Friday 23 May 2008

Logo launched as Lawrence prepares for 2011 celebrations

The committee organising the celebrations to mark 150 years since the discovery of payable gold near Lawrence has launched a new logo as it starts to gear up towards the year of festivities in 2011.

The Lawrence 150^th Year Celebrations Committee publicly launched the logo this week. It features an image of the classic pick and shovel, and the words ‘Gabriels Gully’ where gold was first struck by Gabriel Read, the Australian-born prospector, on 25 May 1861. 

Read’s discovery – after initially being told he was on a ‘wild goose chase’ – changed the course of history and laid a foundation for both Otago and New Zealand. By July 1861, the Lawrence-Tuapeka area was very much immersed in a gold rush, with the district’s population swelling to over 11,000 compared to the less than 6,000 in Dunedin at the time.

Committee Chairman Wayman Roughan said celebrating the 150^th anniversary of Read’s discovery would be a hugely significant event for both the local community, and the wider Otago region.

“The launch of this logo is the first of many steps towards ensuring that, in 2011, Lawrence will once again be the focal point of both Otago and indeed New Zealand,” Mr Roughan said. “The committee and the wider community are excited at the prospect of these celebrations and will be working hard over the next few years to ensure there’s an enjoyable programme of events on offer.”

To help support and promote the Lawrence 2011 celebrations the Clutha District Council has set up pages on its website which will keep those interested informed of the community’s plans. The webpages can be viewed by visiting www.cluthadc.govt.nz/Lawrence2011.htm. More information will be added to the pages as it comes to hand.