A town submerged by any means other than natural causes seems a remote possibility to us, but it was a reality in the old gold mining town of Cromwell. Cromwell’s original town centre was established in 1862, it was demolished in the late1980’s, and flooded in the early 1990’s to make way for Clyde Dam  ….

The Clyde Dam will be the best thing since sliced bread

In the mid 1980’s a group of concerned locals foresaw the loss of their town’s heritage and formed “Save Old Cromwell”. It led to historic buildings in the town centre being dismantled and rebuilt on higher and drier ground that is now Cromwell Heritage Precinct.

Other buildings have been re-created and together they form a collection of galleries, shops, and historic sites overlooking Lake Dunstan, a man made lake created by the dam. The Clyde Dam may have drowned a town, but locals ensured part of their heritage lives on at Old Cromwell Town.

Photos of Cromwell Heritage Precinct….

The Grain & Seed Cafe in the old D.A. Jolly & Sons building is a scenic coffee stop……

Grain & Seed Cafe

Armando’s Kitchen & Lake Dunstan

Cromwell Heritage Precinct

In November 1869 the first ‘Cromwell Argus’ newspaper was published, it remained in print until 1948. (The building has been re-created).

Cromwell Argus

Cromwell Heritage Precinct

Cromwell Heritage Precinct

Cromwell Heritage Precinct

Fishing at Lake Dunstan, Cromwell Heritage Precinct

P.S. If you’re wondering about diving down under to see what’s left of Cromwell, this video shows two bridge dives, an old car rusts in peace on Lowburn Bridge (2.50 minutes in).