You have a chance to shape the future history of our town. The Thames and Thames Coast Managements Plan is under Review, and makes excellent reading. The draft plan is available for viewing online or to download.
Here is a list of the reserves for Thames that are in the draft report: (with page number from the contents page)
Bright Smile Mine Reserve:19; Burke Street Beachfront
Reserve: 46; Campbell Street Reserve: 20; Dickson Park: 38; Former Burke Street
Landfill: 76; Hauraki Terrace Reserve: 21; Herewaka Stream Reserve:57; Irishtown
Reserve: 58; Karaka Reserve: 59; Kauaeranga
River Esplanade: 60; Kauaeranga Valley – Devcich Ford Reserve: 60; Kauaeranga
Valley – Historic Reserve: 61; Kauaeranga Valley – The Booms: 61; Kauaeranga
Valley Road Reserve: 62; Kuranui Bay Reserve: 22; Marshall Crescent Walkway:77;
Mount Sea Reserve: 64; Ngarimu Bay Reserve: 23; Porritt Park: 24,77; Queen
Street Reserve: 25; Rhodes Park:12,67; Taipari Park: 78; Tararu Beachfront
North/South Reserve: 27,28; Tararu Creek Reserve: 69; Thames Coastal Walkway –
Danby Field: 76; Thames Coastal Walkway – Goldfields: 49; Thames Coastal
Walkway – South: 50; Thames Historical Museum: 15; Thames War Memorial Reserve:
16; The Booms Reserve: 33; Victoria Park: 34; Waikiekie Historic/Stream
Reserves: 73; William Hall Reserve: 40
 |
| THAMES STAR, 30 MAY 1928 |
Who knew we had so many!!!
ISSUES:
A few fall under the Treaty of Waitangi Settlement for the area, such as Taipari Park.
There are interesting comments for several reserves that adjoin beaches - that the boundary of some are in doubt as private landowners may have encroached on the reserve over the years.
HISTORY OF EACH RESERVE:
The report thoroughly covers the land title names and ownership plus other issues.
Rhodes Park one of our best known parks opened 4 June 1928.
A key issue now and for the future of Rhodes Park is flooding, from the Kauaeranga River and overflow from the spillway. Flooding has been a problem since the land was first used.
Rhodes Park during the 1936 Flood
Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19360205-54-1
Porritt Park, the report acknowledges that the park was named after Governor General Sir Arthur Porritt in 1969, but fails to cover the history on its development.
The playground was officially opened on Thursday 19 December 1929. It was known as the Diamond Jubilee Children's Playground. Opened by the Mayor Mr W Bongard.
Source: Thames Playground
The loss of the play ship The Wakatere is also not mentioned, along with the promises made at the time of demolition to build a smaller replacement at the southern end of the playground.
The Wakatere, the real ship (1906) top and the playship prior to demolition
Victoria Park history also has some discrepancies. It states in the TCDC report:
"A celebration on the 10 November 1902 (King Georges birthday), included an upgrade of the reserve,
including the dedication of the band rotunda and the laying of the Troopers memorial foundation stone."
While the Band Rotunda dates back to 1902 on the present site, the South African War Memorial was first at the corner of Mary & Pollen Street and only moved to Victoria Park in the late 1910s.
Above: Opening of the Band Rotunda 10 November 1902
Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19021127-2-3
Below: Laying the Foundation Stone for the SA War Memorial, cnr Pollen & Mary St, 10 November 1902
Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19021127-2-4
MAKE COMMENTS on the Report
I hope you find time to read the full report, it makes interesting historical reading. This is our chance to shape the history of the reserves! So please give your feedback.
