Old Thingamys (Graham Godby)

Graham first had contact with Luggate when he and his late wife Betty passed through on their Honeymoon in 1955. Graham said he fell in love with the fishing, people and the climate. In the early 1960’s Graham and Betty built their crib in Reid Avenue and then finally moved up here full time (Graham having left his job as an accountant in Dunedin) to work in the office for Upper Clutha Transport. Graham worked for UCT for 19 years and has now been retired for approx 8 years.

With outdoor bowls very much a passion over the years for both Graham and Betty, Graham still found time for many hobbies such as fishing, gardening and gold mining with a suction dredge down at the Clutha and Lindis Rivers, the Luggate Creek and at Bannockburn. Most was very fine gold but a couple of good sized nuggets mostly out of the Lindis and Bannockburn areas.

“Old Thingamys” Graham also started collect collecting memorabilia of old blacksmith gear and farm machinery. When asked what got him interested in old things his reply was “I kept looking in the mirror”. Among some of his many many treasures is a two man bush saw that has a painting of the red bridge on it done by Gus Nisbet late of Lake Hawea. A fantastic old water wheel that Graham collected from Mt Barker also graces his back year along with an old cart holding several milk cans

Graham has also found petrified wood up the top of Little Criffel and has polished this.

Rock Hound or "Silly Old Fossil" as some of his friends would call him.
Finding Rhodonite and Jasper down at the Clutha river started off yet another interest and apart from the local rock Graham has rocks and rough gems from many other places. Who would have thought grey old rock found on the side of the river could have such beautiful colours inside. Polishing takes 4 lots of 22 hours with 4 different grits from course grit to a fine grit then the final polish only takes 15 – 30 minutes.

The raw unpolished stone

Polished Rhodonite

Jasper

What do you best enjoy about living here? The people, weather,
Betty and the kids just loved being up here

Opening of the new Luggate Playground

The new playground in Hopkins St was officially opened by the Mayor Clive Geddes on Easter Saturday and was well attended by around 50 people.


What a wonderful facility for our town. There have been hords of children enjoying the playground everyday.

"Photo courtesy of the Wanaka Sun"

A huge vote of thanks must go to our Luggate Community Association and in particular the playground sub committee of Mark Orbell, Claire Deacon and Lynda Davison who had a vision of a natural playground rather than all plastic.

"Photo courtesy of the Wanaka Sun"

"Photo courtesy of the Wanaka Sun"

"Photo courtesy of the Wanaka Sun"

I must also commend the designers on incorporating Luggate icons in the design such as the red bridge and a spitfire.

"Photo courtesy of the Wanaka Sun"

The tunnel slide is also a sure winner with our boys and the flying fox always has children using it. Even our wee boys of nearly 3 years are able to use this.

The opening was finished off with a BBQ and a great day was had by all those who could attend.

Luggate Horse Trek - March 09

On the 4th March 09 the Luggate Hotel organized the most awesome trek from Wanaka over Criffel and Lake McKay Stations to Luggate.

After a huge BBQ breakfast we set off from Rodeo Grounds in Wanaka and walked up the Cardrona River Bed. It was then a short distance on Faulks Road until we turned left into Maxwell Road and then right into Boundary Road. From there we turned left along Mt Barker Road and then finally right into Smith Road which would then lead us over the hills through Criffel and Lake McKay Stations and finally down the Luggate Creek to finish at the Luggate Hotel.

Walking up the Cardrona River Bed

We stopped for a break and lunch (provided by the Luggate Hotel) plus plenty of liquid refreshments. As you can Sean is finding the drinks a little heavy.

After a bit of a climb it was time to give the horses a puff and to let the riders have a good look around

The views looking back towards Wanaka were spectacular

In the distance at the end of the valley you can just make out the Luggate township

Because of the steep grade of the track it was easier on the horses to get off and walk down some of the way

Ginny Nelson certainly looks like she is enjoying herself and her new horse Ben took the day in her stride

After a steep downhill walk it was time to give the horses a well deserved rest and the riders a well deserved refreshment stop at the cattle yards before we made our way back down the Luggate Creek to end our journey at the Luggae Hotel

The horses didn't seem to mind being inside the hotel and Roger Moseby and trail boss Don Patterson certainly enjoyed sampling the local brew

The day was finished off with a fantastic buffet dinner followed by a band "Little Green Men" who played on till late.

