Museum - Tuapeka Goldfields Museum

Some news on the historic church of St Patrick’s from today’s Otago Daily Times

Yes, we are open and here to make your holiday bright! Explore our museum and get local knowledge about where to go and what to see in Lawrence from the helpful Information Centre staff.

Tonight we visit the main street of Waitahuna. Photo 1: Herbert & Co Store, Waitahuna 1914 Photograph taken on the occasion of the farewell to the first Waitahuna men to leave for the 1914-1918 war. Bank of NZ is next to store, then Ellis’s Blacksmith Shop. The building used as shop (1973) was then Herbert’s Grain Store Photo 2: Watson’s Saddle & Harness Makers Shop, Waitahuna... Photo 3: Robert McCaws Butchery, Waitahuna,c.1900 located on west side of present memorial hall. William McCaw (later killed in 1914-18 war) stands. Meat was delivered as far as Waipori Photo 4: Auld’s Store & delivery wagons, Waitahuna. c.1900 Located at east end of Waitahuna township, on south side of road

Tuapeka Goldfields Museum has a substantial collection of history books for sale. The perfect gift for Christmas Tonight we feature ‘Goldfields Entrepreneurs by Ross Barnett. Goldfield Entrepreneurs recounts the fascinating story of the challenges the 'Norwegian Party', a group of young men who came to New Zealand in 1864, faced with living and working in this less well known part of Otago. As part of the second wave of immigrants to Otago in the years after the 1861 gold ...rushes, they found that while mining opportunities were still present, they were different. The early diggers had mined much of the more accessible gold, so the Norwegians were faced with the challenges of working lower grade deposits. After mining for almost half a century the Norwegians were the largest producers on the Waitahuna Goldfield, a remarkable achievement for five young men who arrived in Otago with limited capital and mining experience. In telling the particular story of the Norwegian Party we place their migration and mining contribution in a wider context, without which it is difficult to understand either their motives for coming to New Zealand or the contribution they made. See more