Lawrence was Otago's first gold-rush town. At the height of the gold fever, its population was 11,500; double that of Dunedin, making it one of the largest communities in the country at the time. Lawrence sits on State Highway 8, the main route between Dunedin and Queenstown.
Today, (2021) with a population of around 450, Lawrence is a small but bustling community nestled in the beautiful surroundings of Clutha country. The surrounding Tuapeka area has a population of approx 1,600 and includes smaller townships from Beaumont across to Waitahuna.