Thames Heritage Day, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand

A week of yesteryears - join us in costume and bring the young ones.
One day they'll be in charge of our heritage.

A chance to do all the old time dances you enjoy, fox trot, waltz, polinade with some great spot prizes and a prize for the winning Monte Carlo couple. Dress up for an afternoon of nostalgia.
Venue: Civic Centre, Mary Street

Price: $5 includes afternoon tea. Ticketing at the door or Thames Information Centre
Contact: Sharon Preston 0272901130

A look at Thames history through your eyes. We invite you to submit a photograph that captures our Historic Thames, today. Thames: Heritage, new images of Historic Thames
The competition is open to participants 15 years and over. Each photo must be a 10 x 8 (25cm deep by 20cm wide) and with a cardboard backing. Pick up entry forms at the Hauraki Herald, Thames Office, Sealy Street. These photos will be displayed for public viewing and prizes will be given to the judges choice and also people's choice award. The Prizes - Digital Camera for the judges choice, kindly donated by 100% Browns Appliances and a $100 voucher for the people's choice award kindly donated by Pak N Save.

Venue: Civic Centre, open daily
Price: Viewing entry a gold coin donation

South School is on the site of one of the first schools in New Zealand. The old school is carefully and lovingly maintained and the schools’ annual evening gala is a glittering affair. Bargain hunters have the chance to find a hidden treasure amongst the bric-a-brac of the bring and buy sale. There are quick fire raffles, a wide variety of food stalls and games for the kids. Make it a family night out and celebrate the heritage of Thames.

Venue: South School grounds, Rolleston Street
Price: Free entry
Contact: Mike Landers 8686697

An evening of stories and readings from the colourful tapestry that is and was Thames. It was exciting, but hard work carving out a town from scratch, it was noisy, dirty & dangerous - but not without it's rich characters, wonderful community spirit, laughter & sorrow. We sit on a wealth of stories & expression. Join us for another night of sharing tales, food & song. Featuring Don Barrier, Rosalea Stewart, Russell Skeet & David Legg & Special Guest Jamie McCaskill - Simple fare, song & kinship. A relaxed and entertaining evening with other Special Guests

Venue: Brew Café and Bar, Pollen Street
Price: $12 Ticketing at Brew Café, Thames Information Centre Contact: Sam Lamb (Brew) 868 5558 027 333 8899

Totally Thames encourages you to join the action, thrills and spills on Richmond Street for the annual trolley derby with various age group categories for home built trolleys as well as a section for competing businesses.

Venue: Richmond Street
Price: FREE public entry, participants $10, business houses $25. Registration and scrutinizing from 8.30
Contact: Donna Wells 8681021 / 0274593433

The Thames Musicians club presents A Country Music extravaganza. Three venues and twelve great Country performing across the day with an evening concert featuring Ray Soloman, Dave Tusani, Craig Robertson and Ali Blue. Country Music Clubs in the area are represented in this varied program from traditional to country rock.

Venue: Civic Centre, Mary Street; Salutation Hotel Garden Auditorium and Imperial Hotel Blue Room, Pollen Street
Price: $45 Tickets from Thames Musicians Club, Thames Information Centre
Contact: Andy Mac 8686085

Thames/Hauraki Branch of Forest and Bird Society present a guided walk through Halls Reserve, New Zealand’s oldest Arboretum, by Graeme Platt, a nationally known Botanist.
In the past year community support for the restoration of Hall’s Reserve has continued. It may be recalled that Hall’s is the oldest arboretum in NZ. It comprises native and exotic trees selected by William Hall and planted by him around 1873. About 182 of these have survived.
Recent Council initiatives have led to the construction of walking tracks, that takes one among the massive trunks of threes in the lower part of the Reserve. Thames schools have helped in making additional plantings. Forest and Bird Society are helping to counter the invasion of wild asparagus into the 9ha Reserve. This will need to be continued through 2012. The design of the restoration has been prepared by arboriculturists John Wakeling and Chris Muller, with help too from dendrologist Graeme Platt of Silverdale.
The public are invited to look at progress so far by joining in a walk through the arboretum. Graeme will lead this walk and tell of the significant of Hall’s botanical work for the community.

Venue: The group will meet in Currie Street (off Mount Sea Road)
Price: The walk is free, but donations are appreciated.
Contact: Ken Clark 868 8307

Felting artist Sheryl Wenzlick lets you into the secrets of the traditional art of felting in a day long workshop.

