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THE THAMES TEAMS OF HISTORIANS
Grit, guts and gumption – the Spirit of the
Thames Pioneers lives on.
Buried deep in the heart of Thames, there are
dedicated teams of heritage enthusiasts. For
them, keeping the spirit of Thames’ early history
alive, vibrant and thriving fuels their desire to
create a legacy for the generations to come.
Some gather at the Thames Historical Museum,
The Bella Street Tech Museum, The Goldmine
Experience and the Thames School of Mines
while those young-at-heart tinker with miniature
trains at the Thames Small Gauge Railway. Keen
history researchers are hunkered down at The
Treasury or on their computers digging, sifting
and sorting the latest findings.
Committees and groups, businesses and
churches, some still operating from the gold
rush days, are actively restoring old buildings,
revitalising rusty mining equipment, and fighting
for preservation of their piece of our history.
Diverse and dedicated individuals from all walks
of life and ages, meet, talk, discuss, fundraise,
problem solve, fix, tinker, clean, research, and
gather all the pieces that they can find, in order
to share, restore, rejuvenate, and bring insight
into how life really was in our area.
These groups form the backbone of what you
see during Thames Heritage Week – this year
running from March 11 to 19. See the Festival’s
schedule on the next page for some of the many
events offered this year. The Treasury’s research
centre will also be open daily.
HERITAgE WEEk’S HISTORy:
The Treasury’s own dedicated Geraldine
Dunwoodie, who actually helped organise the
very first Heritage Day held in 2006 shared, “It
has been very satisfying to watch this festival
grow in both size and quality of the interesting
events now held. This has led to a greater
awareness of the importance of preserving –
and showcasing – our heritage.”
Rex Simpson was head organiser from 2009-
2015. When he took over, the festival was
expanded to a week. In 2012, the Thames
Heritage Events Trust was formed to help
organise and arrange funding. Community
organisations are now encouraged to join in by
planning their own events which explains the
vast selection and variety of the activities.
THAMES HERITAgE WEEk: 11
-
19 MARcH 2017
Now in its 11th year, the 2017 Heritage Week is
the showcase for all the work that goes on for
the other 51 weeks of the year and will again
provide the entertainment, fun, learning and
education of the different strands of life as it
was, and upholds the tradition that is now a
distinct event on the Thames calendar.
Heritage Week current organiser Margaret
Cropp tells us, “Old things are part of
our heritage, and it’s amazing to see the
extraordinary things that were done: the
workmanship of many of the surviving
churches and buildings, built to last, all made
by hand. This workmanship and craftsmanship
needs to be shared and appreciated.”
She shared that about one in every three New
Zealanders can trace their heritage back to
Thames, because so many people originally
came for the gold – when Thames was actually
bigger than Auckland. The gold rush was
a catalyst for so much of the invention and
innovation that went on.
PILLARS OF HISTORy
This historic Red Pillar Box is one of three
iron postal towers still remaining in Thames.
The high mail slot was meant to accomodate
those on horseback; the rider would not
have to dismount to deposit a letter.
This one is located near the Salvation Army
Hall, at the Grahamstown end of Pollen
Street. These boxes were often moved, and
their appearance helps researchers ‘date’
old street photographs.
Thanks to Thames historian Althea Barker,
you can read the red pillars’ history online.
See
www.goo.gl/0RyTRtSTORyTELLER ROSALIE STEWART WILL DELIgHT
WITH OLD TALES AT THE MuSEuM FETE.
Saturday 11 to Sunday 19March
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COROMANDEL LIFE
LATE SUMMER / EASTER 2017