The Ohinemuri Goldfield opened for goldmining on 3rd March 1875 when 600 newly-registered prospective miners stood together on a hilltop at Mackaytown and, at the given signal, rushed helter skelter down a steep hill and across the torrential Ohinemuri River. They started up the track towards Owharoa, about a mile and a half away, with the rough and precipitous track soon becoming a struggling mass of horses and men. The Ohinemuri Goldfield eventually included the districts of Te Aroha, Waiorongomai, Karangahake, Owharoa, Waitekauri, Maratoto, Komata, Waikino and Waihi. All of these goldfields petered out over the following years, except for one at Waihi. The Martha Mine at Waihi consisted of one large reef which was so extensive and deep, it is still being mined to this day.
Kae Lewis is the author of the book “Goldrush to The Thames 1867 -1869”, published in 2017. She has had a lifetime interest in goldmining, especially since discovering that her great great grandparents, Edward and Elizabeth Hooper arrived in the Thames in 1868 to seek their fortune on the goldfield. Kae Lewis is the owner of the well-known Goldminer’s Database on the webpage www.kaelewis.com. This is a freely searchable database of over 88,000 names of New Zealand Goldminers in New Zealand Goldfields of Otago, West Coast, Thames and Ohinemuri and covering the years 1861 – 1886.

Event Location: 705 Queen Street Thames 3500

Organiser Email: kiaora@thetreasury.org.nz

Event Website: https://www.thetreasury.org.nz/

Event Hours: 2pm – 3pm

Event Cost: 5 Entry, includes light refreshment