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Bottle Kilns at Benhar Pottery Works c 1930

A GAZETTEER OF SOUTH OTAGO PLACE NAMES

Like all regions, place names in South Otago reflect the lives of the people who lived here, both Maori and Pakeha.  Some are descriptive of the land, sea and rivers, some names reflect with nostalgia, the places where people came from, their dreams and aspirations, some remember those of influence and character.  As the railway siding sheds and district halls with the name displayed on them disappear and small district schools closed over the years, many of these names have gone from sight and from common use as districts merge and populations shift.

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

Caberfeidh	Mountain in Catlins district, and old railway station on Catlins river line.  About 2mls nth of Maclennan.	Named by John MacKENZIE, was motto of Seaforth Highlanders
Campbell’s Point / Campbell’s Bay	Point on sea coast 2ml nth of Tokata Point, near Kaka Point	Named after early resident in area
Canada Reef	Name of quartz mine in Table Hill area.  Canada Bush up north branch of Tokomairiro River	Name taken from early name for district
Cannibal Bay	Small bay north of False Island about 8km from Owaka	Maori name ‘Oraki-utuhia’.  Many unreliable stories as to origin of name.  Old Maori ovens in vicinity
Carol	Tussock hills of Kaihiku Range in Waiwera district	Named after home, near Dunrobin Castle, Scotland, of father of John ANDERSON (1^st white child born site of Dunedin, 1846)
Carterhope	Old estate on main highway near Warepa	Purchased by James BORTHWICK in 1861
Cathedral Caves	Series of large caves named by Dr Hocken 1892
Catlin’s Cone	Mountain 2290ft high about 16mls nth of Long Beach	Otago-Southland boundary
Catlin’s Lake	Tidal flat which Catlins River flows into	Maori name ‘Pounawea’
Catlin’s River	Rises nth of Catlin’s Cone, flows past south slopes of Wisp Range, past Ratanui to Catlin’s Lake.	Between 1863 and 1870, Catlin’s River referred to district known as ‘The Landing’   Maori name ‘Kuramea’
Catlins	Name given in general to Owaka district	Edward CATLIN, master of a trading schooner, bought large tract of land from Tuhawaiki
Cedar Hill	South of Chloris Stream between Catlins and Owaka Rivers
Cemetery Hill	Small hill 1ml sw of Port Molyneux where cemetery situated	Maori name ‘Puke-ti’ cabbage tree hill
Chasland’s Mistake	Headland 4ml sw of Tautuku Peninsula	Allegedly, CHASLAND once mistook this long headland for Cape Saunders. Thought more likely that Chasland himself named it that after having arrived there late one evening, discovering herd of seals and made the mistake of leaving them till morning, when it was found the seals had left in the night. Maori name ‘Maki-ti’ branch of cabbage tree
Chasland’s River	Known as Waipati River	Wai - river, pati - shallow
Chaslands	District between Tautuku and Waikawa	Named after Thomas CHASLANDS, of whaling fame
Chinaman Flat	Near Tuapeka	Named such in reference to large numbers of Chinese on goldfields
Chloris Stream	Rises SE of Wisp Hill, flows into Catlins River
Chrystals Beach	On the coast near Milton	Named after Francis CHRYSTALL, early settler and proprietor of boarding house
Circle Hill	District NW of Milton deriving name from a circular topped hill
Clarendon	10km north from Milton	Named by J H HARRIS, superintendent of Otago after his ancestor, Earl of Clarendon in reign of Charles II
Clarksville	District at junction of Main South and Central Highways, 3km from Milton.  Early spelling ‘Clarkesville’	Named after Henry and Jasper CLARK who were early settlers in area
Clifton	District, former Estate near Waiwera	Acquired by William TELFORD
Clinton	Town 31km SW of Balclutha	Family name of Duke of Newscastle, Secretary for Colonies 1852-54.  At one time the name Clinton was desired for Invercargill, unsuccessfully, and the name ‘wandered around looking for a home’ for a time.  In 1873 Popotunoa became Clinton
Clutha River	Major river with headwaters in Central Otago. Balclutha is situated on the lower river.	Clutha is Gaelic for Clyde.  Maori name from source in Lake Wanaka to the sea was ‘Mata-au’ meaning surface current.
