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| Grahamstown Te Papa Tongarewa |
One of the best examples is this image taken by Daniel Mundy c1871 from the vicinity of the Eureka / Shotover Road, south of present day Kuranui Bay. (photo right)
You can almost smell the smoke and hear the noise of the mining operations dotted along the narrow section of land between hill and sea - unrecognisable today following decades of reclamation.
Grahamstown through colourised lens:
Would colour make a difference to your perception of the view?
Thanks to Tom B for labelling some of the landmarks. To help get your bearings, the Moanataiari Battery (in the centre) would present day be located on the intersection of Ferguson Drive, SH 25 and Dickson Street.
Colourised View of Grahamstown courtesy of MyHeritage.
Fascinating to see the detail of the "pond" in the photograph. Initially in the original format I thought it was tailings or waste from one of the industrial sites in the area. The colourised view however shows incredible details of a sandbag type construction, was it therefore more likely a water reserve for public or business use? (see image crop below)
Now to the study of a miner's house, their pride and enjoy and a place to escape the madness of the goldfield. A small cottage, probably divided into two rooms, one living one sleeping, plus a large covered front veranda. The property is fenced with a front and side gate. A large chimney providing a fire for cooking and warmth. The window on the side, appears to be boarded rather than glassed as those of the neighbouring houses.
Washing hangs on a line, plus larger items are draped over the northern fence. Where is the outhouse? A pick or shovel lies at the back of the house by the chimney, alongside a panning dish.
The house is in danger! A rock slide threatens to engulf the backyard and the house, it has already broken part of the back fence.
Remember to stop and take a second look, find something new to focus on
and piece together possible history scenarios.
Background:
Caledonian Mine: Started in 1867, and experienced a short bonanza. Over the years, expanded under various ownership groups. Total output 55,529 tons of quartz, which yielded 277,166 oz. bullion valued at 764,676 Pounds. (Downey, page 81)
Golden Crown Mine: First successful find in 1868, then only achieved success for the 'usual' short period. Expanded and later taken over by the Caledonian Company and finally the Waiotahi Company. Total output 32,483 tons of quartz, which yielded 91,760 oz. bullion valued at 248,896 Pounds. (Downey, page 274)
Grahamstown Tramway: A tramway that ran from near the wharf at Albert Street along the foreshore to Tararu. thousands used this mode of transport, it was a surprise to many that this was not extended to Shortland Town. Tramways were essential for mining companies to transport their ore for processing and disposing.
United Pumping Association / Big Pump: Constructed in 1872, and replaced around 1895 by the Thames-Hauraki Pumping Association's plant in Bella Street. Pumps were vital on the Thames goldfield to drain the water out of mine shafts. (Wilton, 2012)
Thames Lions Club Heritage signs for the Caledonian and Golden Crown Mines.
Grahamstown Tramway: A tramway that ran from near the wharf at Albert Street along the foreshore to Tararu. thousands used this mode of transport, it was a surprise to many that this was not extended to Shortland Town. Tramways were essential for mining companies to transport their ore for processing and disposing.
Holdship's Wharf: Holdship's Mill was located at the corner of Beach Road and Cochrane Street. Previously the site of an old Maori pa, and where Mr R B Smith opened a store known as the “Pah Store”. The Holdship Timber Company owned the wharf.
Kuranui Battery: When the battery was sold in 1916 the contents included 20 head of stampers, 10 berdans, two pelton wheels and an assay room.
Kuranui Hotel: Located on the foreshore, the hotel opened March 1868. In January 1875, the hotel was placed for mortgagee sale, described as being on Land parcel 1132, Moanataiari Number One, Tookey’s Flat. Land size approximately 28 perches. On 27th August 1876, a destructive fire occurred which destroyed the Kuranui Hotel and several adjoining properties.
Smale's Building aka Smale's Folley: A long corrugated iron building extending from Pollen to Queen Street, the site of the present Post Office. Built to provide accommodation for miners, but proved unpopular as a boarding house option. Temperance meetings were held at the building, by 1871 often called Temperance Hall.
Tookey's Mine: Daniel Tookey was an early miner on the goldfield, his claim located near the mouth of the Moanataiari Stream. Total output 9,401 tons of quartz, which yielded 16,049 oz. bullion valued at 41,275 Pounds. (Downey, page 282)
United Pumping Association / Big Pump: Constructed in 1872, and replaced around 1895 by the Thames-Hauraki Pumping Association's plant in Bella Street. Pumps were vital on the Thames goldfield to drain the water out of mine shafts. (Wilton, 2012)
References:
Gold-Mines of the Hauraki District, J F Downey. Cadsonbury Publications Reprint 2002.
