Ophir (New Zealand)
| Ophir | ||
| Geographical location | ||
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| Coordinates | 45 ° 7 ′ S , 169 ° 36 ′ E | |
| Region ISO | NZ-OTA | |
| Country |
 New Zealand
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| region | Otago | |
| District | Central Otago District | |
| Ward | Earnscleugh - Manuherikia Ward | |
| Residents | few | |
| height | 308 m | |
| Post Code | 9393 | |
| Telephone code | +64 (0) 3 | |
| Photography of the place | ||
 The historic post office in Ophir |
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Ophir is a settlement in the Central Otago District of the Otago Regionon the South Island of New Zealand .
Origin of name
The settlement was originally called Blacks , named after Charles Black , on whose land gold was found during the gold rush in Otago . In 1872 the settlement was renamed based on the legendary land of Ophir , according to which the Old Testament said the Israeli King Solomon received gold from the Queen of Sheba .
geography
The settlement is located around 23 km northeast of Alexandra on the eastern bank of the Manuherikia River . Omakau , through which the New Zealand State Highway 85 and the Otago Central Rail Trail , also known as " The Pigroot " run, is on the opposite side of the river, just under 2 km to the northwest.
history
At the time of the gold rush, Ophir had around 1,000 inhabitants, but today only around 50. However, some of the historic buildings have been preserved, including a courthouse, a police station, a hospital, a bank and a church.
The old post office, which was built in 1886 and has been in almost unchanged condition since then, is of particular importance. In 1976 it was restored by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust and in 1984 classified it in Category 1 ( Sites of Special or Outstanding Historical or Cultural Significance ) of Historic Places.
The 63-meter-long suspension bridge , which has spanned the Manuherikia River since 1880 and named after the Irish politician and freedom fighter Daniel O'Connell , was also included in this category in the same year .
On July 3, 1995, Ophir recorded the second lowest air temperature ever recorded in New Zealand at −21.6 ° C. However, Ranfurly holds the minus record at −25.6 ° C.
See also
literature
- Helga Neubauer: Ophir . In: The New Zealand Book . 1st edition. NZ Visitor Publications , Nelson 2003, ISBN 1-877339-00-8 , pp. 816 f .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Ophir . Central Otago , New Zealand , accessed August 22, 2017 .
- ^ Neubauer: Ophir . In: The New Zealand Book . 2003, p. 817 .
- ↑ Topo250 maps . Land Information New Zealand , accessed August 22, 2017 .
- ^ Ophir Post Office . Heritage New Zealand , accessed August 22, 2017 .
- ↑ Daniel O'Connell Bridgee . Heritage New Zealand , accessed August 22, 2017 .
- ^ Sarah Marquet : 1903 data reveals record low NZ temperature . In: Allied Press Limited (Ed.): Otago Daily Times . Dunedin July 13, 2011 ( online [accessed August 22, 2017]).