Ophir, New Zealand

Ophir Post and Telegraph Office

Ophir is a small settlement in Central Otago, New Zealand, located between Alexandra and Ranfurly close to the east bank of the Manuherikia River. The settlement of Omakau is located on the opposing bank, three kilometres to the northwest.

Ophir was originally known as Blacks, when gold was discovered in Central Otago in 1863 the Ophir's population grew to over 1000 as it became the commercial and social centre of the district. It was renamed Ophir at this time which was where King Solomon obtained the gold to sheath the Temple in Jerusalem, and is thus the place name of the legendary "King Solomon's Goldmines".

Today, with a current population of only 50, the town is also known for the many original buildings still surviving including the restored Post and Telegraph Office, the 1895 Courthouse, and the 1870s Police Station. The Post Office is a schist and stone masonry structure built in 1886, and registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category I Historic Place (registration number 341, 22 November 1984).^[1]

New Zealand's second-lowest official temperature of -21.6 °C was recorded at Ophir on 3 July 1995, even though it is not located at a high elevation.^{[2] [3]}

References

1. ^ "Ophir Post Office". Register of Historic Places. New Zealand Historic Places Trust. http://www.historic.org.nz/TheRegister/RegisterSearch/RegisterResults.aspx?RID=341&m=advanced. Retrieved 2009-12-21. 
2. ^ "NZ's temperature record hits new low - minus 25.6degC". The New Zealand Herald. 12 July 2011. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10737901. 
3. ^ "Summary of New Zealand Climate Extremes". National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA). January 2004. http://www.niwa.co.nz/education-and-training/schools/resources/climate/extreme. 

Coordinates: 45°07′S 169°36′E / 45.117°S 169.6°E / -45.117; 169.6