Venue: Thames High School, Sewing Room
Price: $35 (limited to 12 participants)
Tickets from Thames Information Centre
Contact: Fiona Hardin 8681136, warahoe@gmail.com

Join story teller and raconteur Rosalie Steward on a tour of the up the Thames coast and hear the stories of the area including marauders, murders, deceits and love affairs. Visit the Te Puru pa site and hear of the life of its inhabitants, experience the kia moana gathering at Tapu and watch the sunset while having your evening meal in Waiomu.
Venue: Thames Coast. Departs from the Thames Civic Centre

Price: $35 (limited to 8 per trip). Tickets from Thames Information Centre Contact: Rosalie Steward 8683845 / 0210362932

A narrated guided tour through the original Thames settlement of Shortland. Hear the stories of this boom town from Graham Robinson, who will inform you about the early negotiations for a town with local Maori, early settlers, the start of gold-mining, the arrival of the miners, early businesses, rail and road access across the river, shipping, the notorious Captain Butts hotel the great fire of 1872 and a lot more.

Venue: Shortland. Meet at the Shortland Wharf
Price: $5 Tickets from The Treasury and Thames Information Centre
Contact: Graham Robinson 07 868 8025

The Thames area was one of the first to encourage alternative live-stylers to the area. The Eco expo has everything about organic and sustainable living. The emphasis is on turning back the clock to traditional food and technologies to help sustain us in the future. There are food stalls, produce stalls, clothing, demonstrations, transport alternatives, fuels, building information, power and water systems and much more.

Venue: Moanataiari School Grounds
Price: FREE ENTRY
Contact: Joanne North 8686504

Thames has a fascinating history and heritage guide Russell Skeet unlocks the historical treasure in a series of entertaining, engaging and informative guided walking tours. Tinkers Gully in Tararu was one of the many areas along the Thames coast miners came to from around the world to try to make their fortune. In this tour Russell gives you the chance to make yours when you pan for Gold finished off with a billy tea and traditional damper.

Venue: Tararu Valley, Meet at Victoria Street
Price: $15 (limited to 12 people) Tickets from Thames Information Centre
Contact: Russell Skeet 0274917860 / 8687955

The Thames Music Group presents Phil Garland, one of the countries true musical treasures. A respected folklorist and musical balladeer who has recorded 17 albums, his mission over the past 30 years has been to gather and preserve for posterity the songs and stories of New Zealand. The goldfields were the source for many of those ballads, stories and songs.
Venue: St Georges, Mackay Street

Tickets at the door
Contact: Maggie Gill 8690592

An exciting tour through the site of the Waiotahi mine and battery (known as the great bonanza of the Thames Goldfield) with David Wilton. This 5hour round trip requires a degree of fitness and includes the Thames water race Waiotahi extension, the Waiotahi tramway and numerous drives, shafts and adits. At Punga flat, the remains of old dwellings will be visited, including an old punga whare. Trip notes and numerous historical photos will be issued so you can really picture the area as it was. Venue: Waiotahi Valley, Meet at The Treasury (bring lunch, drink, raincot and wear good walking shoes or hiking boots)

Price: $5 Tickets from The Treasury and Thames Information Centre
Contact: David Wilton phone 021 186 8401

An interactive Maori traditional games exhibition. This is a chance for you and your whanau to have a go or just find out more about the recreational activities that our Maori ancestors once played, that is being revived, one of these is now an international sport and is currently being played in American schools. Come and find out what it is, and how you can help the revival of these games.

Venue: Civic Centre, Outside court yard Price: Free Contact: Tania Young 021902491

A stunning exhibition of the work by local Maori artists and carvers. This exhibition has traditional as well as contemporary pieces on display and shows off the intricate patterns unique to the tunga ta whenua of the area. The exhibition will also include demonstrations of traditional musical instruments.

Venue: Civic Centre meeting room, Mary Street
Price: Koha
Contact: Darren Jenkins: 027716933 / Marie Reily (te Korwai)

A demonstration of traditional Maori carving and patterning of Tauihu (bow) and a Taurapa (stern) for the community Waka Tete (Maori Canoe)

Venue: Civic Centre Courtyard (weather dependant), Mary Street
Price: Koha
Contact: Darren Jenkins: 027716933 / Marie Reily (te Korwai)

A heritage themed exhibition of work by society members on show at their rooms at the old north school in Tararu (a heritage feature in its own right). There will also be memorabilia from the old school days on display during the week.

