# Butchers Dam > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Butchers_Dam > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Butchers_Dam.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butchers_Dam > Source revision: 1287609670 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Lake in New Zealand Butchers Dam in 2025 **Butchers Dam** is a lake 5 kilometres southwest of [Alexandra](/source/Alexandra%2C_New_Zealand), [Central Otago](/source/Central_Otago), in the [South Island](/source/South_Island) of New Zealand. The lake, on the eastern side of Alexandra-Fruitlands Road of [New Zealand State Highway 8](/source/State_Highway_8_(New_Zealand)), is named for its concrete dam. It used to be an important water supply for Alexandra, but is now mostly used for [irrigation](/source/Irrigation) purposes. Its construction began in 1935 and was completed in 1937 as a water reservoir for Alexandra during the [Great Depression](/source/Great_Depression_in_New_Zealand).[1] The 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi) Butchers Dam Loop Track passes by the lake's shores. There is a historic hut on the north coast of Butchers Dam. In the winter, the lake freezes over and is good for [ice skating](/source/Ice_skating). Butchers Dam is a popular site for local [fishing](/source/Fishing_industry_in_New_Zealand) for its proximity to Alexandra, and is open for fishing activities all year round.[2] The most common catches in Butchers Dam are [brown trout](/source/Brown_trout) and [rainbow trout](/source/Rainbow_trout).[3] The small Butchers Creek, which is both the inflow and outflow of the lake, feeds the [Clutha River](/source/Clutha_River) less than 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) downstream. ## History In 1862, near the beginning of the [Otago gold rush](/source/Otago_gold_rush), gold was discovered in Butchers Gully. In 1865, a butchery and store were established by the gully, as miners began to scour the area for gold. The Butchers Gully Hotel was constructed in 1868, as the first road between Roxburgh and Alexandra was finished. The hotel burned down in 1886, and a replacement hotel to cater to miners and locals was maintained until the gully was submerged under Butchers Dam in 1937.[4] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Butchers Dam"](https://fromasmallcity.nz/category/butchers-dam/). *... from a Small City*. 2 March 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Freshwater Fishing – Butcher's Dam"](https://www.fishing.net.nz/fishing-advice/general-articles/freshwater-fishing-butchers-dam/). *The Fishing Website*. Retrieved 16 April 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Discover Butchers Dam on NiceFish"](https://nicefish.co.nz/island/south/regions/otago/locations/butchers-dam-12006). *nicefish.co.nz*. Retrieved 16 April 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Butchers Dam Aardwolfs Ice Hockey Club"](https://aardwolfsice.com/News/NIR/Locations/Butchers_Dam_Page.html). *aardwolfsice.com*. 27 May 2010. Retrieved 16 April 2025. [45°17′32″S 169°20′40″E / 45.29222°S 169.34444°E / -45.29222; 169.34444](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Butchers_Dam¶ms=45_17_32_S_169_20_40_E_) v t e Clutha River (Mata-Au) Source: Southern Alps—Flows into: Pacific Ocean Administrative areas Otago Region Queenstown–Lakes District Central Otago District Clutha District Towns and settlements (upstream to downstream) Wānaka Albert Town Luggate Lowburn Cromwell Clyde Alexandra Lake Roxburgh Roxburgh Teviot Ettrick Millers Flat Beaumont Tuapeka Mouth Clydevale Balclutha Stirling Kaitangata Port Molyneux Major tributaries (upstream to downstream by confluence) Makarora River Matukituki River Hāwea River Cardrona River Lindis River Kawarau River Manuherikia River Teviot River Tuapeka River Pomahaka River Waitāhuna River Lakes in catchment (upstream to downstream by location or tributary) Lake Wānaka Lake Hāwea Lake Dunstan Lake Wakatipu Greenland Reservoir Manorburn Reservoir Manorburn Dam Butchers Dam Lake Roxburgh Lake Tuakitoto Islands in catchment (upstream to downstream by location or tributary) Mou Waho Pigeon Island Pig Island / Mātau Birch Island Inch Clutha Other features (upstream to downstream) Central Otago wine region Deadman's Point Bridge Old Cromwell Bridge Cromwell Gorge Clyde Dam Alexandra bridges Roxburgh Dam Kelso Balclutha Road Bridge Longest New Zealand rivers 1: Waikato 2: Clutha 3: Whanganui 4: Taieri 5: Rangitīkei 6: Mataura 7: Waiau 8: Waiau Toa / Clarence 9: Waitaki 10: Ōreti 11: Rangitaiki 12: Manawatū This Otago geography article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. - [v](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Otago-geo-stub) - [t](/source/Template_talk%3AOtago-geo-stub) - [e](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:Otago-geo-stub) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Butchers Dam](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butchers_Dam) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butchers_Dam?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.