The Gold Rush in the Northern Hills

Gold mining was central to the early character of the area. In 1898, various mining claims were amalgamated under the Waihi Beach United Gold Mining Company. The company established operations in the northern hills, marking a phase where the landscape was dominated by mining infrastructure.

A striking feature of this period was the shaft headframe and powerhouse, notable for their two tall chimney stacks. A nearby hut, possibly a blacksmith’s workshop and assay office, served the mine’s needs. Heavy machinery such as a boiler and a steam engine-powered poppet head powered dewatering pumps essential to mining operations. Transporting this equipment was a monumental effort: the route went through the rugged Athenree Gorge, across the Athenree Ford, then along the beach at low tide where horses hauled the machinery up to the mine site.

Coal to fuel the steam engines arrived by scow and was offloaded at Pio Point, then similarly transported to the mines. The mining venture was ambitious but fraught with challenges. An underground stream caused relentless flooding, overwhelming a 90-horsepower Cameron pump meant to keep water at bay. By 1910, persistent flooding forced the abandonment of mining operations, and the company went into receivership in 1911.

Today, physical remnants of this gold mining era have all but disappeared. Buildings and machinery were removed, and the mine shaft was filled in. However, the shaft site remains identifiable through the excavation in the hillside and the old access road, uniquely paved in places with quartz fragments—now part of the scenic Orokawa Bay walking track. Several prospecting adits along the coastal cliffs, particularly at Oukori Bay, survive in reasonably sound condition, standing as silent witnesses to the region’s mining.

Ownership and Land Transfers

In 1901, George Vesey Shaw sold 150 acres, including the Orokawa area, to Martha Shaw. Her husband, James William Shaw, managed the mine during its operational years. Martha Shaw’s legacy extended beyond mining; in 1941 she donated the Orokawa Reserve to the Ohinemuri County Council. Since 1989, this reserve has been under the management of the Department of Conservation, preserving native flora and fauna for future generations.past.

Martha Shaw’s Influence and Residential Expansion

Martha Shaw became instrumental in shaping Waihī Beach’s residential landscape. She leased sections along the foreshore and around Pohutukawa Park to holidaymakers and, starting in 1923–24, began formal residential development.

By the late 1930s, the northern side of Beach Road was developed from School Lane (now Fyfe Road) to The Terrace, including Ocean View Road, Pacific Road, and Seaview Road. On the southern side, development included Hinemoa Street, Marine Avenue, Scarborough Road, Leo Street, and the initial halves of Shaw Road and Dillon Street, extending to Coronation Park.

The Shaw family home originally stood where Pacific Road now runs; that building later became Waihī Beach’s first school when the family moved to Dillon Street. In the early days, the building seen in photographs served as a laundry and toilet facility at the bottom of the section.

Environmental and Social Contributions

Martha Shaw engaged Fenn Hazard from the Ohinemuri County to design the retaining wall atop the Esplanade, protecting the coastline. She was responsible for creating Two Mile Creek and distributed lupins along the dunes to stabilize the sand (a practice later reassessed due to the lupin’s ecological impact). Shaw was pivotal in encouraging schooling and actively promoted holidaymaking, planting the seeds for the vibrant beach culture that thrives today.

Early Commercial Life and Community Amenities

Mick Manning, an engineer of the Waihi Beach Mining Company, built one of the first stores at the beach. It stood in the corner behind the Punga Band Rotunda at Pohutukawa Park and was purchased in 1925 by Clarrie Kennedy who moved it to the foreshore of Beach Road.In its early years it was a store, a dance hall and a post office. In the 80s the business was known as Spencers.

The commercial area in the 1930s was still seasonal. This photograph shows activities there on Boxing Day, 1931. The largest store is Kennedy’s which had pinball machines and “boogie boys”. Parents forbad their daughters to frequent it.

Early Holiday Life: Baches, Camping, and Rustic Living

The Baches of Waihī Beach

Early holidaymakers lived simply. Around the 1910s, leasehold cottages, or “baches,” were humble and often made from basic materials. By the 1930s, baches evolved into sturdier weatherboard buildings.

One notable example was the Dillimore bach, located where the rope swing now stands. This simple three-room weatherboard home had a large kitchen/living area with an open fire, and two bedrooms – parents’ and children’s. Extras often slept on the veranda running the length of the house. Lighting came from pink candles reportedly stolen from the Waihi mines, and water was collected from a nearby creek. The Dillimore bach was eventually removed during sewerage system upgrades.

