May 2018 Project Martha – Historical & Archaeological Background 93 efficient at moving heavy materials, and historic plans reveal a multitude of tramways across Waihi, such as Silverton, New No. 1 shaft, ore trameways (e.g. from Martha Hill to Kilns), and firewood (timber) tramways. The Waihi Gold Mining Company’s Martha to Victoria Battery Ore Tramway rakeline is still evident today. Other industry and infrastructure also supported a growing town, such as Laurie Bros. Brickworks and the old Town Reservoir. Following the discovery of payable gold at Waihi in the late 1870s the area attracted a steady influx of prospectors who settled around their various mining claims. Early miners’ camps often consisted of tents or rudimentary huts, supplies to small mining communities such as Waihi were limited and access routes often proved unreliable. Waihi Gold Field Town was laid out in town sections by 1881 and that same year nearly all the sites in the township of Waihi had been leased. By 1882 several buildings had been erected in the town, including a substantial hotel. Repairs to the Waihi main road were carried out and the erection of a new Waihi bridge in 1890 aided the development of the township. Essential services soon followed which included the opening of Waihi’s first school in 1890, and a Post Office Savings Bank (1892), along with several notable businesses. Places of worship were also constructed around the township and comprised the original St John’s Anglican Church built in 1894, a Wesley Methodist Church erected in 1898, and a Presbyterian Church Hall built in 1896. Expansion necessitated further surveying of the Waihi area and a plan of the Township of Waihi, dated July 1895, shows proposed subdivision over large central portions. At the turn of the century the Waihi Township was still regarded primarily as a gold mining camp, consisting of dispersed huts and cottages, with poppet heads visible in every direction, and the main streets intercepted at many points by the tramlines connecting various mines and batteries. The town continued to develop according to the vicissitudes of the mining industry, experiencing boom years from 1902 to 1910 and then more moderate growth. The later history of Waihi township is closely associated with Akrad Radio Corporation Ltd founded in the 1930s and then PYE (N.Z.) Ltd (manufacturers of televisions) from 1951. Other areas in Waihi were re-opened for gold prospecting in the late 20th century, including Martha pit and in 2016 the Waihi Gold Mining Company Ltd (the New Zealand holding for Newmont’s Waihi operations) was sold to Oceana Gold (New Zealand) Ltd. Tourism within the town has built up around gold mining heritage, including attractions such as the relocated Cornish pump house, replica poppet head, heritage walks/ signage and local museums. Given the long Maori occupation of the area, the significant historical mining landscape and associated settlement of Waihi there have been numerous archaeological investigations in the past. However, there are known archaeological sites that form part of this heritage landscape that have not been fully recorded and there are likely to be unidentified subsurface remains in the areas where 19th and early 20th century activities were concentrated.
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