Interest in re-creating a Chinese gold mining-era village, which could link the Cromwell Heritage Precinct to the new cultural centre area, has been rekindled.

Cromwell and Districts Community Trust(CDCT) members Janeen Wood and Ali Ballantyne said fresh discussions had been held and fresh enthusiasms raised on the plan, which has been talked about for over 10 years by various groups. 

It had even been mooted in plans for the heritage area as far back as 1992, Janeen said.

A lakeside area below the Victoria Arms Hotel, near where an angled path leads to a cycle trail, had earlier been marked as the ideal spot for the “replica Chinatown”. The site is above where the original Chinatown village was located during the goldrush.

It housed general stores, grog shops and gaming rooms from around 1870, was deserted by the end of the century then demolished in 1930, according to a Cromwell Museum article. The article states that the site was excavated in 1980 by a team of archaeologists from the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Remains of the town had earlier been destroyed as part of the lakeshore works associated with the formation of Lake Dunstan. 

Janeen says the idea to re-create the town is now being discussed by Old Cromwell Inc who look after the Heritage Precinct, and long-time Cromwell resident and history enthusiast Terry Emmitt. Mr Emmitt had gathered historical material relating to the original Chinese miners’ activities in the area and created plans.

As a trustee of the Cromwell & Districts Community Trust, she says she was aware the idea was mentioned in the group’s 2013 Cromwell Community Plan. The latest Community Plan released in 2020, states that plans exist and there is community interest in re-creating the Chinese section of old Cromwell town.

Speaking via video link at a recent meeting, the pair requested the Cromwell Community Board look into including the project in its future planning.

CDCT chairperson Ali Ballantyne(left) and Trustee Janeen Wood speak to the Cromwell Community via video link last week.

CDCT chairperson Ali Ballantyne urged the Board to consider adding the project to its 2021/2022 annual plan document.

“We don’t want to see any more time be lost. We think that it’s quite timely with the work being done on the cultural and community centre and I think this would only enhance the area and be a good tourism opportunity as well,” Ali said. 

The Central Otago District Council produces an annual plan in each of the two years between its Long Term Plan. This allows a fresh look at budgets and work programmes outlined in the longer-term document.