Upper Clutha plans celebrations

150 years since first European settlement

Plans to celebrate the 150th anniversary of European settlement in the Upper Clutha were progressing well, according to Upper Clutha Historical Records Society president Graham Dickson.

A meeting held last week to discuss celebration plans attracted about 20 people.

A subcommittee had been formed to organise the event, which would most probably take place in June, Mr Dickson said.

"Like all data that you look into closely, some facts get a little fuzzy and fall through your fingers, but our research shows that the first European settlers put down roots in the district around June 1860.

"They included Henry Ferris Norman, who came to Wanaka to manage Roys Station, and Caleb Pipson, who worked as a pit sawyer at Makarora," he said.

Norman family members still lived in Wanaka and had been consulted.

"The area had a different founding to goldmining centres such as Cromwell and the Wakatipu. Apart from a bit at Cardrona there was not a lot of gold in the Upper Clutha, so its development was driven by the runholders along with other settlers working in the timber, flax and grain industries," Mr Dickson said.

In many ways Wanaka was a "modern town" because before the 1950s, when Otago residents adopted it as a holiday destination, there was not a lot to it.

Celebratory activities were still in the planning stage but might include a re-enactment of punting across the Clutha at Albert Town, a horse ride to Wanaka Station Park and a self-drive history tour.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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Jim Wilson   #2   09:54 pm Jul 17 2010

I believe I am a descendant of Caleb Pipson as well. MY mother was Isla Graham (married name: Wilson) and I think she was born in 1912, possibly in Arrowtown. I thought Caleb jumped ship in Lyttelton? All the best, Jim Wilson jfwilson@chch.planet.org.nz

Phil Humphrey   #1   11:04 pm Mar 18 2010

Hi there, i am a descendant of Caleb Pipson and i am writing a book about my families history. My Great Grandfather, Alexander Humphrey, married Calebs daughter, Jane Anne, in 1889. I have the marriage records for all of the families that Calebs children married into. Caleb Pipson worked in the Makarora area as a sawmiller from 1860 onwards. Caleb was a sailor on the Strathallan and he jumped ship at Timaru in 1859. His wife, Anne Jane Hendry, was the first european woman to settle in Makarora and i believe there is a plaque in Wanaka commemorating this. It took Caleb two weeks to row her up Lake Wanaka. Caleb Pipson (junior) married Edith Maude Rose Von Tunzelmann in 1909. In 1860 Nicholas Von Tunzelmann registered one of the 2 original leases for farming in the Lake Wakitipu area. His farm extended from the lake through to the West Coast. William Rees took up the other lease. I would like to make contact with the Upper Clutha Historical Records Society president Graham Dickson. With kind regards, Phil.

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