Story: Lakes

Earnslaw on Lake Wakatipu

The Earnslaw is a steamer that was built in Dunedin in the early 1900s, and launched on Lake Wakatipu in 1912. For over 50 years the boat mainly carried people and freight to and from remote communities around the lake. Since the 1970s it has been mainly used for scenic cruises.

British composer Ron Goodwin wrote the ‘Earnslaw Steam Theme’ as part of his New Zealand suite, recording some of the distinctive sounds in different parts of the country. Listen to a short extract, played by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Sound file from Radio New Zealand Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero. © Ron Goodwin. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. To request a copy of the recording, contact Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero (New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/Reference number 45/256 tk2)

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How to cite this page:

Simon Nathan, 'Lakes - Recreation and other uses', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/speech/11829/earnslaw-on-lake-wakatipu (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Simon Nathan, published 24 Sep 2007