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Friday, 11th September 2015


Aurora College Students Are Keen Learners!

Thursday, 26th September 2013

Aurora College Students Are Keen Learners!

Skipping around Mary Cotters tree for good luck  

  • Aurora College Students Are Keen Learners!Skipping around Mary Cotters tree for good luck
  • Aurora College Students Are Keen Learners!Trapped in the old Gaol!
  • Aurora College Students Are Keen Learners!Looking at our Southern Maori display

Aurora College students drove up to spend a day with the Museum to learn about the hardships and challenges the early miners faced. They also came to the Museum to learn about the treatment of Chinese settlers some mining methods. So for their visit our activities included:

  • a museum visit which included handling a real Moa bone
  • A historic walk of Arrowtown where we saw the historic cottages the miners lived in and the Old Gaol!
  • A tour of the Chinese settlement and Ah Lums store
  • And a bit of gold panning (some students even found gold)!

We learnt that even though the Chinese settlers had been invited by the Otago provincial government they weren't welcome by the local European settlers. We also learnt about how industrious and hard working the Chinese were and how they eventually earned the respect of the local European settlers. Some of the students found gold when they went panning, while others didn't. Those students who didn't find gold truly learnt and understood about the hardships the early miners faced here in Arrowtown, as this gold was meant to be their livlihood and be able to support their families, so not finding any gold would've been a great disapointment.

Denise and I really enjoyed having all of you come spend the day with us and we hope you have a safe trip back!

Did you find gold?

What was your favourite part of the visit?

Can you remember the name of the person who first found gold in the Arrow river?

Comment below!!


Comments (6)

On behalf 8HN we thank you for the amazing tour/walk around arrow town sights ending and gold panning and the Chinese village . We are are hoping to submit questions at a unknown date

By: Jacob (Aurora_College) on Friday, 27th September 2013 @ 12:17:17

Thank you for the awesome trip

By: Daniel auroracollege on Friday, 27th September 2013 @ 12:19:04

Thank you for the awesome trip

By: Daniel auroracollege on Friday, 27th September 2013 @ 12:19:20

Thank you for visiting us Aurora College! We hope you like your blog post and we look forward to hearing your questions!

By: Amy Taylor on Friday, 27th September 2013 @ 13:16:56

Jack Tewa

By: Jahstus on Wednesday, 6th November 2013 @ 15:30:18

Yes it was Jack Tewa who was the first person to find gold in the Arrow river! Well done!

By: HandsonHistory on Wednesday, 6th November 2013 @ 15:38:40