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Gore was named after Colonel Sir Thomas Robert Gore Browne (3 July 1807-17 April 1887), a British colonial administrator, who was Governor of St Helena, Governor of New Zealand, Governor of Tasmania and Governor of Bermuda.
The town of Gore is 64 kilometres northeast of Invercargill and 70 km west of Balclutha – Dunedin and Invercargill are the nearest cities. The Gore District has a resident population of 12,500 (June 2018).[1] The urban area estimated resident population at the June 2018 was 9,910, the second largest in Southland.[1] Gore is a service town for the surrounding farm communities.
It is divided by the Mataura River into Gore and East Gore, the majority of the town being situated on the western banks of the river. The Main South Line railway from Dunedin to Invercargill runs through the town, though passenger services ceased in 2003. Gore was once a busy railway junction; the Waimea Plains Railway ran west to connect with the Kingston Branch in Lumsden, while the Waikaka Branch connected with the Main South Line nearby in McNab. The original Kingston Flyer ran between Gore, on the main Dunedin-Invercargill line, and Kingston, from where lake steamers provided a connection with Queenstown.[2] It was withdrawn in 1937, although specials continued into the 1950s. The 1970s revival of the Flyer did not include Gore.
Before the arrival of Europeans the current site of Gore was a part of or near the routes used by Maori travellers. Tuturau, near modern Mataura, was the nearest Maori settlement. In 1836 southern Maori repelled a raid from the north, which provided sufficient security for Europeans to purchase land and settle in the area. By the mid-1850s large tracts nearby had been converted into sheep runs.
As crossing the Mataura River involved a long fording, the locality became known as "the Long Ford", or Longford. In 1862 a few town sections were surveyed on the west bank of the river and Longford was named Gore as a compliment to Sir Thomas Gore Browne, an early Governor of New Zealand. One of the first buildings was Long Ford House an accommodation house opened by local sawmill owner Daniel Morton[4]
A village named Gordon after Governor Sir Arthur Gordon became established on the opposite bank of the Mataura. By 1864 a road from Balclutha through Gore to Invercargill had been opened for wheeled traffic which allowed the establishment of a regular coach service between Invercargill and Dunedin.
Establishment By 1877 there were enough business opportunities in the area for the Bank of New Zealand to establish a branch in Gore. Within another three years both the Bank of Australasia and the Colonial Bank had also opened branches. In 1899 the Bank of New South Wales followed suit.[5]
After its construction began in the early 1870s, a railway line between Invercargill and Gore was opened on 30 August 1875. By 22 January 1879 the railway had been extended to Balclutha where it linked with an existing line to Dunedin. A private Waimea Plains railway from Gore to Lumsden was opened on 31 July 1880. This was subsequently purchased by the Government in 1886. It connected Gore with the Invercargill-Kingston branch line. By 1908 another branch had been completed via McNab to Waikaka. The extension of the railways established Gore as an important hub and had a significant effect on its development.[5]
By 1879, the "Ensign" newspaper was being published in the town, followed in 1887 by the rival "Standard".
Borough In 1885 Gore was constituted a borough and in 1890 Gordon, by now commonly known as East Gore, amalgamated with Gore.[6]
Gore acquired a nickname of "Chicago of the South".[7][8]
By 1905 the population had increased to 2,354, compared with 1,618 in 1891.[9]
The establishment of the Gore Electric Light & Power Syndicate led in 1894 to Gore becoming the third town in New Zealand to install a generator and provide a public electricity supply.[10]
From the end of the Second World War until 1976 Gore enjoyed prosperity driven by record prices for agricultural produce which saw the town’s population rise from 5,000 in 1945 to 9,000 in 1976. By the late 1960s it was reputed to have the highest per-capita retail turnover of any New Zealand town.[6]
Decline The farm sector went into decline after 1976 which led to a corresponding decline in the population. Related businesses also closed, including the town’s iconic cereal mill, which had processed oats and other grains since 1877. Since 2000 prosperity has returned as large numbers of farms in the surrounding area were converted to dairy farms to take advantage of high prices for dairy produce. This growth has led to low unemployment in the town.
