Rosetta ‘Rosie’Buckingham
THE STAR

Born in 1843, Rosetta ‘Rosie’ was part of the Buckingham family company of professional actors and entertainers. Her Father George Buckingham, was a pioneer of theatre in New Zealand and a prominent fixture on the Auckland theatre scene in the 1840’s -60’s. George built The Fitzroy theatre in 1843 where they performed early nineteenth century comedies and melodramas, the first theatrical performances of any consequence to be given in Auckland.

 
With a very pleasing singing voice, Rosetta was an accomplished performer and the star of the Buckingham family troupe. Although supported on stage by her brothers, she attracted large audiences in her own right. One character whom she attracted was the notorious Captain William Henry (Bully) Hayes. In September 1862 he induced the family to accompany him to the Otago goldfields. In the prosperous canvas towns which had sprung up, Rosie Buckingham and her brothers were great favourites with the miners. In early 1863 they opened their own hotel The Provincial in the Arrow River township and while they performed there the grog and the money flowed freely. Their success was increasingly irritating to Bully Hayes…

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Bully Hayes
‘THE LARIKEN MARINER’

A notorious sailor, trader and sea captain, Captain William Henry (Bully) Hayes sailed to Otago in 1862 at the time the region was the centre of a gold rush, bringing with him the Buckingham family troupe including Rosetta who he became enamoured with (ignoring the fact he had a wife in San Francisco). After settling in Arrowtown he enticed Rosie, the star attraction at the Buckingham’s hotel The Provincial, to perform at his own establishment The Prince of Wales across the road – much to the outrage of Rosie’s brothers who attempted everything possible to humiliate and discredit their sisters seducer.

Lake Hayes which began Lake Hays, is erroneously credited to him because he was renowned character at the time in the district.