What if I told you Frankton was once poised to be the main hub of this district? Frankton is now a suburb of Queenstown. But it holds its own unique story.
Back in 1860 William Gilbert Rees started farming in Queenstown. By 1863 Frankton was established. It was named after Frances. Frances was William Gilbert Rees’ wife.
Now here’s a twist. The Otago Witness declared in February 1863 that Frankton had “natural advantages”. It suggested nothing could stop Frankton from becoming the district’s chief township. The government even moved important buildings to Frankton. These included the warden’s court and the gold receiver.
But there was a problem. There was no road between Queenstown and Frankton. This caused inconveniences. Imagine the police officers from Queenstown Police Station. They had to travel daily to the court in Frankton.
After a banquet in June 1863 things changed. The secretary of the goldfields and the police commissioner St. John Branigan were hosted. After this banquet, the decision was reversed. Frankton’s moment in the sun as the main hub faded.
Let’s jump ahead to the Kawarau Falls Bridge. It was built between 1924 and 1926. This wasn’t just a bridge. It was also a dam. The idea was to lower the water level in the Kawarau River. This would allow miners to mine the river bed. Julius Vogel, a former Premier and Otago goldfields journalist, may have first suggested this idea. He mentioned it in his 1889 book.
The dam gates were shut for two months each winter. This caused the water to back up. It reached all the way to the Shotover River confluence. Unfortunately, less gold was found than expected. The project was largely unsuccessful.
During the Depression in 1932 the gates were shut again. Unemployed men were allowed to fossick for gold for six weeks.
Today Frankton sits at the end of the Frankton Arm. This is a large inlet in Lake Wakatipu. It is located on State Highway 6. It is also one end of State Highway 6A, which runs to Queenstown.
Frankton is part of the Frankton Flats. This area enjoys longer sunshine hours than central Queenstown.
Frankton is now a vibrant place. It has the Queenstown Airport. It has shopping centers like Remarkables Park Town Centre and Queenstown Central. You will also find the Queenstown Events Centre here.
Frankton offers something for everyone. There is a golf course. There are retail complexes and supermarkets. You will find modern hotels and eateries. In summer, don’t miss the weekend market. It’s a great place to find local goods.
You can easily access walking and cycling trails from here. The Frankton Track connects to Queenstown. The Twin Rivers and Country Side Trails lead to Arrowtown and Gibbston. These trails offer amazing views. You can enjoy the surrounding rivers, lakes, and mountains.
So while Frankton may not have become the chief township it was predicted to be, it has certainly carved out its own special place in the region.