Clyde Attractions
10km northwest of Alexandra on Highway 8, on the River Clutha, is the little township of Clyde, where gold was found in 1862. The settlement, originally called Dunstan, grew up at the south end of Cromwell Gorge and at one time had a population of 4000 gold miners, with banks and hotels. It has preserved a few buildings from the time of the gold rush.
When the gold was exhausted the water of the river, previously used for gold panning, served for the irrigation of fruit plantations.
When the gold was exhausted the water of the river, previously used for gold panning, served for the irrigation of fruit plantations.
Clyde Historical Museum
A prominent feature of the little town is the memorial to the gold miners in the north. The old courthouse (1864) houses the Clyde Historical Museum, which vividly illustrates the history of gold mining in this area, including the spectacular gold robbery of 1870, when the gold stored overnight in the supposedly secure local jail disappeared.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 | 16:00 |
Parking
Free
Disabled
Full facilities for persons with disabilities.
Facilities
Gift shop
Historic Buildings
Some buildings dating from the days of the gold rush are the Athenaeum (1874), a theater and concert hall, the former town hall (1869), now a hotel, the old Hartley Arms Hotel (1865), Dunstan House (1900), Naylor's Victoria Store (1874), now a restaurant, the old post office, St Michael's Church (1877; Anglican), St Dunstan's Church (1906; RC) and St Mungo's Union Church (1894).
