Te Aroha Goldfield

After the opening of the Thames Goldfield in 1867, Thames became a booming gold mining town with a population of between 15,000 and 20,000. Visitors from Thames travelled up the Waihou (or "River Thames") using the area for recreation: duck shooting, picnicking, and visiting the hot springs at Te Aroha.

The discovery of gold-bearing quartz on Bald Spur at Te Aroha in 1880 occurred at a time when the Thames Goldfield was beginning to show a decline. Mrs. Vicesimus Lush, wife of the first Vicar of Thames, recorded in her diary on November 4, 1880: "The people here are going crazy about a new gold field near Thames, called Te Aroha. I don't know yet if it will turn out any gold worth the labour, but the mere name of gold causes the greatest excitement.

According to This is Te Aroha, the township was "suddenly invaded from all parts." A temporary camp named Fraterville was established, and smaller camps were set up on the flat below Morgantown between O'Halloran's Hotel and the old river landing. On the day the field was declared open, 25 November 1880, the Te Aroha Miner and Thames Valley Agriculturalist, Te Aroha's earliest newspaper, reported: "7.30 a.m. The scene before me as I write, is one I shall never forget. The plain resembles a large camp, the tents assuming a dazzling whiteness in the early morning sun. Little wreathes of smoke show some are preparing their meal. Everyone appears to be in an excellent humour, and as far as I can see, all traces of yesterday's discord have gone. The supreme moment has arrived and people have no room for minor grievances. "

Harry Kenrick Warden of the Hauraki district who was also appointed first warden for Te Aroha, carried out the formal opening of the field on this date. Kenrick had experience in prospecting on the Australian fields where he was present at the Eureka stockade affair. The Mines Record noted that the goldfield opening was marked, after Kenrick's declaration, by Mokena Hou's firing of a gun when all prospectors entered the field and marked out their claims. Reports vary on the number of people who staked claims, although the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography states, "20 natives and 850 Europeans took out licences".

The field did not turn out to be very successful and by the end of the first year many prospectors had started to leave the field. During the winter of 1881 Wherahiko was prospecting the Waiorongomai Valley, and it was there he discovered gold in November. This claim, ‘New Find’, was the first of a number of claims in this area that lead to the establishment of Waiorongomai Township. It is probably at this time that mining in Te Aroha went into decline and emphasis turned to the development of the hot springs.

There is clear evidence of gold mining activity within what is now the Domain area. This includes mine shafts, tracks and evidence of building sites associated with the mining. Even after the initial rush, mining was a significant activity in the township and Domain. The Warden’s Court in Rewi Street, which still exists, would have dealt with mining licences for the Waiorongomai field. The Mines Department was involved in design and construction of the Cadman Bath House, and mining technology was used in the construction of the shaft and tunnel associated with No. 18 and 19 springs.