per km².

{{Historical populations|2006|2,784|2013|2,793|2018|2,808|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for the statistical area|source=}}

Otautau had a population of 2,808 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 15 people (0.5%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 24 people (0.9%) since the 2006 census. There were 1,071 households, comprising 1,491 males and 1,317 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.13 males per female. The median age was 35.3 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 654 people (23.3%) aged under 15 years, 531 (18.9%) aged 15 to 29, 1,269 (45.2%) aged 30 to 64, and 354 (12.6%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 86.6% European/Pākehā, 11.1% Māori, 0.7% Pasifika, 6.9% Asian, and 3.0% other ethnicities. People may identify with more than one ethnicity.

The percentage of people born overseas was 13.6, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 53.3% had no religion, 37.3% were Christian, 0.3% had Māori religious beliefs, 0.3% were Hindu and 1.0% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 255 (11.8%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 558 (25.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $37,000, compared with $31,800 nationally. 321 people (14.9%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 1,236 (57.4%) people were employed full-time, 351 (16.3%) were part-time, and 57 (2.6%) were unemployed.{{NZ census 2018|Otautau (358400)|otautau|Otautau}}

Otautau School is a full primary school for years 1 to 8{{TKI|4001|Otautau School}} with a roll of {{NZ school roll data|4001|y}} as of {{NZ school roll data|||y|y||.}} The school first opened in 1880.{{cite web|url=http://archives.ilibrary.co.nz/repositories/icla/resources/otautau_school|title=Otautau School|publisher=Invercargill Archives|access-date=31 January 2022}}

Over the years, there have been various events and festivals held in Otautau. The You 'n' Lamb Festival{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/farming/4321800/You-n-Lamb-Festival-at-Otautau |title=You 'n' Lamb Festival at Otautau |date=9 November 2010 |work=The Southland Times |access-date=1 November 2011}} was an annual event organised by the now closed Otautau Lions Club, which is no longer held.[http://www.meattradenewsdaily.co.uk/news/211110/nz___sheep_farming_.aspx Meat Trade News Daily] Printed 21/11/2010. Another annual event which was run for 8 years, was the Flowers, Quilts & Crafts Day, but this was sadly wound up in 2020.{{Cite web|date=2020-02-23|title=Otautau flowers quilts crafts day cancelled|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/119745051/otautau-flowers-quilts-crafts-day-cancelled|access-date=2022-01-19|website=Stuff|language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|title=Otautau Car Show|url=https://www.facebook.com/OtautauCarShow/|access-date=2022-01-19|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}

{{Weather box|width=auto

|metric first=y

|single line=y

|collapsed = Y

|location = Otautau (1981–2010)

|Jan high C = 19.5

|Feb high C = 19.7

|Mar high C = 17.8

|Apr high C = 15.5

|May high C = 12.2

|Jun high C = 9.6

|Jul high C = 9.4

|Aug high C = 11.4

|Sep high C = 13.8

|Oct high C = 15.2

|Nov high C = 16.8

|Dec high C = 18.3

| year high C =

|Jan mean C = 14.4

|Feb mean C = 14.1

|Mar mean C = 12.4

|Apr mean C = 10.2

|May mean C = 7.7

|Jun mean C = 5.1

|Jul mean C = 4.9

|Aug mean C = 6.4

|Sep mean C = 8.5

|Oct mean C = 10.0

|Nov mean C = 11.5

|Dec mean C = 13.2

| year mean C =

|Jan low C = 9.4

|Feb low C = 8.6

|Mar low C = 7.0

|Apr low C = 4.9

|May low C = 3.2

|Jun low C = 0.6

|Jul low C = 0.3

|Aug low C = 1.5

|Sep low C = 3.2

|Oct low C = 4.8

|Nov low C = 6.2

|Dec low C = 8.2

| year low C =

|rain colour = green

|Jan rain mm = 121.2

|Feb rain mm = 67.8

|Mar rain mm = 90.4

|Apr rain mm = 113.4

|May rain mm = 164.9

|Jun rain mm = 100.0

|Jul rain mm = 93.8

|Aug rain mm = 88.4

|Sep rain mm = 102.6

|Oct rain mm = 91.8

|Nov rain mm = 69.2

|Dec rain mm = 91.2

|year rain mm =

|source 1 = NIWA (rain 1971–2000)

{{cite web

|url = http://cliflo.niwa.co.nz

|title = CliFlo – National Climate Database : Otautau N.Z.F.S.

|publisher = NIWA

|access-date = 19 May 2024}}

}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.otautau.school.nz/index.html 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.)
• [https://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-Cyc04Cycl-t1-body1-d7-d46.html The Cyclopedia of New Zealand.]

{{Southland District}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Populated places in the Southland Region

Category:1861 establishments in New Zealand