Abandoned villages : cultural planting in the relict landscapes of Central Otago : meanings and management : [dissertation, Diploma in Landscape Architecture, Lincoln College]

Abstract

Almost all landscapes can be considered cultural landscapes. Set within the context of the wider cultural landscape, occur locations where evidence of the past is more apparent than elsewhere, labelled historic landscapes. Some historic landscapes are special places which have escaped change. This group, relict landscapes, includes the abandoned gold mining villages of Central Otago. Settlers arriving at a new location bring with them not only a comprehensive 'Portmanteau Biota', but also a weight of cultural baggage - ideas about how they should live in their new environment. Planting is one of the ways in which settlers change their surroundings to make themselves at home. The past and the present intertwine when we experience relict landscapes. Managers of relict landscapes should be aware of the important contribution that cultural plantings make, along with and inseparable from, other continuous threads from the past such as buildings, earthworks and artifacts. Cultural plantings often contribute strongly to the sense of place to which we respond when we experience relict landscapes, and should be valued and managed accordingly. Good management decisions can only be made with a thorough understanding of the dynamics of relict cultural vegetation, and with clear objectives in mind. This dissertation considers the impact miners have had in Central Otago, and in particular features Macetown as a case study.