Architectural gold at Thames museum

WORDS: John O’Hare IMAGES: Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

Planning for a much-needed refresh of Thames’ legendary Mineralogical Museum, cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, has revealed layers of beauty that have been completely obscured for nearly 70 years.

Arecent building report into the state of the plaster ceiling has exposed spectacular solid kauri beams supporting an original kauri ceiling that was covered by a plaster ceiling sometime in the 1950s.

“The museum is known for its rather severe concrete stucco exterior, and on the inside a dusky 1950s interior colour scheme,” says Thames School of Mines Property Lead Elton Fraser.

“We were delighted to discover that after a special heritage soft wash treatment to the stucco exterior, the original pink colour of the sand render is visible once again.

“Both are only a façade, however. People are surprised to learn that underneath the 1950s surface is a beautiful 1880s kauri building,” says Fraser.

The Thames School of Mines and neighbouring Mineralogical Museum are two of the leading heritage gems in a region that celebrates its rich history of gold mining. Both are cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga and hark back to the days when the Coromandel was a central part of Aotearoa New Zealand’s gold industry.

When the Thames School of Mines opened in 1886 there were 30 such mining schools around the country, though Thames was the largest. Today it is a rare, authentic survivor from an era when governments were keen to invest in training workers for the mining industry.

The original school building was expanded to include an experimental metallurgical works, and the Mineralogical Museum which opened to the public in 1901.

“The museum is a geologist’s paradise housing one of the largest collections in the Southern Hemisphere with 3,500 specimens of rocks, minerals and fossils,” says Fraser.

“Rare exhibits include a sample of Ruby Rock® – our one and only official gemrock unique to Aotearoa New Zealand, a sample of potentially dangerous Tākaka Asbestos and a piece of rock from the famous Pink and White Terraces.”

The journey of rediscovering and reinterpreting the Mineralogical Museum with a refresh of the Museum’s interior will include revisiting collection items, themes and narratives.

According to Fraser, “The Thames School of Mines and Mineralogical Museum are popular visitor destinations. In 2023, we’re excited to be taking our visitor experience to the next level.” n

Assay, assay, assay – get a load of this...

In 1896, the Thames Star ran a poem by anonymous student ‘Dickey B’ who outlined, in inimitable fashion, the Thames School of Mines curriculum:

You think you know everything here at a glance

Conceit still a weak brain confines

You’ll get it knocked out of you in the first hour

You have at the Thames School of Mines

If geology, chemistry, drawing you lack Metallurgy, figures, co-sines

Meridian true by theodolite view

You’ll learn at the Thames School of Mines.

Surveying, assaying, volumetric or dry Mineralogy – mix up your wines; The whole cyanide process you see in full work

At the side of the Thames School of Mines.

You can learn to ‘sink’, to level, and drive A tunnel or engine with signs;

Write out a report, swear hard in a court, If you go to the Thames School of Mines. You talk about high conversational powers

Round a fire built of coke which refines

Listen now to the boys with their crucible poured At the scales of the Thames School of Mines.