Boring operations have been commenced and preparations are being made for the establishment of a permanent camp for the...
Wainuiomata: History
Articles exploring the history of Wainuiomata, dating back to the 1860s
Documenting the fascinating history of Wainuiomata with an ever growing collection of articles. Includes posts about the origins and pioneering period of Wainuiomata to historical sites and artefacts. Each article is dated, but the date represents the subject and not the date when the article was written. For example, when an article primarily focuses on a photograph captured in 1840 or discusses topics related to that specific year, the article will be time stamped with that year.
This approach provides readers with an experience, allowing them to traverse through history in chronological order and gain a precise understanding of how historical events and elements are situated within the broader timeline of Wainuiomata’s history. Nonetheless, when an article covers a lengthy period concerning its main subject, it will be time stamped based on the featured image, most recent image, or the date of the main subject.
Read our comprehensive page on Wainuiomata history here →
Historical Articles
Little Tunnel
David Johnson / / / History, Artefacts, Orongorongo Pipeline, Pipeline, Tunnels, Waterworks / 0Little Tunnel in the Ōrongorongo Valley is a small but significant piece of infrastructure related to the water supply...
Wainuiomata Powerhouse
David Johnson / / / History, Photos, Artefacts, Orongorongo Catchment, Orongorongo Tunnel, Pipeline, Semple’s Camp, Waterworks / 0This hidden site in Wainuiomata is believed to have housed a power generator used during the construction of the...
Dominion 08 Oct 1921
David Johnson / / / History, News, Generators, Newspaper, Orongorongo Tunnel, Pipeline, Semple’s Camp, Waterworks / 0The gang has now returned to the main camp at the tunnel mouth on the Wainui side of the...
Semple’s Camp
David Johnson / / / History, Photos, Camps, George Creek Road, Orongorongo Tunnel, Waterworks / 0Tucked away in a gully two miles from the Morton Dam in Wainui-o-mata, Semple’s Camp served as the central...
Evening Post 30 Jun 1921
David Johnson / / / History, News, Generators, Newspaper, Orongorongo Tunnel, Semple’s Camp, Waterworks / 0At the top of a gully two miles from the Morton Dam at Wainui-o-mata, eight huts, besides a kitchen...
New Zealand Times 30 Jun 1921
David Johnson / / / History, News, Bridle Track, Generators, Newspaper, Orongorongo Camp, Orongorongo Pipeline, Orongorongo Tunnel, Semple’s Camp, Waterworks / 0The progress being made with the tunnel boring contract at Wainui-o-mata, by means of which the city's water supply...
Dominion 30 Jun 1921
David Johnson / / / History, News, Dams, Generators, Little Tunnel, Morton Dam, Newspaper, Orongorongo Pipeline, Orongorongo Tunnel, Tunnels, Waterworks / 0(Mr. W. H. Morton), the town clerk (Mr. J. R. Palmer), and Press representatives, visited the works on the...
Scout / Pearson Hut
David Johnson / / / History, Photos, Huts / 0Scout Hut, also known as Pearson Hut, stood from 1912 until 1995 in Reservoir Valley. It eventually succumbed to...
Orongorongo Tunnel
David Johnson / / / History, Photos, Orongorongo Pipeline, Tunnels, Waterworks / 0The Orongorongo Tunnel, also known as Semple's Tunnel, is a landmark in New Zealand's water infrastructure history.
Dominion 10 Mar 1921
David Johnson / / / History, News, Dams, Generators, Lower Dam, Morton Dam, Newspaper, Orongorongo Tunnel, Tunnels, Waterworks / 0The tunnel, which is being constructed on the co-operative system by a gang of eight men under Mr. Robert...
New Zealand Times 10 Mar 1921
David Johnson / / / History, News, Generators, Newspaper, Orongorongo Tunnel, Semple’s Camp, Waterworks / 0The progress being made with the tunnel boring contract at Wainui-o-mata, by means of which the city's water supply...
Orongorongo Valley Water Catchment
David Johnson / / / History, Orongorongo Pipeline, Pipeline, Rivers, Tunnels, Waterworks / 0In 1921, the construction of weirs on the Orongorongo River and its two smaller tributaries began. Simultaneously, a tunnel...
Dominion 08 Sep 1919
David Johnson / / / History, News, Dams, Newspaper, Orongorongo Catchment, Railway, Waterworks / 0What I suggest to the City Council is this: that Mr Morton does not put in the proposed third...
Evening Post 29 Aug 1919
David Johnson / / / History, News, Newspaper, Railway, Waterworks / 0Any railway line in connection with any proposed deviation of the Wairarapa line should not pass over the council...
Evening Post 24 Aug 1919
David Johnson / / / History, News, Newspaper, Waterworks / 0Four men were charged at the Lower Hutt Court with taking indigenous birds, to wit, 27 pigeons and 1...
Evening Post 10 May 1919
David Johnson / / / History, News, Newspaper, Orongorongo Catchment, Waterworks / 0Briefly, Mr. Phillips' old proposal was first to throw the Orongorongo supply into the Wainui Reservoir (which is about...
Evening Post 20 Jan 1919
David Johnson / / / History, News, Newspaper, Waterworks / 0This afternoon members of the French Mission are the guests of the Mayor and the City Council on a...
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