Clydevale Shearing Gang at Clydevale 1894	Area between fork of Clutha and Pomahaka Rivers about 29km from Balclutha.	Name refers to the River Clyde.  Name given by NZ & Australian Land Company in 1863, name of estate.
Coal Point	On the coast east of Kaitangata	Named by Tuckett
Conical Hills	NW of Waipahi	Named after cone shaped hill
Conical, The	Small conical hill on west bank of Waiwera River
Coronet Hill	SW of Kuriwao Peak
Cosgrove Island	Small island 2ml NW of Long Point	Maori name ‘Puke-mau-kuku
Crichton	8km south from Milton	Named after early settler
Crookburn	Stream rising near Waitahuna West, flowing into Clutha River downstream from Tuapeka Mouth
Dalhousie	Name for Tuapeka Mouth c1860
Dull Burn	Otherwise known as Black Burn
Dunkeld	Alternative name for Beaumont (still used on land maps in 1975)	This Perthshire name given by surveyor CW ADAMS
Dutton’s Bridge, Dutton’s Hill	Bridge over Owaka River 2km north of Owaka
Earlstoke	Near Willsher Bay
Elbow, The	Deep corner on Owaka River at Pounawea
Evans Flat	5km from Lawrence	Named after goldrush hotel proprietor, David EVANS

Fairfax	Early name for Tokoiti
FalseIsland/False   Islet	Northern headland at mouth of Catlins River	Maori name ‘Otara’.  Narrow neck of land could not be seen from sea, misled whalers who thought was an island
Ferry, The	Early name for north side of Clutha River where travellers would be ferried across.  The town of Balclutha was to grow from here	‘The Ferry’ c1870 (ferry pole still visible in front of Balclutha Hotel)
Finegand	Two miles south of Balclutha and site of South Otago Freezing Works.	Name given by John SHAW, early landholder, reminiscent of his home in the Highlands of Scotland
Fisherman’s Hill	High ground south of Karoro stream above Willsher Bay	Maori name ‘Taita’ after a Maori boy who died there.  Also called ‘Taukohu’ (1844)
Fleming River	Small river flowing into estuary of Tautuku River.	Named after Hon DT FLEMING who accompanied J MacKENZIE and Sir T MacKENZIE on visits to Catlins
Florence Hill	Prominent hill between Papatowai and Tautuku affording stunning view of Tautuku Bay
Four Mile Creek	Small creek that runs across Main South Road at foot of a steep hill – tributary of Toiro Stream.	Reputed by waggoners to be 4 miles west of Clutha Ferry.
Fraser’s Stream	Rises near Taratu and flows through Lovells Flat into Lake Tuakitoto	Named after early settlers in district
Freston Hill	Hill on seaward side on Tunnel Hill, Glenomaru/Otekura district	Origin of name unknown
Gabriels Gully	3km from Lawrence	Australian prospector, Gabriel READ discovered gold in the valley on 20 May 1861, beginning the Otago Gold Rush
Glenelg	Name from run around head of Puerua River
Glenfalloch	Run near Warepa	Named by Robert CAMPBELL after village at head of Loch Lomond, Scotland
Glengarry	Alternative name for ‘Scotsman’s Bonnet’	Named by McLATCHIE family
Glenkenich
Glenledi	16km from Milton	Seaside settlement originally named ‘Glen Lady’ by daughter of Rev DEWES
Glenomaru	District and old railway station, 12 mls from Balclutha on Owaka Highway.  Also stream that flows into Puerua	Name is hybrid – Scottish ‘Glen’ and Maori ‘O-Maru’.  Maru was Ngaitahu chief
Glenore	District on Lawrence and Central Otago highway, 8km from Milton	Name as that of property of early settler, CAMERON.  Originally known as The Woolshed
Greenfield	District up north side of Clutha River , 26km from Balclutha	Named after Greenfield Estate, which was named such by runholder James G SMITH, 1865.  Run was covered with native tussock grass except one small paddock sown with English grass seed.  Former name of run was Riverbank
Guernsey Hill	Hill in Waitepeka district	Early settler A QUERTIER, born on Guernsey Island brought Guernsey cattle with them to farm
Hay’s Cap	Originally a gap between a large rock and the mainland through which beach road ran, between Kaka Point and The Nuggets	Named after early settler, George HAY.  Maori name ‘Puni-wai-torika’ after Maori woman who was killed there in tribal fighting
Hayward Point	Southern headland at Catlins River estuary.	Cptn HAYWARD was harbourmaster at Catlins and was drowned at Long Point along with son Frank and W WILSON in 1887
Helensbrook	District south of Milton	Named after wife of John HARDY, Provincial Secretary 1861-62 and early settler
Hillend	High ground between Lovells Flat and Clutha River, 17km from Balclutha	Description name given by surveyors, to run held by MAITLAND brothers in 1860’s ‘Pukepito’ is same name in Maori i.e.  ‘puke’ – a hill, ‘pito’ – end.
