March 2015 - Queenstown New Zealand
The foundations of the Anglican in the Wakatipu were laid by the first settler William Gilbert Rees, who established a sheep station with its buildings located on the shores of Queenstown Bay in 1861. Rees was a devout Anglican and held regular services which were attended by the handful of men and one woman who worked for him.
Gold in large quantities was discovered near Lawrence, Central Otago, in the same year Rees settled in Queenstown, and subsequent discoveries were made in 1862, first in the Clyde and Cromwell area and then in the Arrow River near the present day Arrowtown. Late in 1862 two of Rees' own workmen found extremely rich gold in the Shotover River at Arthur's Point five kilometers from the station homestead.
Almost overnight thousands of miners flocked into the area and a large bustling town soon surrounded Rees' station buildings. From the time gold was discovered until he left the area in 1867 Rees took a prominent part in the affairs of the new town and besides providing the essential food supplies for the early miners, was involved in many public and private enterprises.
Nice stone work, very similar to the gray limestone we have here. Tom The Backroads Traveller
ReplyDeleteTerrific stonework. I knew it was from our part of the world.
ReplyDeletei enjoy all the arches ... very very purdy - that is pretty with a southern accent. ( :
ReplyDeleteIt looks like an old English church!
ReplyDeleteStrong, sturdy just like St. Peter.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous church! Such an interesting history!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful church- very classical style.
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