Landmarks and notable features
Fleming's Rolled Oats factory, a major landmark in central Gore. The Flemings "Creamoata Mill" is an iconic local building, with Flemings "Creamoata" brand of porridge once promoted by Flemings as the National Breakfast,[15] and the mill itself considered one of the most modern cereal mills in the southern hemisphere. Production of all products was moved to Australia in 2001, and Creamoata was discontinued in 2008 after declining sales.[16] Goodman Fielder claimed that the plant was no longer viable as it was operating at less than one third of its capacity. The building's famous "Sgt Dan" remains because rights to it have been purchased by the buildings current owner "Sgt Dan Stockfoods Ltd".[16] The building has a Category I listing with Heritage New Zealand.[17]
The former East Gore Presbyterian Church is one of the two remaining wooden Gothic churches designed by the eminent architect R.A. Lawson.[18] Built in 1880 and registered as a category 2 historic place by Heritage New Zealand,[19] the main building is currently used as a performance and lecture theatre and the hall, built later, as a studio and flat for visiting artists. The latter houses the bedroom furniture from the Royal Suite commissioned for the Queen's Royal Tour to Southland in 1954.[20]
The Hokonui Moonshine Museum in the heritage precinct celebrates Gore's part in the "...colourful history of illicit whiskey making and consumption...",[21][22] with illicit whiskey being produced in the Hokonui Hills to the west of the town up until the 1930s.[23]
Notable residents Main category: People from Gore, New Zealand Ronald Bannerman, a flying ace during World War I. Bannerman Park in north Gore is named after him. Jimmy Cowan, international rugby player James Hargest, politician and military leader Amanda Hooper (Christie), International Women's Hockey Luke Hurley, musician Hadyn Jones, television journalist[24] Roy Kerr, mathematical physicist Shona McFarlane, artist and broadcaster Hugh McIntyre (1888–1982), chairman of the Alliance Freezing Company (Southland) Brian McKechnie (born 1953), international cricket and rugby player Justin Marshall, international rugby player Mike Puru, radio host Geoff Rabone, international cricketer Eric Roy, politician Jenny Shipley, former Prime Minister of New Zealand Barry Soper, political journalist Stu Wilson, international rugby player Courtney Winsloe, Otago Sparks cricketer
Browne was born on 3 July 1807 in Aylesbury, in the county of Buckinghamshire, England, a son of Robert Browne and Sarah Dorothea née Steward. Of Irish extraction, the family had a military or church tradition; his father was a colonel in the Buckinghamshire Militia[1] while his younger brother, Harold Browne, later became Bishop of Winchester.[2]
Military career In 1824, Browne kept up his family's military tradition and joined the British Army as an ensign in the 44th Regiment of Foot. After four years, he transferred into the 28th Regiment of Foot. In 1832, and now a captain, he was appointed aide-de-camp to Baron Nugent, the High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands. He served in this role for three years, which included a spell as colonial secretary.[3]
Now a major, Browne was posted to the 41st Regiment of Foot. In 1842, the regiment was dispatched to Afghanistan and fought in the First Anglo-Afghan War. He led the regiment for a time and commanded the rearguard as the British Army retreated from Khyber Pass into India. After his return from the campaign in Afghanistan, Browne was promoted lieutenant-colonel. He was also appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath.[3] In 1849, he exchanged into the 21st Regiment of Foot.[2]
Browne retired from the British Army on half-pay in 1851 and shortly took up an appointment as Governor of the island of Saint Helena.[3] He served in this capacity from July 1851 to December 1854,[4] and during this time worked towards improving the island's water supply.[2]
Marriage In 1851 Browne married Harriet Louisa Campbell. His wife was a considerable support to his political career. She was over 20 years his junior and was well read, socially accomplished with a pleasant personality, and had an excellent understanding of the political environment in which she and her husband circulated. In addition to her influence over Browne, her hospitality and contribution to the social and cultural life during Browne's placements assisted him in influencing others to support his political views.[5]
Governor of New Zealand In September 1855, Browne was appointed Governor of New Zealand, replacing temporary Administrator Robert Wynyard. His handling of Māori land issues were a contributing factor in the outbreak of the First Taranaki War: despite divisions among Waitara Maori over the ownership of land, Browne persisted with the purchase of the disputed Pekapeka block, further inflaming tensions between Maori and English settlers.[6]
On 5 March 1860, Browne ordered the military occupation of the land, leading to the outbreak of war twelve days later. The following year, he negotiated a truce to end the fighting in the region. His governorship term ended in May 1861; rather than extend it, the Colonial Office in London replaced him with Sir George Grey.
The town of Gore, New Zealand was named after him.[7]
Governor of Tasmania In December 1861, Browne was appointed Governor of Tasmania. At the time, Tasmania was struggling economically and people were leaving for better employment prospects on the Australian mainland. To counter this, Browne implemented measures to encourage immigration. He also worked towards improving public education and training in the trades. A popular governor for most of his term, he lost goodwill when he displayed favouritism when filling a public service position.[2] In January 1869, he left Australia for England. While in Melbourne, his point of departure from the country, his youngest child died.[8]
Later life After being appointed Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1869, Browne, with the assistance of Edward Cardwell, the Secretary of State for War, was appointed Administrator of Bermuda. This was to help secure Browne a pension[1] and he served in this capacity from May 1870 to April 1871.[2]
Brown died in London on 17 April 1887. He was survived by his wife, Harriet Louisa Browne née Campbell. The couple had several children; the eldest son, Harold Browne, also served in the British Army and fought in the Boer War of 1899-1900, and took part in the defence of Ladysmith.[6] His daughter, Ethel, married Hugh Locke King who built the Brooklands motor racing circuit in England,[9] while his youngest son, Wilfrid was the first Bishop of Kimberley and Kuruman in South Africa.