When a mob of merinos features among vintage cars and floats in an anniversary parade, you know you are in heartland Otago.
That was the case on Saturday, when about 50 well-behaved and well-controlled merino rams were included in the Pioneer Parade, one of the highlights of the four-day Dunstan Creek 150 celebration. The anniversary marked the settlement of the Cambrian, St Bathans and Becks districts.
About 100 people took part in the parade, with floats focusing on everything from gold mining, to curling, shearers, Cambrian school days, Chinese miners, cancan girls and rugby players. Even Elvis, Santa Claus and the Vulcan Hotel's famous ghost made an appearance.
More than 200 people registered for the anniversary and events were held at Cambrian, Becks and St Bathans, finishing yesterday .
Saturday's parade attracted a crowd of several hundred spectators and Central Otago Mayor Tony Lepper said the occasion was probably the last of the celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of gold discovery in Central Otago.
''This is more like a family reunion, people coming together as one.''
The various anniversary events throughout the wider district had been similar - lots of little communities marking the discovery of gold and the founding of towns by getting together and enjoying themselves, he said. Gladys Sinnamon, of Alexandra, was the special guest at the Pioneer Parade. Mrs Sinnamon, who turns 100 in May, was born in the Becks district and her father owned the White Horse Hotel.
There were three anniversary cakes, one each for Becks, St Bathans and Cambrian. Mrs Sinnamon represented Becks and was joined by Russell Leask (84), of Alexandra, representing Cambrian residents, and Olive Pauley (92), on behalf of St Bathans residents.
Mr Leask said it was a great weekend, with families coming together from all over New Zealand. Mrs Pauley said although she moved away from the area in 1967, she still owned a home in St Bathans. She grew up on the family farm which once surrounded the domain land. Her husband and other family members were buried at St Bathans ''and I still feel as if it's home''.
The celebration began on Thursday with the unveiling of a cairn in the St Bathans Public Cemetery, and continued on Friday with a cross-country golf tournament at Becks.
Saturday's events included bus tours of the wider area and a traditional sports day at the domain, followed by a ceilidh that night. The Ghost to Ghost charity walk, in memory of district stalwart Don Harley, was held yesterday, as was the opening of the Blue Lake walkway at St Bathans.
A church service, tree planting, puppet show and variety concert concluded the anniversary events.
