Lawrence's 150th birthday party in 2011 has an official face.
The celebrations for its 150th anniversary may still be three years away, but a new logo that will take centre stage then has been released.
It features an image of the traditional pick and shovel and the words "Gabriels Gully" where gold was first struck by Australian-born prospector Gabriel Read on May 23, 1861 - exactly 147 years ago yesterday.
Organising committee chairman Wayman Roughan said Read's discovery changed the course of history and laid a foundation for both Otago and New Zealand.
"By July 1861, the Lawrence-Tuapeka area was very much immersed in a gold rush, with the district's population swelling to over 11,000 compared to less than 6000 in Dunedin at the time," he said.
Celebrating this moment would be "a hugely significant event" for both the local community and wider Otago region, Mr Roughan said.
"The launch of this logo is the first of many steps towards ensuring that in 2011 Lawrence will once again be the focal point of both Otago and indeed New Zealand.
The committee and wider community are excited about the prospect of these celebrations and will be working hard over the next few years to ensure there's an enjoyable programme of events on offer."
The Clutha District Council has joined forces to keep residents and others updated on progress and developments over the next three years by including information on its website -
http://www.cluthadc.govt.nz/lawrence2011.
