Lawrence, New Zealand

The discovery of gold at Gabriel's Gully by Gabriel Read in May 1861 led to the Otago gold rush with the population of the gold field rising from almost nothing to around 11,500 within a year, twice that of Dunedin at the time. Gabriel's Gully was quickly dotted with tents and workings, stores and government "buildings". By December 1861, there were some 14,000 people on the Tuapeka goldfield and it continued to climb and by February 1864 was around 24,000. Around a third of these miners were English, a significant proportion were Irish, while some were European, with others of Chinese origin. The ground under the makeshift township site, was also gold rich. Gradually, the commercial and administrative services for the what became known as the Tuapeka fields were concentrated on non-gold bearing ground away at the entrance to the Gully. In 1877, a branch line railway was built from the Main South Line to Lawrence, and the town remained the terminus of the line until an extension was built in 1910. Although originally known as the Lawrence Branch, this line ultimately became known as the Roxburgh Branch. The railway closed in 1968 and the town's station has subsequently been demolished, but some relics still remain, including the goods shed. In 1978, two lions named Sultan and Sonia escaped from a circus in Lawrence. The circus' tranquilliser guns had accidentally been left behind in another town so they could not be shot with tranquillizer darts. They were eventually shot by police but not before one of them had scratched a seven-year-old boy across the face. The lions were stuffed and are now on display at Otago Museum. In 2011, Lawrence became the first town in New Zealand to offer town-wide free Wi-Fi internet. The Lawrence Rugby Football Club is based in the township. Lawrence's sister city is Jacksonville, Oregon. ==Demographics==

Lawrence is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement. It covers , and had an estimated population of as of with a population density of people per km2. It is part of the much larger Tuapeka statistical area. Lawrence had a population of 447 at the 2018 New Zealand census, an increase of 36 people (8.8%) since the 2013 census, and an increase of 18 people (4.2%) since the 2006 census. There were 210 households, comprising 210 males and 237 females, giving a sex ratio of 0.89 males per female, with 60 people (13.4%) aged under 15 years, 45 (10.1%) aged 15 to 29, 225 (50.3%) aged 30 to 64, and 114 (25.5%) aged 65 or older. Ethnicities were 89.3% European/Pākehā, 19.5% Māori, and 0.7% Asian. People may identify with more than one ethnicity. Although some people chose not to answer the census's question about religious affiliation, 53.7% had no religion, 36.9% were Christian, 1.3% had Māori religious beliefs and 0.7% had other religions. Of those at least 15 years old, 48 (12.4%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, and 114 (29.5%) people had no formal qualifications. 24 people (6.2%) earned over $70,000 compared to 17.2% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 156 (40.3%) people were employed full-time, 69 (17.8%) were part-time, and 6 (1.6%) were unemployed. Tuapeka statistical area Tuapeka, which also includes Beaumont and Waitahuna, covers == Attractions / Amenities ==

