The countdown is on for a history-making photograph to be taken in the main street of Arrowtown on Sunday.
Residents, workers, students and holiday-makers are encouraged to converge on Buckingham St - which will be closed to traffic from 2.30pm to 5pm - to appear in the photograph, being taken by Otago Daily Times illustrations editor Stephen Jaquiery.
The resulting "Arrowtown Today" image will be published in the ODT on Monday before being printed and included with a time capsule, organised by the Arrowtown Volunteer Fire Brigade, to be buried at the conclusion of the Gold 150 celebrations at Labour weekend.
Many people have registered for the image, providing their names, street addresses, occupations and ages, which will be printed and included in the time capsule.
Everyone who registers for the image will be able to purchase the photograph for 50% off normal prices.
However, Otago Daily Times commercial manager Matthew Holdridge said registrations were not compulsory.
"From our perspective, the most important thing is come Sunday we are able to take an image on Buckingham St which truly captures Arrowtown today.
"It's such an incredibly vibrant community and we'd love to see everyone with an affiliation with the town down there on Sunday.
"The street will be closed to traffic to allow everyone to congregate on the main street so we can take the shot from the Arrowtown Bakery end around 4pm.
"We'd also love to see the Arrowtown community make the most of the occasion, enjoy each other's company after the photograph and use it as your own party before the official celebrations begin on October 19."
Arrowtown 150 co-ordinator Julie Hughes said it was an "amazing opportunity to be part of something very unique for Arrowtown".
"A residents' photo, as far as we know, hasn't been done [before].
"This is something very special ... we want children to be a part of this and we want families to come down together.
"We want to make it something very special for the children to be part of."
Mrs Hughes said it had been decided to open the time capsule every 50 years, view its contents and add to it, which meant those in Sunday's photograph who were still in Arrowtown in 2062 would be able to remember the day and find themselves in the image.
Parking will be at a premium on Sunday, so people are encouraged to car pool with neighbours and friends or walk to the main street by about 3.30pm.
Organisers are still seeking items for the time capsule, which will include Arrowtown house prices, a packet of cigarettes, lists of groups in Arrowtown, a photograph of the Arrowtown Bowling Club and its members, a photo of the Buckingham Belles, the price of bread, milk, butter and beer, a power and phone account, photos of Arrowtown, information from TSS Earnslaw centenary celebrations and the 2012 Lake Hayes A and P Show booklet.
