A parade of about 10 vintage vehicles and agricultural machines, and several horses and carts, made its way from the Wanaka showgrounds to Wanaka Station Park in Roys Bay on Saturday afternoon.
There, the society and the Upper Clutha Lions club had set up a tent, containing displays and afternoon tea.
Mt Aspiring Station farmer John Aspinall spoke of the history of settlement and farming, saying he was proud of the contribution farmers had made to managing the land and preserving the environment.
The tourism and farming industries needed to work together and it was important for the community to support the under-resourced Department of Conservation in its work, Mr Aspinall said.
Retired Wanaka minister Rev Catherine Little recalled her childhood growing up in isolated Cardrona, at a time when trips to Wanaka on Christmas Eve were a rare treat and Queenstown was "a very mysterious place".
Both speakers recalled, in many anecdotes, the contribution many district families made to community life.
The Wanaka Singers performed two songs before everyone had a cup of tea and pikelets and looked at the displays and vehicles.
The crowd then dispersed to Albert Town, where the Templeton family and the Albert Town Community Association had erected more displays and the old forge was fired up.
The Templeton forge is is more than 100 years old and the family business celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2006.
Gary Templeton and Deane Weastell gave a demonstration of iron-working techniques while the association served hot soup.
Society chairman Graham Dickson said the turnout was "great".
"We have done what we set out to do, which was to draw the public's attention to the fact it is the 150th year of European settlement," Mr Dickson said.
Mr Dickson was not disappointed with the crowd size, saying the event had been advertised and he did not think the society could have done much more.
The first 500 copies of a booklet giving a snapshot of the district's history had nearly sold out and second print run would be ordered.
The displays and a pioneer register had been well received, he said.