Holy Trinity Anglican church Moves to establish the first Anglican Church in Lawrence were made in December 1866, but it was not until February 1868 that the first clergyman Rev. H.W. Martin from Victoria, Australia, was appointed. Initially the Anglicans held their services in the Methodist Church before constructing the original church at 9 Whitehaven Street constructed of timber, plainly detailed, with Gothic elements complete with a small belfry at the gable end. It was opened by Bishop-Elect Samuel Nevill in May 1871. Its foundation stone was laid in March 1925 and it was consecrated in August of that same year by Bishop Isaac Richards, a previous vicar of the parish. With a ratable value of $90,000 it was sold in 2016 for use as a holiday home. Lawrence Methodist church The first services for Methodists in the district were provided by the Reverend Isaac Harding of Dunedin towards the end of 1862 in two canvas churches, one in Munro's Gully, and another in Gabriel's Gully. Eventually these were replaced by a permanent church at Gabriel's Gully in 1870. In Lawrence itself a Methodist church was constructed of brick on Colonsay Street and opened free of debt in 1865. It was used for eight years and then pulled down. Meanwhile a new site was obtained on the corner of Whitehaven Street, where a by wooden church which cost £320 was constructed, Lawrence Presbyterian church The first Presbyterian services were held in the district in open air at Gabriel's Gully in July 1861 by layman John Gillies. By 1864 with the support of local congregation and the organisation of a soiree, enough money (including a donation of £50 from Gabriel Read) was raised to allow for the erection of a wooden church building at 7 Colonsay Street. The building was granted Heritage New Zealand historic place category 2 status in 2004. St Patrick's Church (Roman Catholic) While Otago was established as a Presbyterian settlement the discovery of gold, resulted in miners of all nationalities and creeds emigrating to the province, among them a large number of Irish Catholics. To service their spiritual need, Father Delphin Moreau began visiting the goldfields from Dunedin, from the first weeks of the gold rush. Up until Cobb & Co's established their coach service to the goldfields in October 1861 Moreau's made his visits to Tuapeka on foot, holding Mass there once a month. By 1862 he was travelling to and holding Mass every alternate Sunday in a tent in Gabriel's Gully. In October 1863 a section on the corner of Colonsay and Lancaster Streets house a church and school was donated by local businessman John Donovan. In 1864 Father Joseph Eccuyer was made the first priest permanently resident in Lawrence. A corrugated iron church named St Gabriel's was erected on the site and blessed in November 1864 by Bishop Viard. It was the first Catholic church in Otago. By the end of May 1871 Father William Larkin had been appointed Parish priest to Tuapeka and he was able to organize the construction of the large wooden Gothic church-school of St Patrick's which opened on 17 March 1872, across the road from the now superseded St Gabriel's. During Larkin's tenure calls intensified for a separate church, distinct from St Patrick's as it was felt that the existing building was essentially a school rather than a church. A building fund for a new church was initiated in 1880 and noted architect, Francis Petre, was selected to design the church, issuing tenders for its construction in November 1890 on the site of the former St Gabriels on the corner of 12 Colonsay Street and Lancaster Street. The contract was awarded on 7 December 1890 to Dunedin based Daniel W. Woods, who had submitted a price of £3000. By the time the foundation stone was laid by Bishop Patrick Moran on 17 March 1891 the walls were at almost at their full height. The completed brick Gothic church with a belfry of Oamaru stone with seating for about 600 worshippers was officially opened by Bishop Moran on 6 January 1892. The six bay nave of the brick church is long by wide while the transept was long by wide. A convent for the Dominican nuns, was later constructed directly to the south of the Church and opened on Sunday 3 February 1893. In 1902, a Presbytery was constructed to the east, adjacent to the church. To protect the decaying bricks and mortar the church was roughcast in 1926. By the 1990s the church needed significant repairs, which were undertaken in 1995. The Presbytery is still owned by the Church, but is now rental accommodation. ==Education==

Lawrence Area School is a co-educational state composite school for Year 1 to 13 students, with a roll of as of . It was a high school until the 1960s, when it became an area school catering to primary pupils as well. It also provides secondary education for students from Waitahuna School. There were other primary schools previously in Lawrence. Blue Spur School closed some time in the 1930s or 40s; Forsythe School closed in the 1960s; and St Patrick's School closed at the end of 1980, leaving Lawrence Area School as the sole remaining school in Lawrence. ==Notable residents==

• Archibald Durward FRSE (1902–1964), spent his youth here. He was the son of the local minister Rev Peter C. Durward. • Trevor Freeman (1916–1943), officer of the Royal New Zealand Air Force during the Second World War • James Graham (1884–1941), Otago rugby union player and All Black (1913–14). • Frank Mitchinson (1884–1978), rugby union player. • Frank Oliver (1948–2014), representative rugby union player and coach, All Black (1976–81), educated at Lawrence District High School. • Ella Spicer (1876–1958), painter. • Jack Williams (1918–1975), Member of Parliament. • David Wilson, the 14th Clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives (2015–current), spent his childhood in Lawrence. ==References==