Today begins with a scenic morning walk, incorporating breakfast at a great little cafe. We headed out at a bit after 8 am on one of the many walking trails that exist in this area. This one takes us along the banks of the Clutha river.
We soon come to a pedestrian suspension bridge that crosses the river. Once over the other side, the track follows the river along the other bank until we reach a road bridge and can cross back over and continue on to our breakfast cafe.
Breakfast was very good and busy. Coffee was great, as was the food, which in the case of our group, was savoury and date scones. The food portions were very generous and reasonably priced.
The walk the continued back to Peter's place and we headed off on our road trip for the day with a visit to Hayes Engineering Works and Homestead. Located on the middle of nowhere, near Oturehua. It is now a "museum" but was the home and engineering works of Ernest Hayes a talented kiwi engineer and inventor who is probably best known for his invention of the wire fence strainer, which is still in use today around the World.
The Homestead
Whilst finding your way around the site is a self guided tour, a guide gave us an introduction at the start giving us some of the history of Ernest Hayes and the evolution of the engineering works and the products Hayes invented. Originally the power source for the works was a large windmill which drove a large central shaft through the building from which sub shafts were driven by leather belts which in turn drove the various machines. The windmill was later replaced by a water driven wheel using water piped down from a high head tank.
Some of Hayes inventions.
Engineering Workshops
The workshop contained just about anything you would need, lathes, boring machines. pedestal drills, forges and blacksmith shop a pattern making shop (castings were done off site at another business), grinding wheels etc. everything was driven by leather belt drives.
Forge and blacksmith shop
Power for the works came from the source below, originally a windmill, but the windmill was eventually removed from the top of this structure and water wheel fed by a pipe installed underneath the structure and connected to the shaft drive.
Next we walked over past the workers accommodation and stables, before moving on the inspect the homestead.
Stables and accommodation
The homestead was well preserved and fully furnished with items that reflected the period of its occupation. It was surprisingly large and well equipped suggesting that the Hayes family were very well off. Obviously reflecting the success of Ernest Hayes' many inventions.
Kitchen
Laundry
It was now time for lunch at the cafe that forms part of the complex, another lovely old building that also acts as the office for payment of entry fees etc.
From the homestead we head back across towards the white building which houses the cafe. There was a great selection of home made lunch items including pies and sausage rolls.
A large group had arrived just after us and we were fortunate to get to the cafe just ahead of them and place our orders, otherwise we would have been in for a long wait.
Lunch at the cafe
After lunch we had a scenic drive home through Omakau and Ophir, stopping at a lookout along the way for a spectacular view of Alexandra.
Back at Alexandra we had time for a bit of a rest before dinner. BBQ Lamb and salad was on the menu and Peter excelled himself cooking the butterflied lamb leg.
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