03/09/2026
Queenstown's iconic historical dam!
What happens when you build a dam to uncover hidden gold, but the river refuses to cooperate? 💰
in 1926, the Kawarau Falls dam opened to an audience of eager goldminers. Built to expose a supposed treasure trove on the riverbed, the dam held back the lake but couldn't stop tributaries and underground channels from refilling the river. The water level only dropped by a metre.
Despite falling short of its goal, the dam still stands today and served as the main bridge across the river until 2018.
