An unknown old gold miner’s remains will be laid to rest in a public funeral on Saturday May 14, 11.30am at Cromwell Cemetery.

Funeral director and co-founder of Alexandra’s Affinity Funerals Lynley Claridge has spearheaded the funeral arrangements.

She said her involvement stemmed from her ancestors being goldminers in Central. She initially read about the man she calls, 'Mr Gold Miner' back in February and has been working on his funeral since then.

"I've always had a deep interest in gold mining... and it seemed that he needed to be brought home.

"It has taken quite a lot of time to bring together but it's going to be worth it.

Lynley Claridge has had a very busy few days with final preparations and media interviews about the miner. PHOTO: Anna Robb

"My great grandfather's brother was Benjamin Naylor... my great grandfather was a blacksmith... it's absolutely fascinating to imaging Clyde with 4000 tents along the main street [during the gold rush].

Lynley said she felt a deep connection to the history of the unknown miner and sharing the story was integral to the fabric of where we come from.

"He tied his boots up very tightly that morning... he never knew what the day would bring... they've still got mud on them.

The miner's boots still have evidence of being laced up securely on the day he died, and mud from that days' work. PHOTO: Anna Robb

"Imagine trying to extract the gold out of the earth to in order to live.

"Hundreds died and he is representative of all of those who died," Lynley said.

University of Otago Department of Archaeology investigations have uncovered that the miner likely drowned and was around 30-40 years old when he died.

The miner was exhumed from a grave above the Mata-au (Clutha) River in Cromwell Gorge when he was found, after he was buried there about 140 years ago. 

 His remains were sent to the University of Otago’s archaeology department after being removed when State Highway 8 and the Clyde Dam were built in 1983. 

Lynley got the Central Otago District Council and University of Otago on board with the idea and her plans to bring the miner home, after he's been stored at the University for the past 39 years.

On Saturday morning he will be buried in Cromwell Cemetery, on the south west edge of town on Cemetery Road.

 Many locals as well as historians have taken a keen interest in the story with debate on community facebook page ‘You know you are from Cromwell when’ about the possible identity and story of the miner.

Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust also put a call out last week on their Facebook page for help to find a dray (a cart) to transfer the coffin with the remains from the Cromwell heritage precinct to the cemetery.  

Lynley said two historic carts had been sourced and side horses and walkers would from a procession to transport the remains through the historic precinct of Cromwell.

The service would be a traditional Anglican service of the day, featuring a special carefully crafted coffin with rope handles and the coffin would be adorned with a rusty gold pan and a bouquet of tussock and matagouri.

Rest In Peace: The pine casket has an intricate inlay with pick axes for the unknown miner. PHOTO: Anna Robb

"We received the skeletal remains from the University of Otago and we have laid our miner out in the anatomically correct position on a soft calico mattress inside the coffin. He's all there.

"It's been an absolute privilege and I'm thrilled he's going to be laid to rest."

The heritage of gold mining and how the early European settlers lived in Central endures today, thanks to the dedication of residents like Lynley who have worked hard to put together a touching farewell together for the miner. 

 Funeral notice published about the send off of the miner. PHOTO: Supplied

Anyone can attend the service to farewell the miner.

Are you planning to go along? If so, please share your pictures and thoughts with us by emailing: [email protected]