Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
History
In comparison with other regions, little is known of the pre-European history of the Maori in
Fiordland. There is evidence of a permanent settlement at Martins Bay, and possibly of sum-
mer villages throughout Fiordland, which were used for seasonal hunting expeditions. The
most significant archaeological find in the region was made in 1967, when mid-17th-century
burial remains were discovered in a cave in Lake Hauroko.
In 1770 Captain Cook worked his way up the west coast in the
Endeavour,
but was un-
successful in landing: it was too dusky in one instance, and doubtful in another. He returned
three years later, bringing the
Resolution
into Dusky Sound, where the crew recuperated
after three months at sea. Recorded in his log in 1773 was probably the first written descrip-
tion of sandflies: 'most mischievous animals that cause a swelling not possible to refrain
from scratching'.
In 1792 a 12-strong sealing gang arrived. Left in the sound for 10 months, they reaped a
harvest of 4500 skins, and constructed one of NZ's first European buildings. By 1795 there
were 250 settlers in Dusky Sound.
Whaling briefly followed sealing, with the first significant shore-based South Island
whaling station built in 1829 at Preservation Inlet. The industries devastated seal and whale
populations, but encouraged exploration of the coast. In 1823, Welsh sealing captain John
Grono was the first to record sailing into Milford Sound, naming it after his hometown of
Milford Haven.
Fiordland was explored from the sea until 1852, when a party reached Te Anau from the
Waiau Valley. Nine years later two cattle drivers, David McKellar and George Gunn,
climbed to the top of Key Summit and became the first Europeans to view the Hollyford
Valley. This set off more explorations, resulting in myriad firsts commemorated in the
names of major landmarks.
As usual, it was gold-mining that encouraged deeper delving into the wilderness. In 1868,
the Otago Provincial Government attempted to stimulate further growth by starting a settle-
ment at Martins Bay. Some lots at Jamestown (as it was known) were sold, but the settlers
who moved there found life hard and lonely. By 1870 there were only eight houses in
Jamestown. Nine years later the settlement was deserted, leaving only a handful of people
living at Martins Bay.
A couple of legendary hermits settled in Fiordland around this time, one of whom was
Donald Sutherland, a colourful character who sailed single-handedly from Dunedin into
Milford Sound in 1877 and became known as the 'Hermit of Milford'. In 1880, Sutherland
