1932 — Athenæum - Hall — Arrowtown, New Zealand
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Dunbar Loop
S 44° 56.311 E 168° 49.925
59G E 328952 N 5021593
Arrowtown was the centre of a gold mining area that began in the 1860s. During the Depression of the 1930s it — as well as other gold districts — had a bit of a resurgence when people took up gold-panning instead of going on work programmes.
Waymark Code: WM8337
Location: South Island, New Zealand
Date Posted: 01/18/2010
Views: 3
Throughout New Zealand most communities sported an athenæum as a precursor to libraries. Essentially the same thing, however libraries tended to be free to borrow from, whereas athenæums tended to be reading rooms.
By 1932 when the Athenæum - Hall at Arrowtown was completed, most communities had shifted towards lending libraries and athenæums were on the decline.
Today Arrowtown is no longer an important centre for the gold mining industry as most of the ore has been depleted below commercial standards. Now the community is focused on tourism with an upscale community purchasing houses and lifestyle blocks as it one of the prime destinations for overseas people in New Zealand.
Year of construction: 1932
Full inscription:
Athenæum - Hall — Arrowtown - 1932
Cross-listed waymark: Not listed
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