Hinahina	District on SE shore of Catlins Lake 5km from Owaka	Hinahina is name of native tree – or whitey wood (Melicytus remiflorus)
Hinahina Hill	Hill between Catlins Lake and the coast
Houipapa	District and old railway station 10km from Owaka	‘Houi’ name for native tree Hoheria populnea (Ribbonwood) ‘papa’ flat
Hukihuki	River near Chaslands	Means ‘roasting spit for fish’
Hunt’s Road	Old railway station on Catlin’s River line, 5km nth of Owaka	Named after George HUNT, early settler.
Inch Clutha/ Inchclutha	Land between Matau and Koau branches of Clutha River, 1km from Stirling	Maori name ‘Tauhinu’ a native shrub (Pomaderris phylicaefolia).  Early settlers knew it as ‘Bloody Jack’s Island’ after Tuhawaiki who was born there
Invertiel	Between Balclutha and Finegand, alongside Clutha River
Iwikatea	Old Maori name for sandy flat below where the Clutha River divides at Balclutha.	‘Katea’ is whitened, ‘Iwi’ is bone in reference to bleached bones lying about after tribal fight.
Jack’s Bay	Small bay about a mile sth of Catlins River estuary.  Hayward Point is northern headland	Name refers to John Tuhawaiki
Jack’s Island	Off southern end of Jack’s Bay
Jackman’s Stream	Small creek flowing into Glenomaru Stream	Named after JACKMAN, early settler and sawmill owner
Jacob’s Hill	Prominent hill overlooking Newhaven	Named after an old maori
Johnstone	5km from Waitahuna	Named after surveyor of district
Kahuika	District between Caberfeidh and Maclennan, 24km from Owaka	Said to mean ‘meeting of the waters’
Kaihiku	Old railway siding in district between Warepa and Waiwera, 19km from Balclutha	‘Kai’ is food, ‘hiku’ tail of fish.
Kaihiku Range	Prominent range running from Warepa to Clinton
Kaihiku River	Rise southern slopes of Kaihiku Range	Flows into Clutha River 6mls upstream from Balclutha
Kaimaitaitai	Name for old port at The Nuggets, 30km from Balclutha	‘Kai’ food, ‘mataitai ‘salty’
Kaitangata Kaitangata Coal Mine c1890	Coal mining centre in South Otago situated on Matau branch of Clutha River, 13km from Balclutha	One meaning given -‘Kai’ to eat, food; ‘tangata’ man’.  Battle fought here between two tribes over eeling rights, chief Mokomoko being killed and eaten by victors.  Another is that was named for Kaitakata of Arai-te-uru canoe who found type of clay used in painted designs.  Another version is based on mythology, Rupe’s son, Kaitangata was crushed by a heavy beam and his blood spread across the heavens, explaining sky at sunset.
