Stitcher: Rosemary Farmer – Sydney NSW
When Gabriel Read struck gold in 1861, the Central Otago Gold Rush saw around 11,500 miners flock within a year to Gabriel’s Gully, Blue Spur, Munro’s Gully, Weatherstones and Waitahuna. Conditions were harsh but yields were good and soon water races, holding dams and Hydraulic pumps were in use. Many Scots joined the rush, including William and Mary Ann Hay (great great grandparents of the stitcher). William went ahead from the Bendigo Goldfields in Australia; Mary Ann followed with their four children and their goods, walking the 50 miles along the bush track to Lawrence, Tuapeka and their new life.
NZ06 Gil Ghabriel
Nuair a thàinig Gabriel Read tarsainn air òr ann an 1861, chunnaic Boile an Òir ann am Meadhan Otago mu 11,500 mèinnear a’ brùchdadh a-steach an taobh a-staigh bliadhna gu Gil Ghabriel, Blue Spur, Gil an Rothaich, Weatherstones agus Waitahuna. Bha na suidheachaidhean cruaidh ach bha an toradh math agus ann an ùine nach ro fada bhathar a’ cleachdadh rèisean uisge, damaichean gleidhidh agus pumpaichean Hiodrolach. Chaidh mòran Albannach an sàs sa bhoile, a’gabhail a-steach Uilleam agus Màiri Anna Hay (seann-seann-phàrantan an neach-fuaigheil). Chaidh Uilleam air adhart bho Mhèinnean Òir Bendigo ann an Astràilia; lean Màiri Anna e le an ceathrar chloinne agus an cuid 50 mìle sìos frith-rathad tron fhàsaich gu ruig Lawrence, Tuapeka, agus am beatha ùr.