Blue Spur

Blue Spur is the name of two geographic areas in New Zealand.

Westland District

The first one is situated close to the Westland District's largest town, Hokitika. It stretches from the Tasman Sea in the west about 12 km (7.5 mi) eastwards towards the area of Humphreys and the Blue Spur Range.^[1] It can be accessed by road along the "Blue Spur Tourist Drive" from the center of Hokitika. During the 1860s, the time of the New Zealand gold rush, "The Spur" (as the locals always called it) was inhabited by more than 2,500 people. There was a school, several hotels, busy bars and a theater. Since around the year 2000 the area is gradually being rediscovered (and repopulated) as it offers rural living close to town.

Lawrence

The second place named "Blue Spur" is the area of the historic gold rush town and gold mining fields near Lawrence, Otago, New Zealand.^[2]

Name

The etymology of the term "blue spur" not well known. The gold diggers of the 1860s gold rush went after the gold "on the spur", i.e. in a great hurry/rush. Alluvial gold may often be found close to a layer of blueish clay. Miners frequently talk about mining down to the "blue clay", thus a "blue spur" could somehow elucidate the hasty process of digging for the gold pursuing a blueish layer of clay. Other potential meanings could refer to a blueish color of mountains ("blue mountains") as it can be spotted in certain light at distant mountains at both locations. Besides these gold rush related connotations we know about a "blue spur flower" (Plectranthus ciliatus), and the "blue spur" in coats of arms.^[3]

References

Towns and communities in the Clutha District Territorial authority

Balclutha Ward	Balclutha Finegand Kaka Point Lochindorb Otanomomo Paretai Port Molyneux Stirling Waipeka

Bruce Ward	Adams Flat Clarendon Clarksville Crichton Glenledi Glenore Hillend Kapiti Manuka Creek Milburn Milton Moneymore Mount Stuart Pukekoma Round Hill Taieri Beach Taieri Mouth Titri Toko Mouth Tokoiti Waihola

Catlins Ward	Ahuriri Flat Awatea Caberfeidh Chaslands Glenomaru Hays Gap Hina Hina Houipapa Jack's Bay Kahuika Katea Maclennan Makura New Haven Nugget Point Otekura Owaka Owaka Valley Papatowai Pounawea Puerua Puketiro Purakauiti Purakaunui Purekireki Ratanui Romahapa Stuarts Tahakopa Tahatika Tahora Tarara Tautuku Tawanui Tirohanga

Clinton Ward	Arthurton Clinton Kuriwao Popotunoa Taumata Waipahi Wairuna

Clutha Valley Ward	Ashley Downs Awamangu Barnego Clifton Clydevale Greenfield Kaihiku Kakapuaka Pukeawa Pukepito Puketi Rongahere Stony Creek Te Houka Waiwera South Waitepeka Warepa Wharetoa

Kaitangata-Matau Ward	Benhar Kaitangata Matau Summer Hill Wangaloa

Lawrence-Tuapeka Ward	Beaumont Blue Spur Bowlers Creek Bungtown Craigellachie Forsyth Gabriel's Gully Johnston Kononi Lawrence Lee Flat Raes Junction Tuapeka Flat Tuapeka Mouth Tuapeka West Waipori Waitahuna Waitahuna Gully Waitahuna West Wetherstons

West Otago Ward	Black Gully Conical Hill Crookston Crossans Corner Dunrobin Dusky Forest Edievale Glenkenich Heriot Kelso Merino Downs Moa Flat Park Hill Pomahaka Rankleburn Tapanui Waikoikoi Wilden