Gold Mining NZ

A DigitalNZ Story by Hannan Munroe

Image: Hydraulic gold mining, St. Bathans, Otago, NZ

Hydraulic gold mining, St. Bathans, Otago, NZ

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Hydraulic gold mining, St. Bathans, Otago, NZ

Hydraulic gold mining, St. Bathans, Otago, NZ

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Nelson

Nelson

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago

Image: 'Greetings from Waihi N.Z.' - composite postcard produced by Joseph Divis

'Greetings from Waihi N.Z.' - composite postcard produced by Joseph Divis

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: 'Greetings from Waihi N.Z.' - composite postcard produced by Joseph Divis

'Greetings from Waihi N.Z.' - composite postcard produced by Joseph Divis

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Employees

Employees

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago

Image: Joseph Divis at Waiuta

Joseph Divis at Waiuta

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago

Image: Joseph Divis at Waiuta

Joseph Divis at Waiuta

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Joseph Divis, and miners

Joseph Divis, and miners

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago

Image: Joseph Divis outside his Waiuta house

Joseph Divis outside his Waiuta house

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Waiuta in the early morning

Waiuta in the early morning

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Working underground at Blackwater Mine

Working underground at Blackwater Mine

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Blackwater mine at Waiuta

Blackwater mine at Waiuta

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Joseph Divis holding bicycle on road next to Karangahake River, with rail bridge in background

Joseph Divis holding bicycle on road next to Karangahake River, with rail bridge in background

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Furnace inside the gold battery near Waiuta

Furnace inside the gold battery near Waiuta

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Inside the gold battery near Waiuta

Inside the gold battery near Waiuta

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Gold claim near Waiuta

Gold claim near Waiuta

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Surveying the Blackwater Mine

Surveying the Blackwater Mine

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Working in Blackwater gold mine

Working in Blackwater gold mine

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Joseph Divis standing outside his cottage

Joseph Divis standing outside his cottage

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Joseph Divis wearing a safari suit in Karangahake Gorge

Joseph Divis wearing a safari suit in Karangahake Gorge

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Top of aerial tramway, with bucket of ore, and Joseph Divis in foreground

Top of aerial tramway, with bucket of ore, and Joseph Divis in foreground

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Waiuta jubilee

Waiuta jubilee

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Gold battery near Waiuta

Gold battery near Waiuta

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Waiuta town

Waiuta town

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: Joseph Divis beside Karangahake River

Joseph Divis beside Karangahake River

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Water-wheel at Crown Battery, Karangahake

Water-wheel at Crown Battery, Karangahake

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Karangahake Gorge

Karangahake Gorge

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Joseph Divis standing on ridge above opencast near Martha mine

Joseph Divis standing on ridge above opencast near Martha mine

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Group portrait of miners outside Alexander Mine huts

Group portrait of miners outside Alexander Mine huts

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Joseph Divis with bicycle on railway tracks leading up to Talisman Mine, Karangahake Gorge

Joseph Divis with bicycle on railway tracks leading up to Talisman Mine, Karangahake Gorge

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Joseph Divis in Martha opencast mine with quartz veins cutting across dark rock in background

Joseph Divis in Martha opencast mine with quartz veins cutting across dark rock in background

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Crib time in the mine

Crib time in the mine

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Group portrait taken outside huts at the Alexander Mine

Group portrait taken outside huts at the Alexander Mine

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Group portrait of men peeling potatoes for the hangi during Waiuta jubilee

Group portrait of men peeling potatoes for the hangi during Waiuta jubilee

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Group portrait of pioneers at Waiuta jubilee on 7 November 1931

Group portrait of pioneers at Waiuta jubilee on 7 November 1931

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: High-pressure water jet in sluicing claim

High-pressure water jet in sluicing claim

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Mine drive at Caribou Creek

Mine drive at Caribou Creek

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Sluicing claim with jet of water

Sluicing claim with jet of water

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Miners' camp at Mount David alluvial mining claim

Miners' camp at Mount David alluvial mining claim

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Group of miners waiting to go underground at head of Blackwater shaft

Group of miners waiting to go underground at head of Blackwater shaft

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Sons of Freedom alluvial claim

Sons of Freedom alluvial claim

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Sons of Freedom alluvial claim

Sons of Freedom alluvial claim

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Three women at Sons of Freedom claim

Three women at Sons of Freedom claim

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Group portrait taken outside hut at the Alexander Mine

Group portrait taken outside hut at the Alexander Mine

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Miners

Miners

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago

Image: Portrait of two men underground in Blackwater mine

Portrait of two men underground in Blackwater mine

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Miners

Miners

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago

Image: Gold miners at a union meeting outside Waiuta Miners Hall

Gold miners at a union meeting outside Waiuta Miners Hall

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Waiuta miners

Waiuta miners

Manatū Taonga, the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Image: The Battery, Waiuta Mine

