Ophir's elegant O'Connell bridge was built to last, says Don Donovan.
The settlers who 147 years ago created the town of Ophir, in Central Otago, built to last.
The gold here was so rich that it was said no miner could help striking the yellow metal if he dug just five feet into the soil.
So optimistic were its residents that they raised a courthouse, gaol, churches, post office and cottages in everlasting stone.
And, in 1880, they created the remarkable Daniel O'Connell suspension bridge to provide access over the crystal waters of the Manuherikia River.
If you take the peaceful road to Ophir, not far from Alexandra, the bridge comes as a complete surprise, being such an impressive piece of engineering, sculpturally and functionally elegant, in such an apparently remote place.
It is 63m long and 4m wide and its masonry piers are of local schist stone.
It was designed in 1878 by LD MacGeorge who was, at the time, the resident Vincent County engineer. It was clearly built to last and (with the help of steel reinforced girders added later) has done so, still being in perfect condition and still used by road traffic entering the southern approach to the township.
The Daniel O'Connell Bridge was obviously named to acknowledge the many Irish gold seekers lured to Central Otago by the prospect of striking it rich. O'Connell was an Irish patriot who successfully championed the rights of Irish Catholics to become members of the Westminster Parliament.
No doubt his name would be hardly known in New Zealand were it not for Irish politics and patriotic Irish immigrants coming together at this place of high hopes in 1880.
Today, Ophir has a small but devoted population of permanent and holiday home residents. The little jewel of a stone post and telegraph office with its winking brass posting slots, subject of many historical monographs, calendars and postcards is still open for business Monday to Friday, nine until noon, as it has been ever since it opened in 1863.
CHECKLIST
Getting there: Take SH85 from Alexandra to Ranfurly and after 25km turn right just south of Omakau (not far from the Otago Rail Trail).
Where to stay: Blacks Hotel, Ida Valley-Omakau Road, Ophir, Central Otago phone 03 447 3826.
The Old Bakery B&B, Ophir phone 03 447 3704.
Flannery Lodge, Ophir, phone 03 447 4256.
Ophir Bridge B&B, Ophir, phone 03 447 3259.
Further information: See Visit Central Otago or click Te Ara.
