Looking Back . . .
Two thousand years ago the Coromandel Peninsula was covered in luxuriant forests with groves of enormous trees and thick undergrowth right to the water's edge. What a sight it would have been! The early Maoris enjoyed the coastline and fertile wetlands as an easy lifestyle and that's how it was when British explorer Captain Cook visited in 1769. Later as the more aggressive tribes acquired the white man's muskets the region saw a bloodbath of inter-tribal rivalry which almost wiped out the local Maoris. Then, a relatively short time later the peninsula was mostly bare earth, a very sad sight - the forest had been burnt off for easy access to the timber, kauri gum and gold which helped satisfy the early settler's desperate need for trade and commerce.
Captain Cook visited the Coromandel in 1769, thought he had arrived in paradise and stayed quite a few days. He raised the Union Jack in NZ for the first time, probably at a site near Cook's Beach, adjacent the entrance to the Purangi Estuary in the Stella Evered Park. The first European settler to the Coromandel was a trader by the name of Bill Webster in the 1830s, a jovial American who was a deserter from an American whaling ship who set up his trading post on Whanganui Island (which is situated at the entrance to the Coromandel Harbour) He was a carpenter by trade and after learning the Maori language he used Maori labour to build small schooners and prepare timber cargoes for the Australian market. This island became the proposed site for the city of Auckland. One guest of Mr Webster was a John Logan Campbell who moved to Waiomu and then to Auckland and later donated One Tree Hill to the city of Auckland. He has the “Logan Campbell Centre” in Auckland as a memorial also.
How did we get our name? . . .
Coromandel was visited in 1820 by HMS Coromandel which called into the harbour for Kauri spars. The ship brought the town, and the Peninsula, its name from the Madras coast of India.
Captain Cook visited the Coromandel in 1769, thought he had arrived in paradise and stayed quite a few days. He raised the Union Jack in NZ for the first time, probably at a site near Cook's Beach, adjacent the entrance to the Purangi Estuary in the Stella Evered Park. The first European settler to the Coromandel was a trader by the name of Bill Webster in the 1830s, a jovial American who was a deserter from an American whaling ship who set up his trading post on Whanganui Island (which is situated at the entrance to the Coromandel Harbour) He was a carpenter by trade and after learning the Maori language he used Maori labour to build small schooners and prepare timber cargoes for the Australian market. This island became the proposed site for the city of Auckland. One guest of Mr Webster was a John Logan Campbell who moved to Waiomu and then to Auckland and later donated One Tree Hill to the city of Auckland. He has the “Logan Campbell Centre” in Auckland as a memorial also.
How did we get our name? . . .
Coromandel was visited in 1820 by HMS Coromandel which called into the harbour for Kauri spars. The ship brought the town, and the Peninsula, its name from the Madras coast of India.
The Gold Mining Boom
Gold was first discovered at Driving Creek in Coromandel Town in 1852 by the Ring brothers. The Kapanga Mine, in the left photo below produced over 71,000oz of gold in a fifty year period. The other nearby mine was a complete failure. Set on a natural harbour, the town was named after the ship H.M.S Coromandel which anchored in Colville on the 13th June 1820 to collect kauri logs to make spars for the British Royal Navy.The ship stayed in the Hauraki Gulf for 12 months then went back to England with a load of timber. Mining for Gold began in the 1860's and the remains of mines and batteries can be seen along the associated walks but there is little trace of the outlying settlements which often boasted schools, halls, hotels and shops. In the peak of the gold rush days during 1880 through to the early 1900s the population of Coromandel was well over 12,000 and had 19 hotels. Some of the old buildings are still standing today.The School of Mines which is a fascinating place to visit, contains many relics of those early years. It was built in 1898 to teach all aspects of mining and mines engineering.
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 The School of Mines Museum is open 7 days in summer and Saturday and Sunday throughout the winter months - or by appointment.