Camping Traditions

Camping at the north end was popular even before roads and amenities existed. Early photographs from around 1911 show families camping in large canvas tents on dunes, having arrived on horseback with supplies. By the 1920s, camping was organised in ad hoc clusters along the shoreline, with campers arriving by train, bus, or car.

Sites cost 1 shilling 6 pence per night or 7 shillings 6 pence per week, charged per site rather than per person. Ablution blocks in the 1930s were rudimentary, consisting of army-style latrines with limited facilities, often producing unpleasant smells and blowflies, discouraging unnecessary visits. Showers had cold water, while warm water was heated in a copper stove located between the cookhouse and the ladies’ washing room.

The cookhouse was a long building with wood-burning stoves arranged back-to-back in the center. Groups were segregated by behaviour: rowdy groups placed on the bottom level known as the “bull ring,” girls in the center, and boys nearer the creek and toilets. Campers kept the stoves going with firewood, ensuring warm water was available in the kitchen.

Local Pastimes and Social Connections

During the 1920s to 1940s, Waihī Beach’s social life blossomed alongside its growing community. Sports clubs played a pivotal role in fostering local connections and entertainment. The tennis club, formed in 1931, became a vibrant hub, regularly hosting summer tournaments that drew players and spectators alike. Similarly, the bowling club, established in 1933, quickly became a beloved social center where residents gathered for friendly competition and social events. In 1936, the Waihī Beach Surf Lifesaving Club was formed, further enriching the town’s social and recreational offerings. The surf club became a strong community focal point, offering a sense of purpose, pride and camaraderie, as locals trained and patrolled the beach together. These clubs, along with community gatherings at local halls and outdoor venues, helped weave a strong social fabric, encouraging both residents and holidaymakers to engage in active and communal lifestyles.

The Morrison and Oliver Pipe Baches

The Morrison bach, purchased in 1948 from Oliver Pipe, remains on the reserve today. Angela Morrison (née Foy) recalls access to the bach was challenging, with vehicles navigating soft sand to reach the site. Milk was delivered by horse and sledge over the sand, and fishermen stored their wooden boats in pipe cradles outside. The “night cart” collected waste, and its associated odors and routines were well-remembered by local residents.

Oliver Pipe’s home and business, purchased in 1948, was among the last baches removed by the Western Bay of Plenty District Council in 2013 due to health concerns. Photographs from the early 1950s show the Oasis tea rooms and ice cream parlour, with Pipe’s family pictured there. By 2012, only four baches remained on the far north end; two were removed in 2013, while the remaining two, belonging to the Coffey and Morrison families, were preserved and leased to community groups like the Waihi Beach Boardriders.

Baches, Bulldozers and Bowentown’s Transformation

While Waihī Beach grew into a popular holiday destination through the 1940s to 1960s, the area around Bowentown and ANZAC Bay had a very different atmosphere compared to today. Visitors now enjoy peaceful days under pōhutukawa trees beside historic Te Kura a Maia Pā, far from houses and crowds. But prior to 1958, access to Bowentown was difficult. Holidaymakers had to carefully time their beach drives with the tide, or cross by horse, boat, or foot. For a short time, access was possible via farmland and mudflats – none of which made travel easy.

To make the effort worthwhile, many families erected makeshift baches, despite having no legal right to be there. Around 30 of these informal dwellings sprang up, along with a hall built above the stone jetty. These “squatters” lived in simple conditions, close to nature and each other.

In 1937, the Labour Government issued a 20-year notice to vacate the area. When the April 1957 deadline arrived, many baches were dismantled and relocated to the northern end of Waihī Beach. Those left behind were demolished by Tauranga Council and bulldozed into a large hole overlooking the bay.

By 1958, the road to Bowentown was finally sealed, opening easy access for all. With the illegal structures removed, the land returned to public ownership, and a public camping ground was established. This eventually evolved into the Bowentown Beach Holiday Park, a modern facility that still welcomes visitors today.

Community Events, Music and Sport

The Sound Shell, located in Pohutukawa Park’s amphitheater, remains a focal point for community celebrations. The original shell stood where the roller rink is now; the current structure dates from 1957 and hosts concerts, talent quests, pageants, and Christmas events.

Local photographer Barry Jesney documented many memorable moments from this era, including performances by notable New Zealand entertainers like the Howard Morrison Quartet, Maria Dallas, Sandy Edmonds, and Lew Pryme with the Go Go Girls.