Tourists arrived by boat, train, on horseback, in coaches and some even walked, to take the therapeutic waters at Te Aroha 130 years ago.

Today tourists continue to arrive in New Zealand’s most authentic Edwardian spa resort to bathe in the hot springs, enjoy relaxing spa treatments, shopping, dining and more and an increasing number bike into town, along the popular Hauraki Rail Trail.

The museum is supported by a team of 26 volunteers, who have each selected an aspect of the museum they want to work on. “It’s an excellent system because we have someone here every day totalk to visitors, but also to keep themselves busy cleaning, repairing, researching, arranging displays or cataloguing,” says Janice.

Ron Galloway and Janice Parsell with the first item donated the Te Aroha Museum, a horse-drawn plough gifted by the then Mayor Henry Skidmore.

Research work
Ron has the role of research for the public, pouring over micro fish flies of the Te Aroha News dating back to 1882. “We charge a fee for research because it is so time consuming, and we do get a lot of requests for people wanting to trace family, or particular events, like the recent request to find out when and where a particularly large boar was killed on the mountain,” he says.

Rather than display all its artefacts at once, the museum changes exhibits on a regular basis.

“Currently we have a World War One exhibit, which I found quite moving to work on because so many of the very young men who went to war didn’t return,” says Janice.

In the exhibit are two photos of young men museum researchers haven’t been able to identify so they have asked for the public’s help in finding out who they were.

Another exhibit tells the story of gold mining in the Waiorongomai Valley. When Hone Wharehiko found gold there in the 1880s it attracted so many prospectors, the valley became the scene of large scale gold mining activities, but the mine proved uneconomic and by 1900 most miners had left.

However, Ron says one determined miner, Malcolm York Hardy lived alone in a remote bush hut and worked a claim at Waiorongomai for many decades. Ron and Janice visited Malcolm’s hut, which by then had collapsed, to measure its dimensions so Ron could build a model for the museum.

“I remember going there as a child, and seeing the rafters, as it had no ceiling,” says Ron as he lifts the roof off the scale model of Malcolm’s hut to reveal the exposed beams. “Children love seeing this.”

Among the Te Aroha Museum’s World War One exhibition are two photos of young men researchers have been unable to identify. The museum would like to hear from anyone who knows who they are.

Electric town
Te Aroha was one of the first small town in New Zealand to have reticulated electricity when in April 1906 electric current became available in the Te Aroha Borough. A hydro scheme diverted water from the Tunakohoia and Omahu Streams to a small reservoir above Hamilton Street. Delivered by pipe line to the Te Aroha Power House 150m below the reservoir that water drove the 100 horsepower Cassels Pelton wheel which in turn drove a 3,100 volt generator providing electricity for the town. The generator is now in the museum. “We installed it by crane, before the roof went on an extension to the museum.”

Janice says the Hauraki Rail Trail has provided a welcome boost for Te Aroha and the museum by bringing more visitors to town and she recommends a museum visit should be on their itinerary.

“We have a number of activities aimed at children of all ages and abilities and they are so popular we often find parents have finished looking round, while children are still trying to find that last item on their project sheet.”

The Te Aroha and District Museum is in the domain in the town’s main street, Whitaker Street.  It is open seven days a week from midday to 3pm in winter and 11am to 4pm from Labour Weekend until Easter, and other times by appointment.