Let me take you back to Arrowtown, New Zealand—this time, in the opposite direction from the main street I shared earlier. The first thing that caught my eye was a historic cabin nestled against a forest backdrop. It is the old Police Hut in the Chinese Settlement of Arrowtown which is a favourite among photographers.
A little further into the forest is the Chinese Settlement. Here are some of the old houses. What stood out to me was the height of the doors—they’re just about my size! It made me realise how small people must have been back then.
These are some of the signs you’ll see around the area—they’re scattered throughout and give a bit of background as you explore.
From the late 1860s to the 1880s this was one of many camps and settlements established by Chinese gold seekers in Otago-Southland. By the turn of the century, however, most had been abandoned; their simple dwellings left to decay. Today the restored remains of Arrowtown’s Chinese settlement offers a care glimpse into the life and times of New Zealand’s first Chinese immigrants
Almost every Chinese gold seeker came from the Cantonese province of Guangdong in South China. Here, life for small farmers was a struggle for survival against over-population, unemployment, disease and political turmoil.
By 1890 Otago’s easily worked gold was well and truly exhausted and many Chinese miners moved on. Most returned to China; some went to West Coast goldfields; others found new work, particularly in market gardening. The main occupants of the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement became elderly men with limited means, living rather lonely lives.
This is Ah Lum’s store. It was the last one standing in the settlement and finally closed after he passed away in 1925.
The building was restored in 1986 and is the only remaining 19th century Chinese store of the southern goldfields era.
Here are the rooms inside Ah Lum’s store.
I am linking this to Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge. This was from my trip last April 2025.
The photo of that police hut is remarkable, Teresa. The other photos and the signs (thanks for including those) tell a very interesting story. The photos are great, especially the ones inside the store.
The place really has so much story to tell. And most of them seem so sad.
Those are very interesting photos of the dwellings and the store in the settlement.
It’s great that they are restored and the captivating story presented. Thanks for sharing this.
My pleasure to share Nes. I knew it would be of interest to many.
I can see why this is a favourite place for photographers, it’s fascinating! Thanks for sharing it 😀
It was good reading about it beforehand, I wouldn’t have seen it otherwise. It was on the edge of a car park.
Thank you Teresa for this great tour. I was not aware of this history in New Zealand’s gold mining era.
Love your photos, that photo with the hut and the tall trees with the sun burst is spectacular! Well done.
Glad you liked it. It was interesting to find out about history in a fun way.
Yes, I enjoy history of places and buildings. Thank you Teresa. Happy Friday!
I truly enjoyed this post, Teresa. Wishing I was right there. 😊
Thanks so much Pepper. It was an eye opener
Interesting. There is always something I do not know, it’s eye-opening. Thanks for looking around and sharing. Keep making your days count.
Thanks Clay. It is interesting to find out about the history, not just by reading but in actually seeing this. It is the next best thing to actually living there.
Such an interesting slice of (forgotten? history.
Glad to have a look back and share it with you.
Love historic places. Nice work.
Thanks Sherry.
Thank you for the history. It was good to have a sense of the humanity that went through those doors.