ECHO Walking Festival

Walks

Walks / Historic Northern Thames Wharves and mining sites

Historic Northern Thames Wharves and mining sites

Walk

Historic Northern Thames Wharves and mining sites

Sunday, 2 April 2023

Grade 1

Nearest Town: Thames

Registration Region: Thames

Duration: 3-4 hours

Start Time: 9:00 am - Miniature railway station cnr Cochrane St and Beach Rd, Thames

Cost: Donation

The walk will cover three wharf sites in Thames (excluding Shortland, which we did in 2022) including the (in)famous Burke St harbour project, which effectively sent the Thames Borough bankrupt in the 1930s.   Other historic sites will include the railway route and Grahamstown station, Victoria Park, Shotover and Caledonian mines, and the first Big Pump.   We will end up back at the miniature railway station and disperse.  The Thames School of Mines, Bella St Pumphouse and Gold Mine Experience should be open that day and are all well worth a visit.

In conjunction with the NZ Week of Archaeology.  Guide/Narrator:  Dave Wilton (local archaeologist - [email protected]).

Photo: Burke St Wharf Circa 1900 and 2022

Checklist:

  • Walking Shoes
  • Bring Food and Drink

PLEASE NOTE: Participants are responsible for their own safety equipment, food, water, clothing and vehicles.

The Festival is a non-profit event which relies heavily on volunteers, and donations to help pay for the organisation and promotion of the month-long event.

Any contribution received towards ECHO is greatly appreciated and helps to ensure the success and continuation of the festival.

  Givealittle » Donate

Click photo to enlarge: