Donald Sutherland (explorer)
Donald Sutherland | |
|---|---|
 Donald Sutherland in 1888 | |
| Born | c. 1843/1844 Wick, Caithness, Scotland |
| Died | 24 October 1919 (aged 75/76) Milford Sound, New Zealand |
| Occupation(s) | Explorer Soldier |
Donald Sutherland (c. 1843/1844 – 24 October 1919) was a Scottish-born New Zealand explorer, active in the late 19th century. Born in
Early life
Donald Sutherland was born in
New Zealand
After finding employment as a
Armed Constabulary service
In 1868, having failed again as a gold prospector, Sutherland joined the
Milford Sound
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Sutherland returned to the sea as a mariner for the New Zealand Government Service Steamer (NZGSS) shipping line. After several years of this work, in 1877 he decided to settle in Fiordland. He had visited the area a number of times while working NZGSS vessels. Sailing from Dunedin with only a dog for company, he reached the Milford Sound on 3 December. Basing himself at Freshwater Basin, a site close to Bowen Falls, he constructed a three-room hut. Further dwellings were built later and he drew up plans for a settlement for what he called the city of Milford. He looked for gold, asbestos and bowenite.[1][4][5]
In 1878, Sutherland invited James McKay to join him in his hunt for gold. Finding none, the two used funds and provisions afforded by the Lake County to scout for a route between Milford Sound and Queenstown. He was unsuccessful in finding a pass through the mountains but did locate the track used by Māori to travel between Milford and Bligh Sounds.[6][7] In doing so, he was the first European to sight the waterfall that is now named for him. Originally it was claimed to be well over 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) in height and the highest in the world, but Sutherland Falls is actually only 580 metres (1,900 ft) high. It is still New Zealand's highest waterfall.[8][9]
By the early 1880s, McKay had left Milford, believing there was no gold to be had in the area. This left Sutherland as the only permanent resident in Milford Sound. In 1883, while sailing down the coast in his vessel Porpoise, he discovered another feature that is named for him,
For much of the next several years, Sutherland lived alone in Milford Sound, only receiving visits every six months or so when the NZGSS steamers Hinemoa or Stella called in.[1] In 1888, he was contracted to make a track from Milford through to Sutherland Falls. This took six months, and now forms part of the Milford Track.[14] He made occasional visits to Dunedin, and on one of these, in 1890, he married Elizabeth née Samuels, a widower originally from England. The couple, using Elizabeth's money, purchased land on which the Chalet, an accommodation facility, was built. This catered to the increasing number of tourists visiting the area in the summer months via the Milford Track or by ship. Among them was the historian James Cowan, with whom Sutherland scouted in the area for diamonds.[1]
Later life
In his later years, Sutherland was joined at Milford Sound by his nephew, William Sutherland, who with his wife helped in the running of the Chalet.[1] By the 1900s, the tourism trade in the area was becoming well developed, encouraged by the government's Tourism Board.[15] In response, Sutherland began raising livestock at Milford for fresh meat. He died at his home on 24 October 1919; he had been in poor health for some time. When he died, his wife was the only individual present at Milford Sound. Unable to bury her large-framed husband, she had to wait five weeks for the next visit of the Hinemoa before his body could be interred. His wife remained at Milford, running the Chalet until she sold it to the New Zealand government in 1922. She stayed on in Milford Sound and died on 10 December 1923. She is buried alongside her husband in a grave behind the Chalet.[1][16]
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Parham, W. T. "Sutherland, Donald". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ Walrond, Carl. "Gold and gold mining – Otago". Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry of Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ Belich 1998, p. 268.
- ^ Cowan 1935, pp. 271–273.
- ^ Hall-Jones 1976, p. 61.
- ^ Hall-Jones 1976, pp. 62–63.
- ^ a b McClymont 1940, pp. 182–183.
- ^ Cowan 1935, pp. 274–275.
- ^ "Sutherland Falls 'discovered'". New Zealand History. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ Hall-Jones 1976, p. 64.
- ^ "The 'Magnificent' Mitre Peak". Stuff. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ Pascoe 1983, p. 146.
- ^ McKay 1884, pp. 454–455.
- ^ Hall-Jones 1976, p. 65.
- ^ Wright 2009, p. 262.
- ^ Hall-Jones 1976, p. 76.
References
- ISBN 978-0-14-027504-9.
- Cowan, James (1935). Hero Stories of New Zealand. Wellington: Harry H. Tombs. OCLC 16529330.
- Hall-Jones, John (1976). Fiordland Explored: An Illustrated History. Wellington: A.H. & A.W. Reed. ISBN 0-589-00973-7.
- McClymont, W. G. (1940). The Exploration of New Zealand. Wellington: Department of Internal Affairs. OCLC 903569088.
- McKay, Alexander (1884). "Recent Discovering in the Neighbourhood of Milford Sound". The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 65. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington.
- ISBN 0-589-01443-9.
- Wright, Matthew (2009). Old South: Life and Times in the Nineteenth Century Mainland. Auckland: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-300651-0.