Venue: Old North School, Tararu (Thames Coast Road)
Price: FREE
Contact: Marianne Braithwaite 869 0383 / 0277538792

Local European and Maori history about the way we were. A series of lectures from eminent historians and researchers who have taken an interest in the contribution Thames and the goldfields made to the country. A full list of speakers available from www.thetreasury.org.nz

Venue: The Treasury, 705 Queen Street
Price: $5.00. Tickets from The Treasury, Thames Information Centre (tickets are limited to 40) Contact: Morrie Dunwoodie 8686647 02474727698

Thames has a fascinating history and heritage guide Russell Skeet unlocks the historical treasure in a series of entertaining, engaging and informative guided walking tours. In this tour Russell takes you back to old Grahamstown to discover the fascinating and interesting history of the area.

Venue: Grahamstown. Meet at the Treasury
Price: $10 Tickets from The Treasury, Thames Information Centre (tickets are limited to 20)
Contact: Russell Skeet 0274917860 / 8687955

Come and get your hands dirty with theHeritage Art Paint making workshop presented by Barry Thomas for local Schools. During the workshops students will learn how to make their own paint and to create a work of art. Work from the students will be put together in a exhibition open to the public on the 17 March.

Venue: School of Mines, Cochrane Street
Price: Schools are free during the day. Bookings essential. School of Mines, Thames Information Centre.
Contact: John Isdale 8686227

A narrated guided tour through the original Thames settlement of Shortland. Hear the stories of this boom town from Graham Robinson, who will inform you about the early negotiations for a town with local Maori, early settlers, the start of gold-mining, the arrival of the miners, early businesses, rail and road access across the river, shipping, the notorious Captain Butts hotel the great fire of 1872 and a lot more.

Venue: Shortland. Meet at the Shortland Wharf Price: $5 Tickets from The Treasury and Thames Information Centre Contact: Graham Robinson 07 868 8025

Thames has a fascinating history and heritage guide Russell Skeet unlocks the historical treasure in a series of entertaining, engaging and informative guided walking tours. In this tour you will get the chance to explore the layout and find out about the residents of this picturesque heritage cemetery.
Venue: Tararu Cemetery. Meet at the Sunset Motel Reserve

Price: $10 (limited to 15 people). Tickets available on the day or at the Thames Information Centre
Contact: Russell Skeet 0274917860 / 8687955

A dramatization of a Band practice night set in the early 1900s when the band was still the 6th Hauraki Regimental band, Auckland District, of the NZ Territorial Forces, and the secretive meeting that took place that resulted in a name change. There will be great music and some humorous outbursts from the ranks.

Venue: Thames Citizen Band Hall, 301a Queen Street
Price: Gold coin donation at the door
Contact: Brian Greenslade 0211066337

A collection of designs with techniques used in the past will be showcased. Always popular, the Fashion extravaganza has become an annual event put on by Totally Thames. Local designers will display their talents with a modern approach using traditional techniques to create beautiful garments in this year’s show. Full of colour, detail and pizazz. This one is not to be missed.

Venue: Thames Civic Centre, Mary Street
Price: $30 (Book individually or join a Tables of 8. Tickets includes an antipasto platter). Tickets from Thames Information Centre
Contact: Pauline 8683255 or Wendy 8681071

Artist and heritage paint expert Barry Thomas will take you from raw materials to finished painting using paint you have made.

Venue: School of Mines, Cochrane Street
Price: FREE$20 Adults, $10 Students, $5 primary school age children. $10 Students (in the evening) $20 adults, tickets from School of Mines, Thames Information Centre
Contact: John Isdale 8686227

Share the harvest and bounty. Enjoy a session in the kitchen with Marcia Sowman as she demonstrates how to make pickles and do preserves the way our mothers and grandmothers did. Bring a jar of your bottling to share and compare and share your recipes. Flour bag bloomers and sacking aprons not compulsory.

