Locations A to B

LOCATIONS

A – B

A – B C – E F – I J – M N – Q R – T U - Z

PLACENAME	WHERE	HISTORY
Adam’s Flat	Small flat 14km south of Milton	Named after landowner, James ADAM. Became prominent when gold discovered
Ahuriri/Ahuriri Flat	Rural district between Glenomaru and Otekura; the valley through which the Karoro stream flows.	Named after Ngaitahu chief, Tauhuriri
Ajax Hill	2290ft high, situated at headwaters of Maclennan River.
Akatore	District 21km E of Milton	‘Aka’ harbour, ‘torea’ several kind of wading bird
Albert Downs	Early estate in Kaihiku district
Alberts Cap	Small hill near old railway line between Kaihiku and Waiwera	Name first appears on Kettle’s map of 1847 as ‘Albert’s Hat. Reference to Prince Albert (Queen Victoria’s husband)
Anise Hill	South side of Pomahaka River opposite to where Rankleburn flows from the north.	Names after native aniseed plant.
Arthurton	Railway station near Otago-Southland boundary	Named after a Mr ARTHUR, traffic manager c1878
Ashley Downs	Name from an estate near Waiwera, 10km from Clinton	Named by James GIBSON, early landowner in honour of orphanage operated by Dr George MULLER and/or home of James MULLER of Bristol
Awakia Stream	Between Waiwera Cone and Kuriwao Peak	Also known as Marshall’s Creek after Matthew MARSHALL who had hut there c1865
Awa-ki-aia/Awa-Kaeaea	Old Maori name for Kuriwao Stream	Maori meaning ‘Sparrow-hawk Stream’
Awakiki Bush	Early settlement near Puerua	Sometimes referred to as Awariri
Awamangu	District 16km up river from Balclutha, situated on small creek called Black Burn (or Dull Burn)	‘Awa’ valley or stream ‘Mangu’ is black
Awatea	3 miles east of Purekireki, 23km from Owaka, head of Puerua Valley	‘Tea’ white or clear ‘Awa’ river, or ‘broad daylight, middle of the day’
Back Stream	Tributary of Pomahaka River
Balclutha SS Clyde passing Balclutha c1910	Town at centre of Clutha district, 85km from Dunedin Also known as ‘Iwikatea’, ‘Clutha Ferry’ and ‘McNeill’s Ferry’ (Post Office name changed to Balclutha in 1865)	Name is gaelic for the Clyde, Bal is town
Balloon	Balloon loop in the Matau branch of Clutha River near Kaitangata	Was site of Ngaitahu pa known as ‘Katore-e-kinau’
Barratta Creek	Small tributary creek emptying into Puerua River at Port Molyneux	Presumed correct spelling ‘Brada’, perhaps a Welsh name (most names of streets in old Port Molyneux township were Welsh
Beaumont	District and settlement 53km from Milton on Clarkesville-Alexandra Highway Also Beaumont River. Early alternative name, given by surveyor CW ADAMS of Dunkeld	Named after Bowmont Burn, Scottish border name, probably given by THOMSON and GARVIE in 1857.
Begg’s Beach	Beach on north side of Clutha River c14km upstream from Balclutha	Begg’s Beach, Clutha River
Bellamys	Near Lovells Flat.	Originally Bellenys, this name was given by Edmund BOWLER after his sister’s estate in Ireland
Benhar	Village about two miles north of Stirling.	Site of old McSkimming’s Pottery Works. Named after village near Airdrie in Scotland.
Big Mill	Hina Hina, Catlins.	Started by Guthrie and Larnach in 1871, the Big Mill was situated near the site of the present Yacht Club
Bishops	11km from Balclutha, was a post office between Stony Creek and Hillend (sometimes called Hillend or Lower Hillend)	Named after early settler in district
Black Cleugh	Creek flowing out of Blue Mountains easterly into Clutha River.	Maori name was ‘Kowai’
Blowhole, The	South of Jack’s Bay
Blue Mountains	Dividing range between the Clutha and Pomahaka Rivers. First appears on maps as Mount Valpy
Blue Spur	5km from Lawrence
Bonnet, The	Also known as ‘Scotman’s Bonnet’. About 2 miles down the Owaka River from Tahatika	Prominent rock with trees on it resembling a Scotman’s bonnet.
Bowlers Creek	8km from Tuapeka	Named after miner, of DAVEY and BOWLER, first owner of Bellamys station
Brown Dome	Mountain at head of Owaka Valley, behind Kaihiku Range	Head of Waiwera River
Bull Creek	District and strip of coast 11 miles E of Milton	One version say named derives from activities of wild bull in early days, other as named after Robert O’NEILL an ex-whaler of great strength aka John BULL. Maori name ‘Moanariri’
Burning Plains	Seam of lignite coal in Pomahaka district which has been burning since Maori times	‘Te Ahiaue’ is Maori name – ‘aue’ is fire
Burnt Flat	Catlins

A – B C – E F – I J – M N – Q R – T U - Z

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Sources:

‘Pioneering in South Otago’ by F Waite, pub. 1948

‘Catlins Pioneering’ by AR Tyrell, pub. 1989

‘Faith and Toil’ by DJ Sumpter and JJ Lewis, pub 1949

‘Full Circle’ 1975

‘Place Names of New Zealand’ by AW Reed, pub 1975

‘Otago Place Names’ by JH Beattie, pub

Please let us know of any we have missed, or are incorrect

Contact: Secretary, Balclutha@genealogy.org.nz

‘Locations A – B’ last updated 18 Nov 2006