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Biography: Chalmers, Nathanael

Nathanael Chalmers

Nathanael Chalmers

Nathanael Chalmers was the first European to see Lakes Wakatipu, Wanaka and Hawea and the Upper Clutha valleys during an epic journey of exploration in 1853. He was also an energetic and disputatious pastoralist and Southland provincial councillor, before leaving New Zealand for Fiji in 1868.

Using this item

Hocken Collections, University of Otago

Reference: S12-221b

Permission of the Hocken Collections 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.

How to cite this page

Roger Frazer. 'Chalmers, Nathanael', Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, first published in 1990. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/39824/nathanael-chalmers (accessed 18 June 2026).