The Big Pump Site Revisited in 2012, David Wilton. The Treasury Journal.
| LIST OF KNOWN BATTERIES Battery Name/s |
Location |
| Albion Battery | Grahamstown |
| Alburnia Battery | Moanataiari |
| Anchor Battery | Thames |
| Arrundell Syndicate Battery | Karaka |
| Atlas Battery | Karaka |
| Aurora Battery | Tararu |
| Australasian Battery | Waiotahi |
| Ballarat And Clunes Battery | Tararu Creek |
| Bedford Battery | Hape Creek |
| Berdan Battery | Thames |
| Berrys Plant | Tararu |
| Bleazard's Battery (previously Pactolus) | Thames |
| Break O'Day Battery | Thames |
| Brighton Battery | Waiotahi |
| Brissenden And Co Battery | Thames |
| Brown And Campbells Battery | Tararu |
| Bull's Battery | Karaka Creek |
| Caledonian Battery | Thames |
| Cambria | Thames |
| Captain Ninnis Battery | Thames |
| Carfrae, Stewart and Russell Battery | Thames |
| Central Italy Battery | Moanataiari |
| City Of London Battery | Grahamstown |
| Clarkson's Battery | Shellback |
| Cornstalk Battery | Waiotahi |
| Coulabah Battery | Karaka |
| Criterion Battery | Waiotahi |
| Crown Princess Battery | Grahamstown |
| Dart Battery | Thames |
| Dayspring Battery | Thames |
| De Hirsch Battery | Waiotahi |
| Deep Lead Battery | Kurunui |
| Eaton and Dewolf's Battery | Thames |
| Eclipse Battery | Tararu |
| Eglington Battery | Waiotahi |
| Ethel Reefs Battery | Hape |
| Fairmile | Shortland |
| Fame and Fortune Battery | Thames |
| Farmer's Battery | Thames |
| Fearnaught Battery | Thames |
| Flora Mcdonald Battery | Tararu |
| Gibbon's Battery | Thames |
| Golden Calf Battery | Moanataiari |
| Golden Crown Battery | Grahamstown |
| Goodall's Battery | Moanataiari |
| Great Expectations Mill | Thames Goldfields |
| Greenville's Battery | Hape Creek |
| Greenway's Battery | Hape Creek |
| Grove Battery | Hape |
| Halcyon Battery | Karaka Creek |
| Hape Battery | Hape |
| Hauraki Battery | Waiotahi |
| Herald Battery | Thames |
| Hokianga Battery | Karaka |
| Holdship And Co Battery | Karaka |
| Homeward Bound Battery | Kuranui |
| Imperial Crown Battery | Grahamstown |
| Judd Battery | Karaka |
| Kauaeranga Battery | Karaka |
| Kuranui Battery | Grahamstown |
| Ladybird Battery | Thames |
| Launceston Battery | Moanataiari Creek |
| Little And Good Battery | Karaka |
| Little Lizzie Battery | Karaka |
| Lord Nelson Battery | Hape Creek |
| Lucky Hit Battery | Karaka Creek |
| Manning Battery | Hape |
| Manukau Battery | Grahamstown |
| Massey's Battery | Thames |
| May Queen | Thames |
| McIsaac's Battery | Karaka |
| Middle Star Battery | Moanataiari |
| Missouri Battery | Tararu |
| Moanataiari Battery | Moanataiari |
| Morning Star Battery | Moanataiari |
| Nonpareil Battery | Moanataiari |
| Onehunga Battery | Karaka Creek |
| Pactolus Battery (later Bleazards) | Thames |
| Pahau Battery | Grahamstown |
| Partington's Battery | Tararu |
| Perry Battery | Karaka |
| Piako Battery | Grahamstown |
| Pioneer Battery | Moanataiari |
| Planet Battery | Karaka |
| Price Brothers Battery | Grahamstown |
| Prince Alfred Battery (aka Goodall's) | Thames |
| Prince Imperial Battery | Grahamstown |
| Punga Flat Battery | Punga Flat |
| Pyrites Company Battery | Grahamstown |
| Queen Of Beauty Battery | Grahamstown |
| Queen Of May Battery | Waiokaraka |
| Raithby And Muir Battery | Hape |
| Russell's Battery | Tararu Creek |
| S H Smith's Battery | Thames |
| Savery And Co | Tararu |
| Saw Mill Hape Creek Battery | Shortland |
| Sawyer's Battery | Waiotahi |
| Scottish Chief | Upper Tararu |
| Shotover Battery | Kurunui |
| Sir William Wallace Battery | Karaka |
| Souter's Battery | Waiotahi |
| Spencer's Battery | Thames |
| Sprague Battery | Thames |
| Star of Polynesia Battery | Thames |
| Star Of The South Battery | Moanataiari |
| Sunnybank Battery | Tararu |
| Sylvia Battery | Tararu |
| Tararu Battery (Campbell, Brown & Co) | Tararu |
| Test & Specimen Battery | Karaka |
| Thames Battery | Moanataiari Creek |
| Thames Foreshore Plant | Thames |
| Thomas Battery | Hape |
| Thwaites And Co Battery | Grahamstown |
| Tookey's Battery | Tookey's Flat |
| Tramway Battery | Moanataiari Creek |
| Una Battery | Karaka Creek |
| United Pumping Association Battery | Thames |
| United Service Battery | Moanataiari |
| Vickery's Battery | Karaka |
| Victoria Battery | Moanataiari |
| Vulcan Battery | Upper Tararu |
| Waiotahi Battery | Waiotahi |
| Waitemata Battery | Moanataiari |
| Westons Battery | Waiotahi |
| Whau Battery | Moanataiari |
| Wild Missouri Battery | Tararu |
