Thames (New Zealand)
| Thames | ||
| Geographical location | ||
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| Coordinates | 37 ° 8 ′ S , 175 ° 33 ′ E | |
| Region ISO | NZ-WKO | |
| Country |
 New Zealand
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| region | Waikato | |
| District | Thames-Coromandel District | |
| Ward | Thames Ward | |
| Administrative headquarters | Seat of administration for the Thames-Coromandel District | |
| Local foundation | 1867 | |
| Residents | 6th 693 (2013) | |
| height | 6 m | |
| Post Code | 3500 | |
| Telephone code | +64 (0) 7 | |
| UN / LOCODE | NZ TMZ | |
| Photography of the place | ||
 View of Thames from the end of Monument Road , north of the city center |
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Thames is a city in the Thames-Coromandel District of the Waikato regionon the North Island of New Zealand . The city is the seat of the Thames-Coromandel District Council .
geography
The city is located around 76 km south-east of Auckland and around 75 km north-northeast of Hamilton on the west coast of the Coromandel Peninsula , a good 2 km north of the confluence of the Waihou River in the Firth of Thames . The Kauaeranga River flows through the city itself and also flows into the Firth of Thames south of the city center .
history
Thames was founded when gold was found in 1867 in the lower part of the Kauaeranga Valley , a few miles east of the present city. It was William Hunt who made his first respectable gold discovery above the waterfall in Karanui Creek on August 10, 1867 and was awarded the first prospecting rights in the area. The gold mine, which he opened under the name Shotover , produced 102,353 ounces of gold bars during its existence. Further discoveries were made and numerous other mines were opened. Within three years, around 11,000 miners came to the city, which was formed at the beginning of the following three locations: Tookeys Flat , on Kuranui Stream located and preferred by prospectors, Shortland , at the mouth of Kauaeranga River in the Firth of Thames located and preferred by the government and Grahamstown , which was between the two places and was founded in 1868 by the entrepreneur Robert Graham after previous land purchase. The three places grew together to form the city of Thames , Grahamstown having previously developed into the economic center.
Thames developed into the most important city in New Zealand in just a few years. The gold discoveries and the abundance of wood in the forests attracted corresponding industrial companies, and new ones were founded. Above all, quartz crushing and transport machines and later pumps and machines for draining deeper mines were in demand. The first three years were the most successful in the city, with a peak of 1 million pounds sterling gold being mined and the city accommodating around 18,000 people (other sources assume a population of 20,000) and owning close to 100 hotels. But the fall came quickly with the decline in gold production. In 1880 Thames had only 5,000 inhabitants and in March 1901 only 4004.
In 1898 the railway was opened with two stations to Thames , Shortland Railway Station one, which was later renamed South Thamse and North Thamse the other, which was closed in 1988, and later the entire route.
Of the once large industrial companies that covered the need for machinery for the mining and timber industry at the time, Charles Judd , founded in 1869 and A. & G. Price , founded in 1870, only the A. & G Keeping Price by building locomotives that were initially produced for local needs, but from 1905 onwards were also manufactured for the New Zealand Railway Department for all of New Zealand. The last locomotive was made in 1965, but the company still exists as of January 2017.
population
In the 2013 census, the town had 6,693 inhabitants, 0.9% less than in the 2006 census.
economy
Today the inhabitants of Thames live mainly from tourism, retail and agriculture, the A. & G. Price company as a foundry and machine factory is still important for the city. In 1964 the Japanese company Toyota opened an assembly factory based on the CKD principle, in which almost 250,000 cars had been assembled for the New Zealand market before it was closed in 1998. What remains is a large Toyota workshop and halls in which imported used cars are prepared for sale.
Infrastructure
Road traffic
In terms of traffic, Thames is connected by the New Zealand State Highway 25 , which connects the western part of the Coromandel Peninsula with Thames to the north and connects the city to the city of Hamilton, 104 km away , via State Highway 26 to the south . Auckland , 115 km away, can be reached from Thames on State Highways 25 , 2 and 1 .
Air traffic
Thames Airfield (NZTH) is located around 2 km south of the city center , from which small-engine aircraft can take off and land over a 1000 m long grass runway.
tourism
The museums and mines, as well as hiking and adventure tours are of touristic importance.
Attractions
- There are several mines and a gold mining facility that can be visited in town.
- The Thames School of Mines can now be visited as a museum.
- Some hiking tours lead into the old mining areas, where old tunnels can still be visited with caution and at your own risk.
- Coromandel Forest Park
See also
literature
- Thames . In: Cyclopedia Company Ltd (Ed.): The Cyclopedia of New Zealand . Auckland Provincial District - Volume II . Christchurch 1902, p. 859-894 (English).
- Helga Neubauer: Thames . In: The New Zealand Book . 1st edition. NZ Visitor Publications , Nelson 2003, ISBN 1-877339-00-8 , pp. 216-219 .
Web links
- Paul Monin : Thames . In: Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand . Ministry of Culture & Heritage , December 15, 2010, accessed January 25, 2017 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b 2013 Census QuickStats about a place : Moanatairi, Parawai . Statistics New Zealand , accessed on October 19, 2017 (English, StatsMap: Meshblock analysis from the interactive map).
- ↑ a b Topo250 maps - Auckland - Hamilton - Coromandel . Land Information New Zealand , accessed January 25, 2017 .
- ↑ a b The Thames Gold Field . Goldmine Experience , accessed January 25, 2017 .
- ↑ Information board in the Kauaeranga Visitor Center in the Kauaeranga Valley
- ↑ a b c d Thames . In: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand . 1902, p. 859 ff . (English).
- ↑ a b c Paul Monin : Thames . In: Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand . Ministry of Culture & Heritage , December 15, 2010, accessed January 25, 2017 .