Venue: St Georges Church Hall, Mackay Street
Price: Gold coin donation
Contact: Marcia Sowman 8688696

The selection this year consists of historical documentaries including the film ‘Springdale Calf Club 1956’, comedies and films from the New Zealand film archives for general entertainment prepared once again by Mark Bridgeman with assistance from Embassy Cinema manager Dave Ritchie. Marks father Bert was a pioneer film maker and his biography has been published in a new reference book “New Zealand Film”

Venue: Embassy Cinema, 708 Pollen Street
Price: $5 Children, $10 Adults, $8 seniors. Tickets at the cinema
Contact: Mark Bridgeman 8687273

A narrated guided tour through the original Thames settlement of Shortland. Hear the stories of this boom town from Graham Robinson, who will inform you about the early negotiations for a town with local Maori, early settlers, the start of gold-mining, the arrival of the miners, early businesses, rail and road access across the river, shipping, the notorious Captain Butts hotel the great fire of 1872 and a lot more.

Venue: Shortland. Meet at the Shortland Wharf
Price: $5. Tickets from The Treasury and Thames Information Centre
Contact: Graham Robinson 07 868 8025

A chance to have a Victorian Afternoon tea including scones and cakes, at the elegant Thames Club. There will be talk about the history of the building which was finished in 1872 as the home of the vicar of Thames. There will also be musical entertainment and the chance to have a Pimms perhaps while the gentlemen have a game of pool on the best tables in Thames.

Venue: Thames Club, Crn Mackay and Mary Street
Price: $10. Tickets from Thames Club, Thames Information Centre (40 tickets only.)
Contact: Joan Flynn 8682988

Thames has a fascinating history and heritage guide Russell Skeet unlocks the historical treasure in a series of entertaining, engaging and informative guided walking tours. In this tour you will get to visit the makers of history. Discover the treasure trove of exciting pioneers of early Thames.

Venue: Shortland Cemetery (Meet outside the cemetery)
Price: $10 (limited to 15). Tickets from The Treasury, Thames Information Centre
Contact: Russell Skeet 0274917860 / 8687955

Thames Rotary presents an evening of theatrical entertainment and three course miners’ dinner at the historic Bella street pump house. Join a colourful cast of characters as you step back in time and dress up and become a patron of notorious Thames bar and diner, the favourite eatery for Gold-miners, villains and ladies of the night.

Venue: Bella Street Pump House, Bella Street
Price: $65 per head. Tickets from Thames Rotary, Thames Information Centre (booking essential)
Contact: Stu Davis 8682083

Before the establishment of a brewery in the Thames, the settlers brewed their own beers. Some of these were particularly potent and were generally referred to as Matai Beer, brewed from the juice of the yellow pine. The brew was so potent that it produced a sudden violent jolt known to stop the drinkers watch, snap his braces, and crack his glass eye right across - all in the same motion. The modern equivalents will be competing for top honours again this year at in the Thames Working mans’ clubs home Brew Competition. Categories include wine and beer, spirits and liqueurs. Entries in on Friday 16th from 3pm - 6pm with a prize giving dinner on Saturday at 7pm.

Venue: Thames Working Mans’ Club, Pollen Street
Price: $2 entry fee, $23 prize giving dinner. Tickets from Thames Working Mans’ Club
Contact: Pam Kenny 0212013787

Dress up and go along to the Thames Grahamstown market which takes on an historical flavour with many store-holders dressed up in period costume offering a range of fresh produce, clothing, books, plants as well as entertainment and activities to try.

Venue: Grahamstown Market, Pollen Street, (Grahamstown end)
Price: FREE
Contact: Angelika and Peter Poeschi 8689841

The Life Education Trust is giving enthusiasts the opportunity to visit nine ‘blokes’ in their sheds between 9am and 3.30. In some cases these ‘man caves’ have never been open to the public before. Here is an opportunity to view Vintage cars, classic cars, race cars, vintage farm equipment and tractors, plus old tools and memorabilia. Lunch will be available for purchase at a prominent ex-racing car drivers’ home.

Venue: Thames and Hauraki district. Meet at Rhodes Park at 9am for maps and instructions.
Price: $25. Tickets from Arkwrights in Paeroa, National Bank Thames, Thames Information Centre
Contact: Bruce Smith 0275797275

The Ford model T club started in 1993 and has around 300 members who have been invited to come to Thames and enjoy strolling down memory lane. The cars will be on display to the public on Saturday from 10am to 2pm at Queen Street (the old Placemakers site) before they head down the coast to the Waiumu domain for afternoon tea.

Venue: Placemakers site, Queen Street
Contact: Mary Thompson 8689105

All the fun of a fair with stalls, entertainment for the family including prizes for the best dressed men, women and children’s Edwardian / Victorian costumes, games including throwing the horse shoe, stilts and skittles as well as rides.

