LAWRENCE................

was Otago's first gold-rush town, in the Tuapeka District, it was originally named The Junction, and then later renamed after the British hero who defended Lucknow during the 1857 Indian Mutiny.

At the height of the gold fever, it's population was 11,500; double that of Dunedin, making it one of the largest communities in the country.

It is hard to believe that with a current population of approximately 550, Lawrence once supported more than 11,500 people.

Situated 92km south-west of Dunedin on State Highway 8, Lawrence stands at the entrance to Gabriel's Gully, where in May 1861 Gabriel Read made his famous strike that sparked off a frantic and unprecedented gold rush.

Lawrence, an idyllic township nestled in the rolling hills of Clutha Country, is an ideal place to stop for coffee, lunch and to stretch your legs, explore and stay at a number of quality and historical accommodation facilities ranging from motels to bed and breakfast and camping grounds.