Kaiwera	Stream flowing around south side of Otaraia Hill into Waipahi River.	Corruption of ‘Kahuwera’, hot clothes.  ‘Kaiwera’ would be hot food
Kaka Point	Seaside town between Port Molyneux and Karoro Creek, 22km from Balclutha	Name refers to native parrot once common in district
Kakapuaka	Old railway station and township 3mls west of Balclutha	Railway station was originally Waitepeka and post office Kakapuaka.  Settlers petitioned to change railway station to Kakapuaka
Karoro Creek	Small creek flowing into Willsher Bay	Maori name for black backed gull  OR  short for Ka-o-Ue, fire of Ue
Katea	District 5km up Hunts Road, 5km from Owaka	Probably abbreviation of ‘kahikatea’ the white pine
Kenneth Peak	Mountain 1mile nth of Tahakopa River
Koau River	Commencing just below railway bridge at Balclutha, the Koau River is the branch of the Clutha River forming western boundary of Inch Clutha and southern boundary of Balclutha	Koau is Maori name for pied shag.
Kuramea	Maori name for Catlins River
Kuriwao	District 48km from Gore 5km sth of Clinton.  Also Kuriwao Peak - prominent peak within area	Maori name was ‘Koaka-kaeaea’ – nest of the sparrow hawk
Kuriwao Stream	Rises in hills south of Clinton, flows down Kuriwao Gorge, west of Kuriwao Peak then through Clinton district into Waiwera River	Kuri means dog and wao is forest
Lawrence	96km from Dunedin on Central Otago Highway	Named in 1857 after Sir HM LAWRENCE, hero of Indian Mutiny
Lochindorb	Also known as Shaw’s old run.  Top end of Puerua Valley	Lochindorb is a lake in Morayshire, Scotland
Long Point	Prominent headland 7 miles east of Tautuku Peninsula.	S.S. Manuka was wrecked here in 1929.  Maori name was ‘Irihuka’ – hanging with foam
Longbeach Creek	East of Waikawa  Harbour.	Boundary between Otago and Southland
Lovell’s Flat	District between Moneymore and Stirling, 14km from Balclutha.  Also Lovells Creek	Originally owned by pioneer settler, John LOVELL, one of whose sons discovered coal at Kaitangata.
MacKenzie Stream	Rises near Tarara and flows into Catlins Lake near Ratanui	Named after Sir Thomas MACKENZIE, MP for district
Maclennan	Old railway station on Catlins River line where Maclennan River joins the Tahakopa, 63km from Balclutha	Murdoch MacLENNAN took up the MacLennan run in 1884
Maclennan Range	Range between head waters of Tauruku and Tahakopa Rivers.
Maclennan River	Small river rising near Ajax Hill, about 5 miles nth of Tahakopa Valley, flows into Tahakopa River	Maori name ‘Waimaeroero’
Manuka Creek	District just beyond the Manuka Gorge on Lawrence/Central Otago highway, 14km from Milton	Manuka shrub growing prolifically in area
Manuka Island	Small island in Clutha River , 3 miles up from Balclutha
Maranuku	Maori reserve at Karoro
Marshall’s Creek	Also known as Awakia Stream	Matthew MARSHALL was a shepherd of Meredith’s Popotunoa Run in 1853
Mataipipi	Old time Maori pa at mouth of Clutha River near Coal Point
McPhee Cove	Small bay west of Pillan’s Head	Named after McPHEE, boat builder at Owaka River
Measley Beach	Between Clutha and Tokomairiro	Large party of Maoris died from measles c 1835
Milburn	Small settlement 6km north of Milton	Name derived from ‘Millbourne’, property name of Mr BLACK, so named because of stream flowing through farm the water from which drove the wheels of mills at Milton
Miller’s Point	Catlins
Milton McGill’s Flour Mill, Milton est 1858	Town at heart of Tokomairiro region	Name derived from Mill Town, the settlement around McGill’s flourmill and several other mills in the area
Mokamoka	Name adopted for short period for Pounawea
Molyneux	Alternative name for Clutha River	Captain Cook named what he took to be a harbour after Robert MOLINEUX, sailing master of ‘Endeavour’ who died during the voyage.  Whalers adopted name for the river.  Old miners referred to the river above Cromwell as the Clutha and below, the Molyneux.
Moneymore	District 6km south of Milton	Named after district in Ireland where guardian of orphaned MARTIN family came from.  Property named Moneymore Farm.  Formerly known as Southbridge or South Toko, name changed as confusion with same name in Southland.
