Milton, formerly known as Tokomairiro or Tokomairaro,[3][4] is a town of over 2,000 people, located on State Highway 1, 50 kilometres to the south of Dunedin in Otago, New Zealand.

It lies on the floodplain of the Tokomairaro River (until 2016 called the Tokomairiro), one branch of which loops past the north and south ends of the town.

As Milton stood close to one of the most easily accessible routes to the interior, it grew greatly during the goldrush years of the 1860s and was a major staging post for prospectors heading for the goldfields.

As communication with the goldfields in the interior became more important, and the desirability of the town becoming a staging post increased, it spread down onto the plains around the river.

Milton was an important town in early Otago – much more so than it is today – mainly due to its location on the route to the goldfields, and also for the Bruce Woollen Mills, which were among the province's largest factories.

The town's importance in communication in the early years of New Zealand settlement is emphasised by it being one of the two centres first linked by long-distance telephony, with a pioneering line set up between Milton and Dunedin in February 1878.

It was not until the early twentieth century that it was superseded in size by the now considerably larger local town of Balclutha.

[5]Milton was connected to the national railway network in the early 1870s when the Main South Line was built through the town and goods were first carried in October 1874.

In 1960, Milton lost this status when the extension was removed and the Roxburgh Branch's junction reverted to being in Clarksville.

[22] A temporary bridge was built over the river,[23] until the railway was extended about 1⁄2 mi (0.80 km)[24] to the new mine when Glendining and Co took over in 1908.

[25] The line ran south west, crossing the Tokomairaro River a few times, from Milton,[26] for about 6 mi (9.7 km) to mines at Fortification and Waronui.

[29] The industry reached its height in the 1880s, at which time five kilns were operating and over 40 staff were employed, producing building materials such as bricks and tiles, sanitary ceramics such as washbasins, and domestic and decorative dinner sets, vases, and jars.

The Bruce Herald was established by Joseph Mackay in 1864 and was one of the longest running country newspapers, closing on 7 October 1971.

Milton's main economic livelihood is as a service town for the surrounding farming community, although forestry is also becoming of increasing importance.

[35] Officially referred to simply as the Otago Corrections Facility, it quickly picked up the nickname of "The Milton Hilton".

Another widely held belief is that the change of course was designed to protect a large tree which formerly stood at the site where the kink is.

[36] Michael Palin describes Milton in his 1997 book Full Circle as a "small inconspicuous town".

There is a Salvation Army hostel, A Cosy Dell rest home and an advert for 'Frosty Boy' lollipops – 'Often Licked, Never Beaten'.