1878 and 1999 Queenstown Flood Levels - Queenstown, New Zealand
Posted by: 
BruceS
S 45° 01.982 E 168° 39.504
59G E 315552 N 5010712
Abstract sculpture showing the flood levels for two floods in Queenstown, New Zealand.
Waymark Code: WMG03X
Location: South Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 12/26/2012
Views: 18
Text of plaque:
Luke Calder
November 2000
This sculpture was commissioned by Queenstown Lakes District Council as a memorial to the two major floods experienced by Queenstown since European settlement. It was unveiled by our District's Chief Civil Defence Officer Phil Dunstan on 17th November 2000 to coincide with the first anniversary of 1999 flood.
Interpreting the Structure
A core sample is natures time capsule revealing in its layers the historical and climatic conditions which have shaped the land. Imagine this sculpture to be a huge core sample extracted from this site during the 1999 flood, each of its 5 layers representing a unique era in the history of Queenstown, from pre-man to the present day.
The Layers
Limestone - the beginning, when the moa roamed the region, Riverstone - the arrival of Maori, Schist - the gold rush, railway sleepers - settlement and development, Water - Lake Wakatipu.
The two metal rings show the lake levels at the peak of flooding in 1878 (bottom) and 1999.