Mount Cooee	Hill on bank of Clutha to north of Balclutha	So named as settlers often had to ccoey loudly to attract attention of ferryman.
Mount Roseberry	Highest peak in South Otago called the Steep Face area, about 15 miles south of Clinton and 20 miles north of Chaslands.	Three early runs, the Merrie Creek, the Cairn and the Wisp shared the rough tussock country of this area.
Murikauhaka	Old Maori village at old mouth of Clutha River (near Port Molyneux)	Canoes were tied up in a backwater.  ‘Muri’ means behind, ‘kauhaka’ a bay
Narrowdale	32 miles from Dunedin, near Milburn on southern railway line
Newhaven	Small settlement near Pounawea at the mouth of the Catlins River
Nugget Point	Prominent point of coastline beyond Kaka Point	Also known as ‘Tokata Point’.  Lighthouse on Nugget Point first lit 1869
Nuggets, The	About 20 rocks off Nugget Point.	Named this by whalers.  Maori had name for every one
Ohiti/Ohito	Catlins Head	Means ‘cautious, be on one’s guard’
Omaru	Mount Omaru is one of two prominent hills between Romahapa and Glenomaru.  Also Omaru Stream and Little Omaru Stream, tributaries of Glenomaru Stream	Named after a Maori chief
Opito	The Blowholes	Means ‘the navel’
Otanomomo	Old railway siding on Catlins River Line, beyond Finegand.  Former school of that name on Settlement Road, Paretai which changed its name to Paretai after 1960.	Otanomomo estate established by TELFORD.  In 1858 Thomas REDPATH established the first store south of Dunedin on the Puerua River.
Otaraia	Hill that was landmark on old track between Popotunoa and Tuturau.	Named after Taraia
Otekura	District inland from Sandy Bay, about 5miles from Port Molyneux and further towards coast from Glenomaru and Ahuriri	Means place of red feather
Otiwha	Little creek near store at Kaka Point	‘Tiwha’ is patch of shell or wood put on a hole in a kelp bag
Owaka	Town centre of Catlins District, 37km from Balclutha.	Early variant of name ‘Owaki’ ‘Owake’ ‘Owarker’.  Name means ‘place of the canoe.
Owaka Harbour	Known in early days as Catlins River	Sometimes known as Newhaven Harbour
Owaka River	Rises on nthn side of Wisp Range, flows down Owaka Valley to sea
Paiwata	Tributary of Kaihiku.	Spelt by early settlers as ‘Pie-water.  Meaning is ‘fence of storehouse’
Papatowai	Settlement near mouth of Tahakopa River, south side, 3km from Maclennan	‘Papa’ is flat, ‘Towai’ is native tree also known as Kamahai
Papatupu	Old railway station and post office (1913-1916) closed in favour of Tawanui
Parae	Old railway station of Tahora on north bank of Owaka was renamed Parae to avoid confusion with Tahora in North Island
Paretai	Lies between the Puerua River and Koau branch of Clutha River, 16km from Balclutha.	Originally part of Telford estate.  Paretai means ‘bank of a river’
Penguin Bay	Bay near the ‘Blowhole’, south of Jack’s Bay, north of White Head
Pillan’s Head	Headland 2 miles west of Long Point	Named after WS PILLANS, nephew of FS PILLANS, early runholder
Pillan’s Stream	Small creek running into sea east of Pillan’s Head	Maori name ‘Hiri koura’, the saltwater crayfish is ‘koura’
Pohaaroa	Peak in Kaihiku Range behind Warepa Bush	Name means ‘full love’
Pollock’s Hill	Hill on west side of old railway line between Glenomaru and Hunts Road	Named after sawmiller
Pomahaka Downs	Estate in Popotunoa district
Pomahaka River	Large tributary of Clutha River, rising in Umbrella Mountains and Mount Benger, flows along western side of Blue Mountains	Correct spelling ‘Pou-mahaka’ meaning posts (driven into banks) to snare ducks
Popotunoa Popotunoa Hill	District near Clinton, originally referring to wooded hill.	Name probably refers to boundary between Ngai Tahu and Ngati Mamoe tribes,  marked by post in ground.  Post ‘poupou’, ‘tu’ standing, ‘noa’ common to all
Port Molyneux	Old township at mouth of Clutha River and entry port for South Otago, 19km from Balclutha.  Township now gone	After big flood of 1878, the river made two new mouths further north and the original mouth silted up.
