Story: Rural language

Land fever

Land fever

The rush for land was described by various terms, including earth hunger, land fever, land seeking and run-hunting. This 1861 cartoon depicts the race to obtain and settle land in the mid-19th century. At the time, large parts of Otago had been designated goldfields, but pastoralists were keen to move into these areas as most available land was already in runs.

Using this item

Hocken Library, University of Otago
Reference: 7,739
Artwork by James Brown

Permission of the Hocken Library Uare Taoka o Hakena, University of Otago, must be obtained before any re-use of this image. Further information may be obtained from the Library through its website.

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How to cite this page:

Dianne Bardsley, 'Rural language - Settling the land', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/18593/land-fever (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Dianne Bardsley, published 24 Nov 2008