Teviot’s historical treasures

Tucked away in small towns throughout Otago and Southland are the keepers of the community’s history. Today, Pam Jones visits Roxburgh.

A building with a holy focus now contains a ‘‘treasure trove’’ of Teviot Valley history.

• Telephone exchange a valued relic

The Teviot District Museum is housed in the district’s first Methodist Church, which was built in 1872.

It was later used as a Sunday School, by Scout and Girl Guide groups and to provide extra space for Roxburgh’s high school.

The building became home to the museum collection in 1971 and is now run by a small group of dedicated volunteers.

Museum committee member Robin Christie said the museum contained a ‘‘treasure trove’’ of items, including significant collections relating to the district’s gold-mining, farming and orcharding history.

It also focuses on the Roxburgh hydro dam construction and the 1920 establishment of the Teviot Electric Power Board (TEPB). The TEPB was the precursor to the Central Lakes Trust, eventually beginning the Otago Central Electric Power Board, which was later split up through government reforms. The money from the sales of power board assets set up the Central Lakes Trust.

Mr Christie said another valuable part of the Teviot museum was its collection of photos, documents and family histories, including information about the war service of the district’s servicemen and women.

Central Otago’s ‘‘dry air’’ helps preserve the museum’s collection, which also includes an outside display of antique machinery and equipment.

Large information panels outside the museum outline key parts of the district’s history, and volunteers are available to meet visitors for viewings or research at the museum by appointment outside opening hours.

Opening hours

The Teviot District Museum is open every Sunday from 2pm-4pm from Labour Weekend until late May, and at other times by appointment.

While you’re there

• Go cycling. The Teviot Valley boasts two cycle trails: the Roxburgh Gorge Trail, from Alexandra to the Roxburgh Dam; and the Clutha Gold Trail, from the Roxburgh Dam to Lawrence.
• Get a taste of the region. The stonefruit in the Roxburgh district is some of the world’s finest, and there are many fruit stalls along the highway. Teviot Valley fruit and preserves also feature in some of the dishes in local eateries.
• Explore local history. The Teviot Valley has a wealth of historic sites, including the restored Millers Flat Bakehouse; the repurposed Faigan’s Cafe; the old Teviot woolshed, once the largest woolshed in the southern hemisphere; and the Lonely Graves, where ‘‘somebody’s darling’’ is buried.