Pounawea	Township on estuary where Catlins Lake and Owaka River join, 5km from Owaka	Maori name for Catlins Lake.  Name means ‘post set on fire’
Puaho	Road running from Maclennan across hill to Purakauiti	Name presumed to be in reference to Ngati Awa chief, Puoho
Puerua	District about 3 miles north-east of Romahapa.  Puerua Stream runs into Clutha River near mouth	Name means ‘two posts’
Pukekoma	District about 29km from Balclutha, north of Hillend	‘Puke’ means hill, ‘koma’ type of stone
Pukepito	About 8 miles up river from Balclutha	BEGG’S station was at Pukepito.  Name means hill end
Pukerau	Small township between Waipahi and Gore.	Names means ‘leaf hill’
Puketi	Small district between Greenfield and Waitahuna West	‘Ti’ is cabbage tree ‘Puke’ is hill
Puketiro Road Builders at Puketiro	Mountain and old railway station between Owaka and Tahakopa, 21km from Owaka	Name means hill with view
Purakauiti	Tributary of Purakaunui River	The little Purakau
Purakaunui	Name of small river flowing into Purakaunui Bay, between Catlins River and Long Point.	Famous Purakaunui Falls on the river
Purekireki	District at head of Owaka Valley, 26km NW of Owaka	Name means ‘a heap of flax’
Purple Hill	Small hill on right hand side of road about 7-800 metres along Back Road, Port Molyneux	Origin of name unknown (can you help?)
Quakerfield	Now part of Owaka	Name of block of land cut up in 1895
Rainbow Island	Small island at northern end of Tautuku Bay	Spray from rocks causes a rainbow effect.  Maori name ‘Rerekohu’ means mist carried on the wind
Rata Range	Low range of hills extending from Catlins Lake to Wisp Range	Considered by Maori to be haunted by wild men of the woods.  Two peaks were known as Puku and Mihi, two women who were carried away while hunting bird in the bush.
Ratanui	District and old railway station at head of Catlins Lake	Name means ‘big or many rata’ (Rata is native tree with red flowers)
Reomoana	Site of old native school at Karoro.	Means ‘voice of the sea’
Roaring Bay	Small bay south of Nugget Point	Maori name ‘Wanga-paraoa’.  Wanga means bay; paraoa - sperm whale
Romahapa	Township about 13km from Balclutha, old railway station on Catlins line	Name means crooked stream Anderson’s Creamery at Romahapa 1908
Rongahere	District on west bank of Clutha River about 3 miles up from Tuapeka Mouth	‘Here’ means spear
Rosebank	Southern hill area now part  of Balclutha town
Sandy Bay	Small bay south of Nugget Point, between Roaring Bay and Cannibal Bay	Maori name ‘Te One-a-piria’
Scrub Burn	Small creek flowing into Clutha River opposite Rongahere	Western boundary of goldfield decalred in 1861
Scrubby Knowe	Hill on north bank of Pomahaka to east of Back Creek
Shagree Creek	Small creek flowing into sea at Measley Beach
Shaw’s Track	Early name given (1850) to what is now road from Warepa to Balclutha
Slopedown	22km from Clinton	Descriptive name given by THOMSON and GARVIE in 1850’s
Stirling	Township on east bank of Clutha River 5km from Balclutha	Archibald ANDERSON gave land for township provided that railway station be called Stirling after his birthplace in Scotland
Stony Creek	Creek crossing main south road between Benhar and Lovells Flat, flowing into Lake Tuakitoto
Stuarts	Old railway station 2 miles from Maclennan, 3 miles from Tahakopa, also school (Papatowai) and post office	Named after early settler in district
Summerhill	High ground on eastern side of Matau branch of Clutha River	Believed to have been centre of most populated dwelling of ancient Rapuwai tribe
Surat Bay	Bay with long white beach at mouth of Catlins River, west of False Island, 11km from Owaka	Ship ‘Surat’ beached and shipwrecked here on New Year’s Day 1874
Sweetwater Creek	At Pounawea
Table Hill	Flat topped hill, NE of Caberfeidh	Maori name of ‘Tua-ta-pere’ means fairy mountain.  Catlins 1840 map calls it Mount Typo
Table Hill	District 11km west of Milton, named for Table Mound, a flat-topped hill in area	Area first called Canada (Canada Reef site of quartz mine)
Tahakopa	District and end of old Catlins River railway line, 66km from Balclutha	‘Taha’ curved; ‘kopa’ side
Tahakopa River	Rises in northern slopes of Maclennan Range, flows down Tahakopa Valley to sea at Tahakopa Bay	‘Taha’ means land, ‘kopa’ crippled. Bay originally spelt ‘Taupuku’ and sometimes ‘Tahaukupu
Tahatika	Up Owaka Valley about 13km from Owaka	Name means ‘the correct side’
Tahora	Alternative name for Parae
Tamapai Stream	Small tributary of Waipahi Stream, locally called Trumble Creek.	Thomas TRUMBLE built first hut on Otaraia Run.
