Resources

A rich resource for information about Waipori’s past is David Still’s impressive book Gold beneath dark waters.  Across 320 well-illustrated A4 pages he tells the story of the gold field, Waipori town and its community.  The book is particularly about the people who were part of Waipori, and it contains stories and family histories of more than 500 people from James Abraham to Henry Zebell.

See an interview with David about this book here. The book was privately published in 2016 and is out of print, but may be available from second-hand dealers.

Ashley Blair portrays Waipori at the height of the gold rush through the story of one of New Zealand’s lesser-known murders.  Murder on the Otago goldfields: the 1865 stabbing of Richard Atkinson at Waipori centres on the murder of Richard Atkinson (and wounding of his daughter Margaret Dickson), the search for the perpetrator and his later trial and execution. It is also a rich account of life in Waipori and the hunt for gold.

Blair, Ashley (2015)  Murder on the Otago goldfields: the 1865 stabbing of Richard Atkinson at Waipori.  Pukerua Press, 160 pp. The second edition is available for $40 including postage within New Zealand: contact ashleybsa@xtra.co.nz for details.

Agnes Crowley wrote this book for the (belated) centennial of Waipori in 1969. Its 40 pages contain accounts of Waipori life and photographs. Well out of print, it can occasionally be found in second-hand book stores.

This booklet was also produced for the 1969 commemoration. It contains a brief account of the Waipori story, and school rolls for three years in the 1880s and 1890s. You can read a copy here.

For the 150th anniversary celebrations in 2016, Waipori descendant Kerry Driscoll republished both Waipori whispers by Agnes Crowley Waipori centennial by Marguerite Parsons under the title Waipori: bridging time.

Four pupils of Kaikorai Valley High School published this 16-page booklet in 1970, which contains a short history of the first four years of the Waipori goldfield. The content was originally published in the Otago Daily Times. The booklet can sometimes be found in second-hand shops.

Check out the Waipori Gold Facebook page.  It’s a forum for discussion and news about the history, heritage, people and current events of the Waipori area.

Uncover the rich history of the Tuapeka district, which Waipori is part of.  This volunteer-run museum in Lawrence has displays, a research library and visitor centre.  Details are here.

The club aims to preserve and restore as much of the district’s mechanical heritage as possible. 

Its site in Lawrence hosts an impressive collection of machines, vehicles and antique household items as well as an assembly of 19th-century buildings, and is open on Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm.  Details on this website or Facebook page.

Discover the nearby town of Lawrence through its website, events calendar or Facebook page.

The Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust aims to develop, represent and promote the historical sites, trails and events of Otago.  It promotes a heritage trail of sites, and holds annual heritage celebrations.  More information on its website or Facebook page.