Plans to take the past into the future

The custodians of the Lawrence Chinese Camp see a glittering future for the historic South Otago attraction — an evocative relic of the province’s gold rush hey-day. Richard Davison discovers more about their $4.5million ambitions to establish a major cultural attraction and hospitality complex at the site by 2025.

Lawrence has always punched above its weight when it comes to community projects, and the town of some 500 souls looks to be on the cusp of doing it again.

On this occasion, however, it is not a Lawrence resident driving its latest reinvention, but retired Christchurch real estate agent Adrienne Shaw.

Ms Shaw became chairwoman of the Lawrence Chinese Camp Charitable Trust only last year, but has arrived with a fierce determination to see the cultural, historic and archaeological site well equipped to enter a third century and beyond.

Although not quite "use it or lose it", her underpinning philosophy could perhaps be described as "grow it or throw it".

"The trust has done a great job, since it was established by Dr James Ng in 2004, in establishing the camp as an entity, quietly evolving projects like the Poon Fah/Joss House, and exploring the site's archaeology," Ms Shaw said.

"But we're now at a crossroads where we can stay static, do nothing, and watch our assets crumble, or step up and become a destination that can both sustain itself and be a future drawcard for Lawrence as a whole."

To that end, the trust was planning a two-stage, $4.5million transformation for the 150-year-old camp between now and 2025, which would see its facilities expand dramatically.

Stage 1 centred on a brand new visitor centre, allied with restoration of existing historical assets, Ms Shaw said.

"The visitor centre is key, as it allows for a range of activities and provides a focus for the new development. Our vision is for a big box, villa-style, verandahed building of about 500sqm, which will contain a conference room for 60, a small commercial kitchen, display and sheltered browsing areas, and a tourist shop. Once that's in place, you have a reason to come and make a visit of it, and other elements naturally follow."

Centre elements could have names inspired by original camp residents, and the hope also was for a substantial Chinese arch through which to welcome visitors, she said.

Capitalising on the camp's existing historic assets was crucial.

"We have the Chinese Empire Hotel which currently acts as a visitor centre, the Poon Fah House which was returned to the site in 2016, and has been partially restored, and the stables which are just storage at present. All of these need significant work to enhance their appeal as part of the overall attraction."

Artefacts discovered during digs at the site, such as opium pipes, coins, cooking and eating items and pottery are stored in Lawrence Museum.

A twin "holding" and display area would rehouse many of these, Ms Shaw said.

The trust also planned to reconstruct a small section of original camp as part of stage 1 activities, and there were hopes a separate, neighbouring wetlands project might eventually become part of an overall visitor package.

The camp already attracted significant numbers of visitors, bolstered by its prime location on State Highway 8 to Queenstown, and sitting hard by the Clutha Gold cycle trail, which enjoyed direct access to the rear of the site from the cycleway.

Ms Shaw was confident a visible, well promoted and signposted visitor attraction such as the planned complex would draw further passers-by through the gate, and act as a "go-to" destination in itself.

"We know visitors to Lawrence stay an average of 1.2 nights at present, and they're mainly domestic, and from Australia, China and Europe.

"We plan to target four core groups with the aim of increasing that average stay, and thereby average spend in town. Those are free independent travellers, school groups, conference groups and tour groups, including the growing Chinese market."

Given the right sort of increase in visitor numbers during stage 1 of the project between now and 2023, stage 2 would click into gear.

This included plans for a cafe/restaurant, accommodation in the style of miners' cottages, and further parking.

"We want to give people reasons to come and stay. If there's somewhere you can learn and experience something new or culturally relevant, eat something with friends or family, and buy a souvenir, you get that ball rolling.

"Ultimately, we'd hope to see other attractions and accommodation options opening in Lawrence as it becomes a destination for more and more people."

Ms Shaw said the camp could also become a significant employer.

"This is a community project, and we'd like to see benefits accruing to the community as a whole."

Those anticipating bricks and mortar on the ground would have to wait a while yet.

"I'm calling this the iceberg year. It's the 90% you won't see going on behind the scenes, with limited visible results. But we're hoping to have a feasibility study for the project completed by October, and that will allow us to apply for core funding for stage 1."

Now and during the project, community input would be welcomed, Ms Shaw said.

"We're well supported by Clutha District Council, Clutha Development and the Dunedin Chinese community, but we're at the stage of seeking pledges of goods and services to help with the physical aspects of the project itself.

"We're hoping it's a project Lawrence, and the wider region, will be excited to support in whatever way they can."

Many present day New Zealanders had ancestral links to the camp, and Ms Shaw's own family history neatly illustrated the joint stakes in the camp's history, held by Chinese and Europeans alike.

Her great-great-great-grandfather Chau Chu Taai, known as Chow Tie, was camp butcher in the late 1870s.

He went on to marry Scotswoman Grace Kerr, barmaid at the Chinese Empire Hotel, in 1885, one of many pioneering interracial marriages of the period.

"It's just one of the dozens of fascinating stories born here within the camp. We want to give those stories colour, and bring them back to life."