Tapanui Range	Known as the Blue Mountains
Tarara	District 10 miles south of Owaka, between Ratanui and Papotowai	Name means ‘a saddle’
Taratu	Once a productive coal mine in Kaitangata hills, east of Lovell’s Flat	Name means ‘ridgy ground’
Tauhinu	Maori name for Inch Clutha
Tauhoku Ridge	Shown on Tuckett’s 1844 map as ridge south or Karoro Creek
Taumata	Settlement and district on part of Ashley Downs estate	Name for a place on brow of hill that provided good lookout or view
Taupuku	Old name of Tahakopa Bay
Tautuku Bush	Name for large area of heavy country that extended from Port Molyneux to Waikawa.	To the old Maori, this was home of the ‘maeroero’, the hairy wild man of the bush who carried off anyone wandering about.
Tautuku Peninsula	Headland south of Tautuku Bay.  Tautuku River rises south of Maclennan Range and flows into Tautuku Bay	Name means ‘the coast where the canoes anchored’ of ‘stoop or bend down’.  In 1839 WELLER had a whaling base here
Tautuku, Mount	Mountain about 15 miles NE, between Catlins and Maclennan Rivers
Tawanui	District and old railway station on Catlins river line, 24km from Tahakopa.	‘Nui’ big, ‘tawa’ is North Island tree.  Southern beech is ‘tawai’
Te Houka	District on west bank of Clutha River , about 16km west of Balclutha	Tradition says it is named after Te Haoka, Ngati Mamoe chief killed there c1775
The Cairn	Peak in back country, nth of Slopedown Range,
Three Stones	Prominent hill south of Waiwera Peak
Tirohanga	Small point a mile north of Nugget Point	Name means ‘view’ or ‘aspect’
Toiro	Old railway station, district 7km west of Balclutha.  Toiro Stream flows through Kakapuaka into Koau above Finegand	Toiro Store
Tokata Point	Southern point on coastline of Otago block purchased in 1844.  Alternative name for Nugget Point.
Toko Mouth	Seaside settlement at mouth of Tokomairiro River
Tokoiti	6km east of Milton	‘Toko’ pole; ‘iti’ small.  Once known as Fairfax
Tokomairiro	Name for area and plains surrounding Milton	‘Toko’ means pole
Totara Island	Small island in Clutha River , 10 miles upstream from Balclutha	Early settlers cut totara trees after paying ‘timber licences’
Tuakitoto, Lake	Shallow lake south of Lovell’s Flat
Tuapeka Flat	10km from Lawrence	‘Tua’ beyond; ‘peka’ branch of a river
Tuapeka River	Tributary of Clutha River beginning in gold-bearing creeks around Lawrence.  Flows SW to Tuapeka Mouth
Tuatara	5km from Kaitangata	Name presumed to mean ‘tua’ beyond/on the other side; ‘tara’ peak
Tuck’s Bay	Small bay between Sandy Bay and Cannibal Bay
Tuck’s Stream	Small stream flowing down Hunt’s Road through Katea to Owaka River	Named after John TUCK, settler in Katea district
Tuhawaiki Island	Small island south of Jack’s Bay, locally known as Jack’s Island	Island called after Tuhawaiki, known as ‘Bloody Jack’ by settlers and whalers
Tunnel Island		Maori name ‘Taki-koekoea’
Two Stone Hill	Prominent hill 3.5 miles north of Kaitangata.  Also known as Two Tree Hill.  Two Stone Stream runs from hill into Lake Tuakitoto
Ururua	District between Awamangu and Pukekoma
Vial’s Corner	Corner in Romahapa	Named for Vial’s Hotel which was built on top side of road
Waihola	Lake and district north c10 miles of Milton.  Small township early name is ‘Kapiti’	Name associated with Waitaha occupation of south.
