The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]
Lower Shotover
Lower Shotover.
Lower Shotover was a scene of much excitement in the early days of mining, but the district is now devoted principally to farming. The township has a hotel, a blacksmith's shop, and a public school, with an average attendance of thirty-eight, and the post office and telephone bureau are at the school-house. These buildings adjoin the main road from Queenstown to Arrow town, via Frankton and Lake Hayes, and are about equi-distant, six miles, from each settlement. The village is on the east side of the Shotover river, near the old bridge, which is showing distinct signs of age. The junction of the Kawarau and Shotover rivers is about two miles to the south of the Lower Shotover, which is in the Queenstown riding of Lake county, and in the Wakatipu electorate.
Houston, Thomas , Farmer, “Springbank,” Spear Grass Flat, Lower Shotover. Mr Houston was born in Ballyportray, County Antrim, Ireland, where he was brought up to farming on his father's farm. He came to New Zealand in 1884, and engaged in farm work in the Taieri district for a long time. In 1893, Mr Houston took up a leasehold farm of 390 acres at Lake Hayes, where he still resides, and in 1900 he bought “Springbank,” which consists of 142 acres. Mr Houston was a member of the Lower Shotover school committee for three years. He married a daughter of Mr C. Hanson, of Frankton, and has two sons and two daughters.
Mr. T. Houston.