thumb|right|Gabriel's Gully during the height of the gold rush in 1862.

thumb|Herbert Deveril's gold rush era image of Gabriel's Gully in [[Otago, circa 1875]]

Gabriel's Gully is a locality in Otago, New Zealand, three kilometres from Lawrence township and close to the Tuapeka River. It was the site of New Zealand's first major gold rush.

The discovery of gold at Gabriel's Gully by Gabriel Read on 25 May 1861 led to the Otago gold rush. It also stimulated overseas interest in the new colony.

In May 1911, the jubilee of the discovery of gold in Gabriel's Gully was held in Lawrence, with around 2,000 people attending, including surviving miners.

Gabriel's Gully today is now part of the Gabriels Gully Historic Reserve, and is managed by the Department of Conservation. It has a Heritage New Zealand Category 1 designation.

References

Further reading

  • McCraw, Ernie (2011). Gabriel Read of Gabriel's Gully, Tuapeka Goldfields Museum Society. viii, 152 p. A comprehensive history of Gabriel's Gully and Gabriel Read
  • Gabriels Gully Historic Reserve