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Links to places on this page: About Dunback The Old Railway Line Some More History And at Present Gold, Gold, Gold Photo Gallery Map |
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To contact me, complain, suggest, praise or just let me know what you think go
here. Links to other sites: The Highwayman Hotel Dunback Otago Central Rail Trail OCEANA Gold Tours at Macraes |
Dunback is 14km up State Highway 85 (The Pig Root) from Palmerston, Otago.
Motorists might miss it when they blink. There are only a few houses along the main road, but more are on side roads and across the Shag River. Quite a lot of farms in the wider area contribute to the population.
An indication of the size of its is the fact that at the 2008 election 132 voters were counted. Here are the details how the voters of Dunback gave their Party Vote:
ACT New Zealand 5 Green Party 6 Jim Anderton's Progressive 1 Kiwi Party 2 Labour Party 19 Maori Party 1 National Party 91 New Zealand First Party 5 The Bill and Ben Party 1 United Future 1
All the NEW ZEALAND ELECTION RESULTS can be looked up: here
There used to be a railway line to Dunback.
A lot of controversy and missed opportunities were connected to this line, which could have been part of the access line to Central Otago. In 1877 the decision was made to route it via the Taieri Gorge rather the Shag Valley. The reason for that is not clear and seems to be dubious. Probably all sorts of factors played a role, like politics etc. Of course the importance of the coastal shipping at the time compared to the land-based transport must have been a factor. What a difference more direct access from the East Coast and the North would have made to Central Otago and the Maniototo. Nevertheless, the Pigroot was an important route to the Goldfields of Macraes and Central Otago. There were many Hotels for the travelers. Most of them closed (between 1903 and 1908) with the introduction of the licensing laws. The one at Macraes is the only one still operating. The Junction Hotel in Dunback, reopened in the 1990s under the new name of
The Highwayman Hotel.
The Dunback railway line operated until the seventies when it served the lime works near Dunback. After it was closed down, I understand the land was sold to the landowners along the line and the tracks were dismantled very quickly. Imagine if the excursion train that runs twice a week to Palmerston could come right up to Dunback. Another opportunity missed!
At present there is talk of a cycle way on the former line, but as the land has been incorporated into the adjacent farms, this has to be negotiated with the landowners, and my understanding is that not everyone is participating willingly.
In 1891 a canning factory was opened at Dunback. In 1897 they processed 5000 rabbits daily. Later it was expanded to sheep and beef. In its heydays as many as ten thousand sheep and a quarter of a million rabbits were put through annually.
In more recent times there have been some changes too. Not long ago the Dunback Presbyterian Church was sold into private ownership. I don't know what its future will be. Some years back the Dunback School went down the same road, as the then Minister of Education, Trevor Mallard, closed it and sold it.
There still is a Coronation Hall. It is used for indoor bowling and the occasional country ball. Another hall, that used to be the Sunday School is used once a week by the wood turning enthusiasts.
There is a Domain with buildings that can be rented for functions or camps. The Bowling Club has its greens there and there is a tennis ground. I don't know if it is still used, but it is there anyway. In the eighties it was used for local tournaments and there were some very devoted and active members. The best kept secret is that people can camp on the ground for a charge of $2-00 per person per night. Where else can you stay for so little? In fact there are some families that come here every year for their holidays! A swimming hole in the adjacent Shag River adds to the attraction of the place. The facilities are very basic, but hey, who would complain. The secret must have got out amongst the camper van fraternity, they seem to make good use of it.
There is gold just up from Dunback. The gold rush started in the 1860s and the mining for gold and scheelite continued until the 1930s. At times there was quite a big population of miners in the area, both European and Chinese. At present there is again a massive open cast and underground operation going at Macraes. Ore is brought in from as far as Reefton at the Westcoast all the way to Macraes to be processed for gold. For visitors there are tours available. more...
¹Read more in: Northern Approaches by C.W.S. Moore, Whitcombe & Tombs Limited
²About the gold: Gold Trails of Otago by June A. Wood, A.H. & A.W. Reed
The area: In the Land of the Dwindle River by George Griffiths, Otago Heritage Books
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