William Gilbert Rees (6 April 1827 — 31 October 1898) was an explorer, surveyor, and early settler in Central Otago, New Zealand.

He returned to England in 1858 to marry his childhood sweetheart, his cousin Frances Rebecca Gilbert (born November 1838).

[1][2] He established a high country farm in 1860 close to the current location of Queenstown's town centre.

Gold was discovered not far to the northeast two years later, at which point Rees converted his wool shed into a hotel named the Queen's Arms, now known as Eichardt's.

[4] Rees was a devout Anglican and helped with the building of St Peter's Church in central Queenstown, which was completed in 1863.