This is Glenorchy as it was imagined in 1864; a brand new town, freshly surveyed and full of possibility at the head of ‘Lake Wakatip.’ This map predates the sealed roads, the tourism, the film crews — it's Glenorchy before anyone outside Otago had heard of it.

Drawn by George McBarr, Assistant Surveyor, and produced by the Otago Survey Lithographic Press under Chief Surveyor J.T. Thomson, this plan captures the town at its very beginning. A reserve for Public Gardens and Recreation Grounds is marked out with quiet optimism - now the golf course. W.G. Rees — one of the region's earliest and most significant runholders — has his land noted right on the map. The Cemetery Reserve, the Cattle Market, and a small lagoon along the lake edge all speak to a settlement being carefully, methodically brought into existence.

Its warm parchment tones and delicate hand-colouring make it a natural fit for a hallway, study, or living room, in a modern interior or a more traditional setting. It would look wonderful in a crib or holiday home in the Queenstown Lakes area, where it would never fail to draw a comment from guests.

A perfect gift for anyone with family roots in Glenorchy or the wider Otago region, for lovers of New Zealand history, or for the map enthusiast in your life who thinks they've seen everything.

This map comes in a square aspect and we offer two different finishing options. Please choose from the following selection to make it your own.

Acrylic Print

Perfect for any room where gallery quality is optimal, our Acrylic Prints are also ideal for bathrooms and wet areas.

Your map will be printed in our boutique print studio on Kodak Professional substrate using archival inks, and then mounted in-house on crystal clear acrylic for a back-lit appearance and unrivaled vibrancy.

Finally, it will be seamed with 4mm ACM (Aluminium Composite Material) for a modern frameless finish. A custom hanger is attached before the print is securely packaged and sent to you, ready to hang on your wall.

ACM Wall Art

Our ACM Wall Art prints are sleek and non-reflective. Your photograph will be printed in our boutique print studio on Kodak Professional Paper using archival inks and then mounted in-house on 4mm ACM. A custom hanger is attached before the print is securely packaged and sent to you, ready to hang on your wall.

Please note:

• All maps come with their original patina and stamps, adding to their character.

• Prints will be created, finished, packed and sent within 3 weeks of ordering but can often be finished much sooner.

• All prints will be sent tracked through New Zealand Post until their size limit of 1.5 metres has been reached.

• We crate our largest prints to ensure their safe arrival and use Post Haste or Kiwi Oversize for delivery.

• We can absolutely ship overseas from New Zealand, please enquire about postage.