History Waikino

gold mining around waikino has history dating colonisation of new zealand. waikino focal point of gold mining in waikato- bay of plenty district 1897 construction of victoria battery on edge of busy town supporting extensive local mining industry. waikinos victoria battery processed ore large martha mine in waihi. victoria battery new zealand s largest industrial complex. besides processing ore, supported carpenters shops, sawmill , foundry. 200 stamps, battery largest quartz crushing plant gold extraction in australasia, , capable of crushing on 812 tonnes of ore each day consistency of sand. loud thumping sounds of crushing rock heard 10 kilometres away.

the waikino express 1889

up scenic waitekauri road 5 km behind waikino, once existed mining town of waitekauri, near golden cross. waitekauri no longer there today because town demolished @ end of era s gold rush, consequently village reverted farmland. local waitekauri watering hole, historic 2 storied golden cross hotel , literally transported waihi stands proud today reminder of day s gone by.

on october 19, 1923 waikino school shooting occurred @ waikino school, claimed lives of 2 students, kelvin mclean, aged 13, , charles stewart, aged 9, , remains new zealand s school shooting. gunman, john christopher higgins, later convicted of murder , sentenced death. death sentence commuted life imprisonment. higgins later had conviction quashed, on grounds of insanity. remains new zealand s school shooting far.

when gold became uneconomic mine after world war two, waikino residents lost economic base , town reverted sleepy little village predominantly inhabited retirees old era. however, small retail business community in waikinos main street endured till late fifties. when tom , nell buchanan closed doors local general store , haberdashery , retired on hill behind village, signalled end of era.

the 1970s heralded influx of new people waikino, drawn cheap housing , magnificent scenery. counterculture had arrived in town , set transforming waikino bustling centre hippies , crafts people gravitate towards. these counterculture folks purchased many of old houses in village had been neglected on time, , converting of these small craft workshops , outlets sold wares locally , around nation. waikinos main highway retail shops in business.

waikino village in 1870s

the main highway (state highway 2) retail shops traversed beautiful ohinemuri river before plunged karangahake gorge had old shops , lodge hall refurbished , reopened influx of young alternative lifestyle people moving in droves away big city chaos. social revolution in air, roaring seventies, , many young person flow big city living towards more country-oriented sustainable lifestyle in rural new zealand name of game. overnight, flourishing cottage industry crafts , health food outlets grew around waikino, servicing local village , coromandel. once again, former ghost town, having been closed down time, became focal meeting point of community. business strip reinvigorated, people returned town business. hundreds of tourists, drawn quirky hippie atmosphere, stopped @ waikino s main highway retail outlets every week try out healthy homemade foods @ tea rooms, , purchase local made arts , crafts various hippy shops. stopped chill out taking in scenic atmosphere, watching chilly ohinumeri river flow breathtaking karangahake gorge.

january 1977 saw community supported waikino music festival of rock, blues , culture, held on bicknels farm waitawheta valley. festival event run nambassa group based in waikino village, prior move waihi. proceeds event purchased winter s supply of fuel aged residents of village , towards construction of new post office after 1981 flood.

1981 flood

the great 1981 flood of waikino



1981 waikino flood aftermath

the main highway shops came devastating end in great ohinemuri river floods of 1981. huge torrent of water literally picked waikino business district , many homes, , washed them downstream through karangahake gorge. salvageable waikino hotel , local community hall, both of remain operational today.

1981 waikino craft town pre-flood

a new post office later built on higher ground funds raised community. national government deemed new community post office uneconomical, , decided not replace 1 of towns focal community service dependent upon large aged population cash weekly pension cheques. unwelcome decision raising uproar locals, many of whom became overnight activists. heralded establishment of waikino action committee whom lobbied government , wider community have new community post office constructed. after bitter campaign government reneged , agreed build post office providing community footed of bill – did. after postal services privatised under rogernomics in 1990s postal service terminated permanently.

waikino has own primary school caters children far waihi daily bus service. school provides year 1 6 students, , boasts 1 computer per 2 students. [1]

waikino steam train , railway cafe in 2005

tourism , cottage industries waikino s primary revenue sources today. numerous organised tours , walks around old mining facilities , old rail tunnels, , around beautiful native bush surround waterfalls , scenic valleys, available. there community sponsored heritage railway waikino station café waihi, goldfields railway. line used part of east coast main trunk railway , opened in november 1905, in 1978, deviation south opened , made redundant. goldfields railway saved 6 km of track between waihi , waikino , popular tourist attraction, running trains daily preserved steam locomotives , diesel locomotives providing motive power.