In This Series… Ray White agent and creator of the Arrowtown Audio Tour, Nick Fifield, details the stories of our streets. Because buying or selling a home in Arrowtown isn’t only about price, it’s about place and the stories we’re part of.
Preston Drive is named after Luke Hugarth Preston, mayor of Arrowtown from 1896 to 1904. His name is marked, along with the councillors of the time on Arrowtown’s King Edward VII Coronation Memorial Lamppost, which stands on the corner of Wiltshire Street and Berkshire Street as it descends towards town. The date marked as August 9th, 1902, commemorates the coronation.
Originally, the lamp was positioned further out into the street. However, one day, a truck backing out of what was then Shaw’s Motors on the opposite side crashed into it and knocked it down. As a result, it was repositioned further back and out of harm’s way.
Two years after his time as Mayor, LH Preston was working as Town Clerk from the Council Chambers, the stone building between the Miners Cottages on Buckingham Street. Outside the chambers, once stood a perfectly symmetrical red rowan which locals and visitors much admired. Folklore has it that rowans are symbols of protection, so much superstition can surround them, and it is considered extremely bad luck to cut one down. In 1905, the tree was split during a fierce storm. Mr. Preston proclaimed that this was surely a bad omen.
Later that day, he was travelling up Tobin’s Track to the Crown Terrace on business when his horse was spooked, causing it to rear up and bolt, throwing him violently from his wagon. His head was smashed into a fence post, breaking his neck, and he was instantly killed. The incident was said to have caused much gloom throughout the district. And so, it appeared that he had foretold his own death.
In Arrowtown, even in the quietest cul-de-sacs, there’s a story beneath the street sign. Knowing the past provides context for the present, and when buying or selling in Arrowtown, that local insight makes all the difference.
You can hear more stories from Arrowtown’s past by downloading the Arrowtown Audio Tour from your favourite app store.
In This Series… Ray White agent and creator of the Arrowtown Audio Tour, Nick Fifield, details the stories of our streets. Because buying or selling a home in Arrowtown isn’t only about price, it’s about place and the stories we’re part of. Buckingham Street, 1905. Muir & Moodie. Te Papa … Read more
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