![Show Menu](styles/mobile-menu.png)
![Page Background](./../common/page-substrates/page0033.jpg)
TUESDAY, 1 AUGUST
Proclamation of Thames Goldfields
T
he ceremonial day begins at dawn with karakia prayers
by Ngati Maru. Venue TBA. Info: Nikki Fisher at 021 905
192,
nikky@ngatimaru.iwi.nzCostumed parade
From 12.30, be part of a ‘diggers dress’ costumed
parade along Pollen St. Children/adults walking will
congregate at the Thames Civic Centre for the official
opening of the 150th Anniversary of Thames Goldfield.
John Fields photo exhibit opens at
Bella Street Pumphouse
The photo exhibition of John Fields work in Thames
1973-1976 will be on display at the Bella Street Pump
House. Fields, trained as a scientific photographer, was
responsible for many innovations in forensic photography.
His stark but vivid portraits and still lifes of architectural
details exude a surreal quality. He was also known for
making few prints of each image, so these rare prints
command a premium price. Opens 10 am-3pm Tuesday
1st August and from then on Saturday and Sunday 10am
-3pm: $5 entry fee. Contact Merv Grafton, 07 868 1027.
“Growing with Gold” at The Treasury
Opens 11 am. This photographic display of Thames
features images from the earliest gold mining days
including the Causley Goldmine above. Open for public
viewing for several months. The Treasury is open:
Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Monday, 11am-3pm. 07
867 6069,
BJ_MIM@xtra.co.nz.SATURDAY, 5 AUGUST
John William Hall Arboretum
Walk beneath the canopy of trees at the William Hall
Arboretum in Thames with storyteller Rosalie Steward and
guest guide, NZ plantsman Graeme Platt, as they give
you an insight into the Victorian-era amateur naturalist
who planted this oasis in 1872, alarmed at the denuded
hillsides of the gold mining era. Meet at the entrance on
Currie Street
at 9am.
AUGUST’S OPENING CEREMONIES, PRESENTATIONS & EXHIBITS
Book Launch:
The Comer Family:
A Family with a Heart of Gold
11am. The story of two Devon brothers – Robert (Uncle)
and George – born almost 25 years apart – came to
the Thames Goldfield, where they were successful mine
managers. Family historians Jennifer and Sharleen Comer
wrote the book for the Thames 150th. Meet the authors at
the Thames School of Mines, 10am-3pm. Books on sale.
Thames Museum Opening
New display, video and performance
After an opening address at 1:30pm, enjoy a performance
of “Hearts of Gold” composed for the 60th Jubilee in
1927. Tour of the Display, a video of the story “Opening
the Field: The Native Terms of Agreement” will be
screened in the new auditorium after the tour, and the
event will conclude with afternoon tea. Contact: Rosalie
Steward at
rsteward57@gmail.com.SUNDAY, 6 AUGUST
Goldmine~Experience
Celebration of the Old and Creative
Afternoon until 4pm, enjoy the work of the Hauraki
Prospectors Association volunteers. Tours of the site
include demonstrations and stories behind a new working
stamper battery and other 19th Century gold processing
machinery. Adding to the celebration are Steampunk the
Thames and local story tellers such as Rosalie Steward.
Goldmine-Experience located at the northern end of
Thames. Info: Paul Bensemann, 021 214 2665.
Piano Concert with Anthony Peebles
At 2pm at St. George’s Church on Mackay St, take in a
concert with British classical pianist Anthony Peebles.
www.thamesmusicgroup.com.WEDNESDAY, 9 AUGUST
Business and Volunteer Expo
Celebrating 150 years of employment in Thames. Come
to this CAN DO THAMES event at the Thames War
Memorial Hall at the Civic Centre between 10am-4pm.
Visit display stalls, hear guest speakers, and connect with
business SME’s, corporate organisations, and volunteer
groups. Free. Visit
www.candothames.org.nz,or contact
Marlene Perry 027 703 0263
WEDNESDAY, 12 AUGUST
Shotover/Cobley Reunion
Book launch and reading
:
Ashmore: The True Story
A boy born aboard the immigrant
ship
Ashmore
was given that
name; he later married Shotover
claimholder William Cobley’s daughter Gertrude, who
was born in Thames. Author Angela Curtis (Cobley’s
great-great-grandaughter), will hold a ‘soft’ book launch
and reading on this day, the 150th anniversary of this first
major gold strike in the Thames. Time/place TBA. Contact:
Angela Curtis,
angelasnovelidea@gmail.comFRI & SAT, 18 & 19 AUGUST
Miners Candlelit Dinner
at the Bella Street Pumphouse
6pm-11pm both nights. Dress in miners clothing and
come to the Bella Street Pumphouse on Cochrane St for
a candle lit miner’s 3-course dinner with entertainment,
at the building established in 1898 to pump water out of
the deep mines. The building is worthy of exploration on
any other weekend from 10am-3pm at a very reasonable
cost. These nights promise to be something special.
$50pp. Contact: Colleen Hughes 027 553 2394
SUNDAY, 20 AUGUST
Book Launch at The Treasury
True Tales of the Thames
From 11am-2pm, The Treasury will celebrate the book
launch of
True Tales of the Thames
, a compilation of
local stories
by people with a local connection. 07 868
8827,
info.thetreasury@gmail.comMEGHAN HAWKES’ WEEKLY BLOG
Life as it Happened on the
Thames Goldfield from 1867 to 1868
Online from Monday 31 July - Subscribe now!
Who better to write the nitty gritty of Thames’
history than Meghan Hawkes, the author of the
Dead Cert
books, colourful historic biographies
discovered via news of deaths in gold fields.
What happened in that first year after Thames was
proclaimed a goldfield? Step back in time and follow the nuggets of
news and gritty gems of daily life as it unfolded 150 years ago.
Available to read for a full year beginning 31 July at
www. firstyearthamesgoldfield.co.nz,or sign up for weekly email deliveries.
For ongoing news & information
LOOK UP DATABASE
OF 52,000 MINERS!
Do you have a Thames goldminer in your
family’s past? Kae Lewis did, so she wrote a
book about the goldfields.
This author of
Goldrush to the Thames New
Zealand, 1867-1869,
has spent over ten years
entering data about individual miners and their
claims at both the Thames and Otago fields.
She includes background information on mining techniques, other tales
about the miners and much, much more. Her book is available at The
Treasury, School of Mines, Thames Museum, Driving Creek Book Shop
and Carson’s. A valuable resource for goldmining and family tree research.
See online for these searchable databases at
www.kaelewis.com. WWW.COROMANDELLIFE.CO.NZ33