Cornish Pumphouse — Attraction in Waikato

The gold mine is very cool,and there is the history of there：In the Northern district the chief centre of activity is Waihi. The Waihi Gold-mining Company’s mine and plant have been further extended, and, with a view to the development of the property at deeper levels, preparations are being made for the erection of a very large pumping-engine at No.5 shaft. There is already a compound Hathorn-Davey differential Cornish pumping-engine at No.2 shaft, and also a similar engine, having a stroke of 10ft. and working a 17in. diameter set of pumps at No.5 shaft. This latter shaft is intended solely for pumping purposes. When the new pump and engine are erected the present pump will be utilised for unwatering the shaft below its present level as the work of sinking proceeds, the new pump – 24in. in diameter by 12 ft. stroke, worked by compound Hathorn-Davey differential engine – being used to lift the water from the present lodgement to the surface.”

“The great Waihi Mine has produced over fifty thousand pounds’ worth of gold every month during the past year, and the company has displayed its usual energy in its mining operations. A new pumping plant has been imported to supplement those already in use. It is said that when this plant is erected and in working-order, the company will have pumping machinery valued at £130,000. The new pump is for erection at the No.5 shaft, indeed its erection is nearly completed. It is a very massive piece of machinery, and going at a nominal speed, will raise 1,500 gallons of water per minute to a height of 1,550 ft.

At No.5 shaft the installation of the new pumping engine known as C pump has been proceeding for some months. … Very massive concrete foundations were necessary owing to the nature of the ground. The high-pressure cylinder, bed, guides, and cross-head are erected in position; the large plummer-blocks for trunnion of beam fixed in position, and the beam (which was delivered in three lengths) is now being riveted together. The low pressure cylinder, weighing with its wooden lagging some 23 tons, was delivered at the shaft in December. The concrete walls of the pump-buildings are approaching completion.

“At the No.5 shaft the new Hathorn-Davey pump and two Babcock and Wilcox boilers have been erected, and the necessary building, flue, and chimney and pump column obtained.”

References and Acknowledgements NZ Papers and Reports Related to Minerals and Mining, 1904 can be found in the Waihi Gold Mining Museum & Arts Centre. Article...

Had one of the worst experiences ever here, was chilling out with a couple of my mates inside the grounds and the sercurity locked the gates on us. They didn't bother to make us aware that they were locking the gates up. We went to leave and all the gates were locked and I needed up having to call 111 because there was barbed wire along the top of the fences.

There is no sign physically displaying on the grounds what the time it closes and also nothing online that says what time it closes.

We were able to get out safe in the end but should really consider putting up signs so this doesnt happen...

We parked in Waihi and had lunch at a bakery first. Then visited the pump house. This pump house has been moved quite a distance from its original (in Use) location as the mine shaft it was beside was collapsing. It was quite a job to move it to this new location. When we visited we could not get inside the pump house as there was work been done to it. It’s quite an old building and it is great it has been saved. After visiting the pump house we did the...