What a great end to an incredible day. Well done to the Luggate Hotel for hosting such a wonderful event. I know I won't be the only one lining up again next year.

Profile - Luggates Eldest Resident

Luggate’s Eldest resident is Mrs Ruth Eden aged 83 years.








In England in 1930 Ruth’s parents were nominated by Eric Jones who ran pack horses from Makarora to the West Coast. There was a world recession and Ruth’s father had a job working on the road until he had an accident with his knee.
Her mother became very homesick so the family returned to England in 1937. However England wasn’t the same as she remembered so the family up stumps and moved back to New Zealand. By this time Ruth had met and married Roy Eden in 1945 and in 1947 they returned to New Zealand initially to Pembroke as Wanaka was known in those days. Roy then had a job with the Central Otago Power Board and the family stayed at the Roaring Meg Power Station for 3 years living in a caravan. With two small girls Ruth said it was absolutely dreadful being very cold and with very primitive cooking facilities.


There appeared to be an opening for a shop in Luggate so moving here in 1958 Ruth and Roy built and opened a small shop (a bit like a corner dairy) for a start in 1960. When the pub changed from a hotel to a tavern they built on a dining room.
The shop was called “The Tea Rose”. They were very busy years as Roy who was working for Upper Clutha Transport had started up a milk run, servicing up Wanaka Road from Cromwell, Hawea, Wanaka, Albert town and of course Luggate. During the summer they could have up to three vehicles on the road during the busy times and also serviced the Glendhu camp over the summer months.


Ruth ran the shop which was an extremely busy place with workmen from Upper Clutha Transport, Game Packers and the Sawmill coming in for a cooked meal at lunch time. Workmen working on the Haast road were also catered for and Ruth could be supplying meals at all hours of the day or night. There was a choice of a hot or cold meal followed by a dessert all for the princely sum of $1 and there could be 30 to 40 people every day for lunch.
Once the Haast road was opened up to 8 buses a day would stop for morning and afternoon tea. They would radio ahead from Hawea so there was time to make sandwiches and heat pies. Also once the road was opened milk and groceries were supplied and sent to Haast on the bus. Around Christmas when the camping ground was full people had to book for meals as often there would be two sittings of around 30 people.


The local farmers would often supply morning and afternoon tea plus a cold lunch for their shearers but Ruth would do the cooked breakfast and main meal at night for the gangs.
Wedding receptions were also catered for.
All of this plus looking after four children aged 4 through to 12 years. Phew!!!


Ruth and Roy opened “The Tea Rose” in 1960 and sold it 12 years later to Christine and Ray Sangster in 1972.
After going through seveal owners the "Diner" burned down in June 1998.


Although it was hard work Luggate had a great community spirit and Ruth remembers Christmas parties in the hall and Country Women’s Institute concerts. Everyone pitched in and helped each other.


When asked what Ruth likes best about Luggate she said it was a very friendly place, was a great place to bring up kids, the weather was warmer than Wanaka and wasn’t over run with traffic “A good jumping off place” “I have no intention of moving" "They’ll have to carry me out”

Luggate "Grandview Bridge" (Red Bridge)

The first black and white photos show the site of the punt across the Clutha River that the red bridge has replaced.

This bridge is rated 'High' on the Councils Historic Register and is obviously important. 'The Luggate 'Grandview Bridge' is a local icon listed highly in the QLDC Historic Register. It was opened on October 28, 1915, and has been described as "one of the most attractively proportioned steel truss road bridges in the country." It is 103.7 metres long, and features a 61 metre 'Baltimore through truss.' The bridge replaced a punt ferry opened in 1882. In 1888, the punt was sunk when a heavily loaded wagon from the Luggate flour mill lurched to one end. But the most dramatic incident happened when the punt cable broke during a flood, sending the punt swiftly downriver into the Devil's Nook where it was wrecked. The puntman escaped by holding onto a horses tail, having cut a wagon-team free at a timely moment.' ~ Lewis Verduyn, Pioneer Rafting.