For general historical enquiries & historical research Contact: Kevin Hynes 07-866-7251. 841 Rings Road, Coromandel Town, Email: kevin.sue@xtra.co.nz Housed in the old School of Mines Building, the museum is a comprehensive and interesting village museum. It is staffed by volunteers from the Coromandel School of Mines & Historical Society Inc. Go on a unique journey through Coromandel's fascinating history and view a wealth of early photographs and intriguing artifacts. |
News Paper Article - Launceston Examiner Tues 3rd July 1886
NEW ZEALAND. The N. Z. Herald says : "The Coromandel Gold Mining Company have lately commenced to open out their mine with very favorable prospects, last month's returns being 115 oz, and they have since received -a second lot of 138 oz. As additional hands are about to be-employed in opening out the claim, remunerative returns are confidently expected. The shaft of the company has now reached a depth of 260 feet, and several -very rich leaders have been intersected, and energetic action is now being taken to develop their resources. The present .prospects 'of Coromandel bid fair to elevate her future prosperity to rank second to none of the 'Australian gold mines."
Heritage Brochure
Come into the Information Centre and pick up your own Historic Places Trust brochure which details the Heritage Trail in Coromandel Town.
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The Coromandel Gold
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Coromandel Kauri
Coromandel first became known for its kauri trees, which were milled, clearing the countryside of its natural cover. Thousands of feet of timber was taken from the forests and the ruination of the great kauri forests began. From 1795 vessels were loaded with kauri which would be used for the masts and spars of the British Navy. People began to realize the deterioration of the forests, but it was too late, as nearly
1/ 4 of the magnificent forests were felled. When milling finally ended, the forests that were once 200,000 hectares were reduced to 5000 hectares. A billion feet of timber was taken from this area within 20 years.
1/ 4 of the magnificent forests were felled. When milling finally ended, the forests that were once 200,000 hectares were reduced to 5000 hectares. A billion feet of timber was taken from this area within 20 years.
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The Town gets back to it's
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Walter Callaway, A Maori Warrior of the Boer War - By Mike Dwight
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Walter Callaway was among the first ever to fight abroad for New Zealand. Being Maori, he defied the British dictum of the day that "no natives could fight in a white man's war" Brushing aside these bigoted attitudes, he excelled as a soldier in the harsh South African conditions and was eventually promoted to lieutenant - making him one of the first Maori to become an officer in the New Zealand Army. This came though at great personal cost, while galloping to the rescue of an Australian in dire danger, he was shot and almost fatally injured. From that moment his life changed irrevocably. This rescue story reveals a forgotten hero in what many term as "New Zealand's forgotten war", which later British Prime Minister described as "infamous, criminal and wholly indefensible" Walter Callaway's biography is the first published account of a Maori in the South African War 1 899-1902.
Walter Callaway was born in January 1873 in Kikawhakerere (Shelley Beach)- just north of Coromandel Town and went to school during the 1890's at the Driving Creek School. In this book there are many historical pictures of Coromandel Township. It is an extraordinary story and a great historical reference book for the area. |
 On sale at the i-SITE $35.00
Contact 07-866-8598 to reserve your copy. |
Coromandel Landmarks Past and Present - By Marios Gavalas
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This highly-illustrated regional history examines noted landmarks, architecture and natural features of the Coromandel area, comparing archival documents and footage with contemporary photography and interviews with residents, business owners and local historians. Notable places that are covered include various mines in the Thames area, Kauaeranga Valley and the vanishing forest giants, Driving Creek Railway and its renowned pottery, the government Stamper Battery, Kuaotunu and the goldrush days, Mercury Bay, Gumtown, Broken Hills, the Martha Mine, the Victoria Battery (the largest ore processing plant in Australasia), Karangahake, Waiorongomai Valley, Te Aroha Hot Springs Domain, the Waihou River, Hauraki Plains, A&G Price, Pollen Street - and what Coromandel book would be complete without a chapter on L&P! Coromandel Landmarks is your passport to understanding the meanings behind the Coromandel of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
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 On sale at the Coromandel i-SITE $42.50
Contact 07-866- 8598 to reserve you copy |
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