Waikaro	Alternative name for Measley Beach
Wai-koata	Tributary of Purakaunui River
Waipahi	River and district and old railway station 10 miles NW of Clinton. River enters Pomahaka River below Conical Hills	Wai pahi means slave river, but believed to be named after the chief Pahi who was born beside it
Wairuna	District and old railway station 6km NW of Clinton	‘Wai’ stream and ‘runa’ means dock
Wairuna Peak	Prominent peak between Conical Hills and Otairaia
Waitahuna Island	Island in Clutha River, just north of where Waitahuna River enters Clutha, opposite mouth of Pomahaka River
Waitahuna River	Tributary of Clutha River, flowing in from west.	Waitahuna was a Ngai Tahu chief killed during Hillend fighting
Waitahuna/Waitahuna West	12km from Lawrence	Once known as Havelock after Sir Henry HAVELOCK, hero of Indian Mutiny
Waitepeka Ploughing at Waitepeka	District about six miles from Balclutha	‘Wai’ means stream, ‘peka’ branch
Waitepeka Stream	Originally flowed from Waitepeka in easterly direction below Finegand and around eastern side of Otanomomo swamp, into the Puerua River	River course has been altered, part of stream joining Clutha River below Finegand, the other flowing through Paretai into Puerua River
Waiwera/Waiwera South	District and old railway station 24km W of Balclutha	Named after river rising in Steep Face district, passing to W of Brown Dome and E of Waiwera Cone, then NW to Clutha River.
Wallace Head	Headland on south coast about 2 miles E of Longbeach creek
Wangaloa	District up coast from Coal Point
Warepa	District and old railway station 13km W of Balclutha.	One of earliest settlements was at Warepa Bush.
Washpool Creek	Flows easterly from Kaitangata hills, enters sea above Coal Point	Maori name was ‘Te Waihoaka’, the grindstone stream, after stone used to work greenstone and other hard stone for tool and weapon making
Washpool Stream	Stream flowing through Wharetoa district into Pomahaka River
Wattys Stream	Small stream flowing through Clifton into Waiwera about 3 miles from Clutha River	Also a Wattie’s Creek at Conical Hills
Wetherstones	3km from Lawrence	Named after WETHERSTONE brothers who found gold while pig hunting
Wharetoa	District on west of Clutha River about 3.5 miles SW of Tuapeka Mouth
Wharuarimu	Name of post office opened 1908, school called ‘Rimu’
Whawhapo Creek	Small creek between Kaka Point and Karoro	Name means ‘crawling by night’ in reference to incident in Maori fighting
White Head	Headland 3 miles SW of Owaka Harbour
Willsher Bay	Bay at mouth of Karoro stream, near Kaka Point	George Willsher and companions settled here in 1840
Wisp Hill	Most prominent peak in Wisp Range, the watershed between Catlins River and headwaters of Owaka River	Wisp Hill gave name to Brugh’s Run “The Wisp’ and was given by wife of John CLARKE in 1873.  There is a Wisp Hill in Dumfriesshire.
Woolshed, The	Early name for Glenore district	Named such because of large woolshed erected in late 1850’s by James SMITH

Last updated 15 Aug 2025

© 2025 NZSG Balclutha Branch (Balclutha Genealogical Society)