Aorere Gold digs in to local history

JO RICHARDS

Could there be a better place to launch a book about the Aorere gold rush than Langford Store?

Almost certainly not. And that’s a view shared by the author and publisher of Aorere Gold , who presented their latest publication to an audience of around 40 at Bainham’s historic store last Thursday afternoon.

Surrounded by the display of historical artifacts in the store’s gallery, publisher Derek Shaw spoke about his connection with the area, saying he “grew up in Rockville” and highlighted his long association with the author Dr Mike Johnston. “This is the seventh book I’ve published of Mike’s.”

He explained that Aorere Gold – the product of more than 25 years research by the author – provides a complete picture of its subject. “The book is not just about geology but social history… There won’t be a more comprehensive history of the Aorere Goldfields.”

The story, which covers the period 1856-1863, is told over 480 pages generously illustrated with photographs, paintings, drawings and a wide range of maps.

Mike began his talk with a question: “Why write it?” The answer, he said, was “because it is a good story and a fascinating topic”.

In writing the book, Mike has combined his scientific knowledge, gained through a long career as a geologist, with a deep interest in local history and an ability to identify links between natural resources and development. “Why do people live in certain areas?” asked Mike. “Usually it’s to do with geology.”

The Nelson province, he explained, was found to be a mineral-rich province from the earliest days of European settlement, with extensive deposits of coal, copper and chrome discovered by the 1850s. But it was only after the Californian and Victorian gold rushes that attention turned to the possibility of the province harbouring a goldfield.

In 1856, a gold find in the Aorere valley precipitated New Zealand’s first gold rush, which at its height saw 1,500 men seeking the precious metal. But the frenzy was short-lived and by 1859 the number of miners had fallen significantly.

Despite its brief duration, Mike explained that the rush had far-reaching consequences, acting as a catalyst for the development of national mining legislation. “Golden Bay led the way for New Zealand.” It also supercharged investment in vital infrastructure including roads, bridges, schools, and libraries.

“The goldfield sped up the process.”

Having mined the archives extensively during the past 25 years, the author continues to work this seam of social history and will launch two sequel volumes to complete his longplanned trilogy. “There may even be a fourth, if I have time,” said Mike.

Following the presentation, several members of the audience lined up to chat with the author and ask him to sign the copy of Aorere Gold they had just purchased.

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The history of the Golden Bay goldfields

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