The Battery, Waiuta Mine

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago

Image: Construction of waterwheel at Alexander River

Construction of waterwheel at Alexander River

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Group portrait with potatoes ready for the hangi, at Waiuta jubilee

Group portrait with potatoes ready for the hangi, at Waiuta jubilee

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Homer mine adit with George Gofton and Dave Absolum

Homer mine adit with George Gofton and Dave Absolum

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Homer mine adit with George Gofton and Dave Absolum

Homer mine adit with George Gofton and Dave Absolum

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Miners working underground at the face

Miners working underground at the face

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Headgear and mullock heap at top of no 6 shaft of Martha Mine, Waihi

Headgear and mullock heap at top of no 6 shaft of Martha Mine, Waihi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Group of directors and boy in front of the Argo dredge

Group of directors and boy in front of the Argo dredge

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Group portrait of people involved with construction of Argo dredge together with women and children

Group portrait of people involved with construction of Argo dredge together with women and children

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: View over Waiuta with men standing on pylon under construction

View over Waiuta with men standing on pylon under construction

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Homer mine with Dave Absolum and George Gofton on bridge

Homer mine with Dave Absolum and George Gofton on bridge

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Spell Oh 'Crib Time ' Underground In The Blackwater Mine

Spell Oh 'Crib Time ' Underground In The Blackwater Mine

Auckland Libraries

Image: At Work In The Blackwater Mine

At Work In The Blackwater Mine

Auckland Libraries

Image: A Driller Which Has Lately Been The Subject Of Some Controversy

A Driller Which Has Lately Been The Subject Of Some Controversy

Auckland Libraries

Image: Further gold mining venture in the West Coast District, South Island: promising new quartz reef located near Blackwater

Further gold mining venture in the West Coast District, South Island: promising new quartz reef located near Blackwater

Auckland Libraries

Image: Homer mine with Dave Absolum and George Gofton at face

Homer mine with Dave Absolum and George Gofton at face

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Karangahake

Karangahake

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago

Image: No8 level at the Talisman Gold Mine, Karangahake

No8 level at the Talisman Gold Mine, Karangahake

Auckland Libraries

Image: Entrance to No.6 Level, NZ Crown Mines, Karangahake

Entrance to No.6 Level, NZ Crown Mines, Karangahake

Auckland Libraries

Image: Inside Talisman Gold Mining Battery melthouse, Karangahake

Inside Talisman Gold Mining Battery melthouse, Karangahake

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: The Talisman Consolidated mine and battery, Karangahake, N.Z.

The Talisman Consolidated mine and battery, Karangahake, N.Z.

Auckland Libraries

Image: Karangahake Gold Fields

Karangahake Gold Fields

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Karangahake Gorge

Karangahake Gorge

Auckland Libraries

Image: 'Struck It Rich'

'Struck It Rich'

Auckland Libraries

Image: Truckers at Work at New Zealand Crown Mines No.6 Level, Karangahake

Truckers at Work at New Zealand Crown Mines No.6 Level, Karangahake

Auckland Libraries

Image: The Crown Battery Karangahake

The Crown Battery Karangahake

University of Waikato

Image: Auckland's Great Gold Mining Industry

Auckland's Great Gold Mining Industry

Auckland Libraries

Image: Talisman Gold Mine in the Karangahake Gorge at Waitawheta.

Talisman Gold Mine in the Karangahake Gorge at Waitawheta.

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Inside Big River Gold Mine - quartz vein on left

Inside Big River Gold Mine - quartz vein on left

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago

Image: View of people on bridge over Big River. Battery Shed & aerial tramway from mine in background.

View of people on bridge over Big River. Battery Shed & aerial tramway from mine in background.

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago

Image: View of winding engine shed, rope & poppet head above mine shaft

View of winding engine shed, rope & poppet head above mine shaft

Hocken Collections - Uare Taoka o Hākena, University of Otago

Image: A mining community in the South Island back-country

A mining community in the South Island back-country

Auckland Libraries

Image: Gold Stamper

Gold Stamper

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: [J.S. White's House, Karangahake]

[J.S. White's House, Karangahake]

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira

Image: Group panning for gold

Group panning for gold

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Another party 'strikes it rich' in central Otago: good results obtained by gold-seekers on the Kawarau River

Another party 'strikes it rich' in central Otago: good results obtained by gold-seekers on the Kawarau River

Auckland Libraries

Image: The search for gold: various forms of mining activity in Westland and Nelson, South Island

The search for gold: various forms of mining activity in Westland and Nelson, South Island

Auckland Libraries

Image: The toil and hardships of gold-seeking in the South Island preferred to relief work in the cities

The toil and hardships of gold-seeking in the South Island preferred to relief work in the cities

Auckland Libraries

Image: Scenes in the goldmining township of Coromandel

Scenes in the goldmining township of Coromandel

Auckland Libraries

Image: [Miners at the pithead, Waihi]

[Miners at the pithead, Waihi]

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira