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Story: Police

Otago gold escort, 1860s

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Otago gold escort, 1860s

Gold escorts were established in Otago in the early 1860s to prevent hold-ups between goldfields and the provincial capital, Dunedin. Here the escort, armed with carbines, revolver and sabres, prepares to leave Clyde in Central Otago for Dunedin.

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Toitū Otago Settlers Museum

Permission of Toitū Otago Settlers Museum must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Richard S. Hill, Police – Provinces, war and gold, 1850s to 1870s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/33846/otago-gold-escort-1860s (accessed 9 June 2026).

Story by Richard S. Hill, published 8 June 2012.