Plans are in place to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Oamaru Town Board, which marked the formal establishment of Oamaru.
The celebrations will start with a civic event on December 23 which will commemorate the passing of the Oamaru Town Board Ordinance by the Otago Provincial Council on the same date in 1862.
That will be followed by a year of events next year, 150 years after the first nine-member board was elected.
Before the Oamaru Town Board was established, the town was governed by the provincial council. However, while the board gave the town some say over its destiny, it was not until the Oamaru Borough Council was formed in 1886 that it had any real power, including the authority to raise its own funds through rates.
Tourism Waitaki event co-ordinator Jan Kennedy is co-ordinating events for the 150th celebrations. She said planning started two to three months ago, but had now entered a new phase, that of encouraging more events.
These could be events specifically for the 150th or annual events incorporated into the 150th celebration.
The Waitaki District Council was now inviting individuals and organisations to notify it of any planned 150th events so they can be effectively promoted and incorporated into the calendar.
Mrs Kennedy said there were already some significant events planned for 2013.
"Many of these can be incorporated into the borough celebration, including 150 years of North Otago A. and P. Shows, Oamaru Scott 100, Steampunk Festival, Victorian Heritage Celebrations and the Victorian Fete.
"The 2013 Santa Parade could possibly double as the town Christmas party and be the culmination of the year's celebrations," she said.
The North Otago Museum and Forrester Gallery both had exhibitions planned to acknowledge Oamaru's 150th, with the museum archive holding newspapers, photographs, oral histories and documents which detailed the history of the region.
Waitaki Mayor Alex Familton was looking forward to celebrating the anniversary with the community.
"Our ancestors worked hard to establish and develop the district. In a relatively short time they constructed an infrastructure and buildings to sustain and support our community. Right from the start they were creative, constructive volunteers," he said.
Those with events could contact Mrs Kennedy (phone 434-1655) before October 31 to be included in the "150th Oamaru - A Year of Celebrations" programme.
