Sod Cottage - Milton

Sod Cottage (also known as Old Sod Cottage) is a small historic pioneer dwelling on State Highway 1 at Lovells Flat, about 12 km southwest of Milton in South Otago.

Built around 1862 during the Otago gold rush, it was constructed mainly of cob (a mix of clay, straw and sometimes animal hair — often loosely called “sod”). It originally served as a roadside inn, store and stopping place for miners travelling to the Tuapeka goldfields. It also housed the first Lovells Flat post office (from 1865) and at times functioned as a general store, bakehouse and Sunday school.

The cottage had various occupants, including farmers and itinerant workers, until about 1939, after which it fell into disuse. In 1969 the South Otago Historical Society took over its care from the Clark family. They restored it (replacing the roof and replastering the walls) and reopened it to the public on 30 May 1970 as a heritage site.

A major conservation project was completed more recently.

Artisan plasterer Mike Jackson used traditional lime plaster on the interior and exterior walls to address long-standing damp problems and help preserve the building for the long term. The work cost around $88,000.

Today the cottage stands beside the highway as a well-known local landmark. Visitors can view the simple two-room interior (usually through a grille or from outside) and get a sense of early gold-rush era life.

It is free to visit and is looked after by the South Otago Historical Society.