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Home »New Zealand Travel »Scenic Highlights »History & Culture »Clyde Township

Clyde Township - Charming and Historical

Clyde Township
Central Otago, New Zealand

Clyde is a small historical township located in the Central Otago region of New Zealand.

The township of Clyde was the dominant town of the Central Otago area during the height of the gold rush. This changed when Alexandra built its bridge across the Clutha River, usurping Clyde's administrative functions. This loss of power, and hence development, has helped to preserve the historical charm of the town.

Buildings of note, dating from the late 19th and early 20th century, include several stone cottages, a stone hotel, the town hall, church, post office, council chambers and several museums—the Vincent County and Dunstan Goldfields Historical Museum, the Stationary Engine Museum and the Briar Herb Factory Museum.

The herb factory operated in the 1930s, processing local thyme which grows wild on the hills, while the goldfields museum was begun in 1879 with a collection donated by the local goldfields administrator.

Most recently Clyde is known for the construction of the Clyde Dam, a large hydroelectric dam located at the northern end of the Clyde Township. The Clyde Dam forms Lake Dunstan, a popular recreational facility offering boating waterskiing, fishing, parapenting and rowing.