Visit our Coalmining Museum in Huntly - Heart of the Waikato Coalfields The Museum is housed in an historic homestead, close to Huntly’s Lake Hakanoa.
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Visit our Coalmining Museum in Huntly - Heart of the Waikato Coalfields The Museum is housed in an historic homestead, close to Huntly’s Lake Hakanoa.
Coal was discovered and used in this district by Maori from early times and they shared the knowledge of its whereabouts with early missionaries. Samples were sent to Auckland for testing in the 1850s and commercial mining began soon after the Waikato Wars ended in 1863.
The history of coal mining in the Waikato is documented through displays exploring the lives of the miners who worked and lived in the Waikato district, and their families though room sets, objects, historic photographs and DVDs.
Research facilities include oral histories, family histories, extensive coal library and photographic collections.
Waikato Coalfields Museum, 26 Harlock Place, Huntly, Hamilton - Waikato, 3700, New Zealand.
By Paul Stuart-Higgs
By Rebecca Evans