Venue: Thames Museum, Cnr Pollen and Cochrane Street
Price: Free
Contact: Francis Burton 8689707

A rally for horseless carriages that starts in Auckland and takes the scenic route to Thames along the seabird Coast arriving in Thames for lunch at the Victoria park Domain and a chance for the public to view the cars before heading up the Thames Coast to the Waiumu Domain for afternoon tea before heading back to Thames for an evening of entertainment starting with a dinner followed by an old time dance..

Venue: Auckland to Victoria Park to Waiumu Domain.
Price: Public viewing FREE (but a cost to the participants for the dinner and dance)
Contact: Barry Birchall 098188755

A team tug of war and individual amateur strongman competition will see if men today are as strong as a gold-miner from the 1870s. This will be a great day of competitive entertainment for the whole family. Teams of five will compete in a pool/knockout competition to find the best tug of war team in the Valley and individual amateur strongmen showing their strength in a 5 event competition.
Over $2000 of Cash and sponsors prizes for winning teams
Entries close on March 10th 2012

Venue: Rhodes Park
Price: Spectators FREE
Competitors Entry fee: Team Tug of War -$50, School –$5, Strongman -$15
For further information www.thamesrugbyandsports.org.nz
Contact: Vaughan 0211834296

The Irish immigrants had a profound influence on the Thames Township in the gold mining days. They congregated in an area known as Irish town. It had a reputation. St Patrick’s Day was a time for celebration and a Ceilidh or Irish party. That tradition is carried on tonight at the Junction with Local Irish band.

Venue: The Junction
Price: $5. Tickets at the door.
Contact: Chris Rollet 8686008

A narrated guided tour through the original Thames settlement of Shortland. Hear the stories of this boom town from Graham Robinson, who will inform you about the early negotiations for a town with local Maori, early settlers, the start of gold-mining, the arrival of the miners, early businesses, rail and road access across the river, shipping, the notorious Captain Butts hotel the great fire of 1872 and a lot more.

Venue: Shortland. Meet at the Shortland Wharf
Price: $5. Tickets from The Treasury and Thames Information Centre
Contact: Graham Robinson 07 868 8025

The Community Picnic and Concert is an opportunity to wind-down and celebrate the end of a great week celebrating all things Thames. It’s fitting to end such a week with an acknowledgement of our community, our heart, and our future. To this end, two groups, TLC and T3 - are inviting the town to bring a picnic to the Victoria Park Bandstand, 11am -1.30pm on Sunday 18th March. Townspeople are encouraged to mix and mingle whilst local musicians, including the Citizen Band and the A Capella group, entertain us. There will be a table where those who wish to share what they have brought can add to the store. Both T3 - TransitionTownThames - and TLC - Thames Linking Communities - recognise that the strength of community comes from the links between the diverse groups within the population. T3 does this with a view to building resilience in the face of growing economic, energy and climate uncertainty, and TLC holds a particular focus for the well-being of families and children.

Venue: Victoria Park band rotunda, Beach Road
Price: FREE
Contact: Mark Skelding 8683220

Thames has a fascinating history and heritage guide Russell Skeet unlocks the historical treasure in a series of entertaining, engaging and informative guided walking tours.

Venue: Cochrane Street, Meet at the small gauge railway
Price: $15 (limited to 20). Tickets from The Treasury, Thames Information Centre
Contact: Russell Skeet 0274917860 / 8687955

One of the first export industries in the area was the shipping of timber. A model kauri dam opposite the main entrance to the Kauaeranga Visitors centre will be tripped to show the method used to flush logs down into the First of Thames. Kauri dams made it possible for timber to be extracted for the otherwise inaccessible parts of the Kauaeranga Valley. They were constructed on the main creeks and were used to build up a large body of water that would drive the felled kauri downstream where they could be collected for shipping to England, Australia and America.

Venue: Kauaeranga Valley, DOC Kauaeranga Visitors Centre
Price: Free
Contact: Rebekah Duffin 867 9180

Attend an 1860's church service complete with bellow preacher, acoustic instruments and hymn-books in the oldest Baptist church in the Waikato Region which began in 1868 with meetings where the members sat on planks laid across blasting powder barrels and lead by William Mason known for his flowing white beard who would traverse the mining claims and write home for the many miners who could not write. Several of the present members are descended from the original congregation. (Period dress optional)

Venue: Thames Baptist Church, 303 Mary Street
Price: Donation
Contact: Roger Driver-Burges