The early gold-mining settlements were almost always built beside a river. Water was needed for cooking and washing, but also for the mining itself. This Central Otago settlement was built beside the Clutha River, which appears benign. But miners soon learnt that all rivers were liable to flood after heavy rain, and that it was prudent to live well above flood level.
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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference:
A-253-035
Watercolour by unidentified artist
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
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