Coromandel Life Magazine 2015 Winter V3

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In January 1930, the Thames Borough Council was
approached by a group of church ministers who....
requested that the swings and other apparatus be
locked up on Sundays. Children were opting to go to
the playground rather than attend church.
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POLLEN STREET • THAMES • Ph 868 6008
KIWI OWNED
SINCE 1869
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535 Pollen St, Thames • 07 867 9026
.
Built in 1896, Paddle Steamer Wakatere was the most
palatial and luxuriously furnished river steamer in the
colony, with room for 1500. She served passengers
from Thames to Auckland for over 30 years.
Aerial photo by Alan Duff
Adjoining Goldfields Shopping Centre, is the
historic Porritt’s Park Playground, named
after Governor-General Sir Arthur Porritt. It
features a climb-aboard steamship, a replica
of the Auckland-to-Thames Wakatere Paddle
Steamer.
The park opened in December of 1929 (same
year as the popular Thames Swimming Baths
closed, being beyond repair) as the Diamond
Jubilee Children’s Playground featuring
numerous swings, slides and merry-go-rounds.
It wasn’t long before the town’s church leaders
attempted to put a stop to exuberant merry-
making in the Jubilee Playground on the ‘day of
worship’. They demanded the Thames Borough
Council lock up the swings on Sundays to stop
the children from escaping their services to
swing it up at the playground.
After due consideration, council rejected
the request stating: “There was nothing at
the playground that would corrupt a child’s
morals. It was unanimously resolved that no
action be taken.”
The first major upgrade to the playground was
undertaken in 1969 by the Lion’s Club, whose
members built the steamboat replica (complete
with wading pool), and a tempting lighthouse
with steps inside leading to a steep slide.
Recently the playground has been improved
again, with fencing, modern play equipment (all
deemed ‘safe’), and upgraded public toilets.
Read its history here
the playground with a past