Calling all collectors of period costume and ancient agricultural machinery - the Upper Clutha Historical Records Society is organising a district-wide celebration of 150 years of European settlement at Queen's Birthday weekend and needs your help.
The June 5 celebration activities will include a parade to Wanaka Station Park, starting at 1pm.
A self-drive tour of historic sites and window displays have been organised. A booklet is also being prepared for public sale.
Society president Graham Dickson said last week the society was "open to all ideas".
"[We] hope that people might want to get into the spirit of things and get dressed up to represent the various early groups involved with this area such as the original pioneers, gold miners and others. Maybe some people might want to bring along some horses or machinery from the old days."
The first in the area were the Waitaha, or moa hunters, followed by Maori greenstone gatherers and fishers.
Maori guided the first European explorers and surveyors into the area.
Farmer Nathaniel Chalmers, guided by Reko, is regarded as the first Pakeha to visit the area in 1853, although it has also been suggested the sheep stealer James MacKenzie, a Scotsman, could have visited earlier.
