The 150th anniversary of the arrival of two of the Wakatipu's founding fathers will be celebrated this week, with descendants of two of the pioneers accepting invitations to attend the celebrations.
In February 1860, pioneer settlers William Gilbert Rees and Nicholas Von Tunzelmann arrived in the Wakatipu.
As part of the celebrations a re-enactment of their lake-shore trek from Frankton to Queenstown will be staged.
Pioneers' Arrival Celebration steering committee chairman Dr David Coles announced the programme of events for February 13 and 14 yesterday, which includes an art exhibition commemorating the work and achievements of the pioneer settlers; a memorial service at the historic St Peter's Church in Queenstown; and the formation of a W. G. Rees Heritage Trust to plan, fund and implement a continuing programme of activities, which will preserve, promote and celebrate the heritage created by the pioneers.
There will also be a demonstration of Victorian era cricket and a special welcome at the Freemasons Lake Lodge of Ophir - both pioneers were members of the Lake Lodge.
Present will be two very special guests, descendants of Mr Rees and Mr Von Tunzelmann.
"We are delighted that two family historians - Rosemary Marryatt, a great-granddaughter of William Rees, and Adrienne Von Tunzelmann, a great-grandniece of Nicholas Von Tunzelmann - have accepted our invitation to come and join the celebration," Dr Coles said.
"We see this celebration as the beginning of a sustained and co-ordinated community-based effort to celebrate the achievements of our pioneers. Also to generate interest and support for the implementation of the Queenstown Lakes District Council's heritage strategy, which is in the process of being finalised.
"Through the celebration, we are launching an effort to reconnect Queenstown and the Lakes district with the widely dispersed descendants of the thousands of people who were drawn to the region 150 years ago by the combination of new settlement with one of the world's greatest gold rushes.
"Over the next decade, we have a number of important milestones in the early development of the Southern Lakes district to celebrate.
"We see the heritage created during our exciting and romantic settlement period as a vital asset that can play a more significant role in the continuing development of the region's tourism industry, as well as in building our own sense of identity and community," Dr Coles said.
The Pioneers Arrival Celebration steering committee includes representatives of the Queenstown and Lakes District Historical Society, the council, the Lakes District Museum, St Peter's Church, the Freemasons Lake Lodge of Ophir and The Rees Hotel.
The committee had established an information centre at Earl St, Queenstown, and invited other descendants of early settlers to register their interest in participating in next weekend's celebrations and other events and activities associated with the history and heritage of early settlers in the lakes district region.