Luggate Red Bridge under construction
















Colour photo of the Red Bridge today is courtesy of Lewis Verduyn

Luggate Business's

These are Business's that are either run from Luggate or by people living in Luggate

REAL ESTATE– For any information on Luggate Real Estate, contact Local Luggate Agent Cecily Anderson on cec@professionalswanaka.co.nz phone 0274 22 33 54 or log into http://www.professionalswanaka.co.nz/ and click into the Luggate link.










Upper Clutha Transport Ltd
Phone 443 8221






Luggate Hotel Ltd
Phone 443 8523






Central Otago Lumber Ltd
Phone 443 8530






Central Trusses & Frames Ltd
Phone 443 8756
Fax 443 8798






Dr Bas Mobile Saw Doctor
Phone 443 7923
Cell 0274 302 081
Email drbas@xtra.co.nzs





Bright Sparks Wanaka
Accounts & Bookkeeping, Computer Training, PA & Secretarial Support, Advertising & Marketing
Phone 4432511
Cell 021 234 8855
Email jo@brightsparkswanaka.co.nz
http://www.brightsparkswanaka.co.nz/





63B Catering Ltd
Weddings, Functions, Celebrations
Phone 443 1774
Email info@63b.co.nz
http://www.63b.co.nz/

Forte Food
http://www.fortefood.co.nz/




Alpine Deer Group Ltd
Luggate Factory Church Road
Phone 443 8594






Woody McMartin Wood Gallery
Phone 443 8003






Aspiring Landscapes 2008 Ltd
Phone 443 4143
Email: info@aspiringlandscapes.co.nz







PIONEER RAFTING
Lewis VerduynManager
P.O. Box 124,
Wanaka 9343
N E W Z E A L A N D
Phone (64) 3 443 1246
Mobile 027 295 0418
Email ecoraft@xtra.co.nz
Website http://www.ecoraft.co.nz/





Ridgeline Tours
Mark Orbell
http://www.ridgelinenz.com/

2008 Luggate Fishing Competition

2008
FISHING COMPETITION


Results








This was the 40th year of the fishing competition with the three teamsteams competing for 16 trophys


The weather was brilliant and most fishermen were out at the crack of dawn on both Saturday and Sunday morning and a good many made the most of a very pleasant Saturday evening.



Godby's team had 17 fishermen - 35 fish - 2.059 fish per man
Booth's team had 18 fishermen - 25 fish - 1.389 fish per man
Ironside's team had 17 fishermen - 31 fish - 1.823 fish per man



Willy Willson from the Ironsides team caught the most fish with a healthy total of 11 for the weekend



TOTAL FISH All Teams - 91 fish

Willy Willson from Ironsides team took out the LUGGATE ALBION TROPHY for the Best Fish Ironside's Team, the VULCAN HOTEL TROPHY for Best Fish Factor Overall and the A.KIRK MEMORIAL TROPHY for the Heaviest Rainbow Ironside's Team

B.I.G. - Best average catch per man all teams went to Godby's Team

C.NEWMAN MEMORIAL TROPHY - Heaviest fish for Junior was Liam Harrington from Ettrick who also won the CLUTHA FISHERIES TRUST for the junior with the most fish.

J H Harrington also won a prize in the CLUTHA FISHERIES TRUST for the Junior with the most fish with 4 fish.


TOTAL WEIGHT All Teams - 210lb 15oz

TOTAL NUMBER of fishermen - 52

While the fish were being weighed in, several BBQ's were set up and everyone enjoyed sitting around catching up with friends.

As an added celebration of the 40th anniversary there was an evening meal at the Districts Club in Wanaka.