Eureka, New Zealand#Railway station

Eureka is on the former Piako Swamp, described in 1876 as deep.{{Cite web|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18760623.2.12|title=The Daily Southern Cross|last=|first=|date=23 June 1876|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz|url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-09}} Following the invasion of the Waikato, it was part of the area confiscated from Ngāti Hauā in 1864.{{Cite web|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/33583/confiscation-map-1869|title=Confiscation map, 1869|last=|first=|date=|website=teara.govt.nz|language=en|url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-04-09}}{{Cite web|url=https://wdcsitefinity.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity-storage/docs/default-source/your-council/plans-policies-and-bylaws/plans/district-plan-review/section-32-reports/historic-heritage/appendix-10-4-1-5-historic-overview---5-eastern-sector.pdf?sfvrsn=8d2480c9_2|title=WDC District Plan Review – Built Heritage Assessment - Historic Overview – Eastern Sector|last=|first=|date=|website=Waikato District Council|url-status=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}} Captain William Steele, who brought militia-settlers from Sydney to Hamilton in 1864,{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/life-style/5045995/William-Steele-1831-1898|title=William Steele 1831-1898|website=Stuff|language=en|access-date=2020-04-09}} persuaded Thomas Russell and Frederick Whitaker to form a company to buy land and drain it. In 1874 the government sold the {{Convert|86,502|acre|km2|abbr=on}} Eureka Estate, extending from Te Hoe to Tauwhare, Tamahere, Gordonton and the {{Convert|35|km||abbr=on}} confiscation line, to New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company Limited. The sale required {{Convert|25|mi||abbr=on}} of road to be built over the swamp. Drains were dug up to {{Convert|3.5|m||abbr=on}} wide and {{Convert|3|m||abbr=on}} deep. The expense of drainage contributed to bankruptcy and the sale of small parcels in 1902. The population then increased, so that a school was built in May 1904, a dairy factory in 1905, a hall in 1914 (replaced in January 1969), a post office opened in 1915, a store in 1925 and a garage in 1928. However, by 1981 all the early buildings had gone.

Eureka covers {{Convert|30.42|km2||abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 1 2023 (generalised)|access-date=20 March 2025}} Eureka is part of the larger Eureka-Tauwhare statistical area.{{cite web|url=https://statsnz.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=3a406ce8fbb14367ab5caae21c07ab8b|title=Geographic Boundary Viewer|publisher=Stats NZ|at=Statistical Area 1 – 2023 and Statistical Area 2 – 2023}}

{{Historical populations|2006|453|2013|504|2018|573|2023|543|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Eureka and surrounds|source={{NZ census 2018|7011298–7011300}}}}

File:Eureka war memorial.jpg

Eureka had a population of 543 in the 2023 New Zealand census, a decrease of 30 people (−5.2%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 39 people (7.7%) since the 2013 census. There were 264 males and 279 females in 192 dwellings.{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_009&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.7011298%2B7011299%2B7011300.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}} 2.8% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. There were 111 people (20.4%) aged under 15 years, 96 (17.7%) aged 15 to 29, 270 (49.7%) aged 30 to 64, and 78 (14.4%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 91.2% European (Pākehā), 8.3% Māori, 0.6% Pasifika, 6.6% Asian, and 5.5% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 98.3%, Māori language by 2.2%, and other languages by 6.6%. No language could be spoken by 2.2% (e.g. too young to talk). The percentage of people born overseas was 12.7, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 23.8% Christian, 1.1% Hindu, 1.1% Māori religious beliefs, 1.7% Buddhist, and 1.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 61.9%, and 9.9% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 93 (21.5%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 264 (61.1%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 78 (18.1%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. 63 people (14.6%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 249 (57.6%) people were employed full-time, 75 (17.4%) were part-time, and 6 (1.4%) were unemployed.{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_012&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.7011298%2B7011299%2B7011300.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=7011298, 7011299 and 7011300}}

The 2001-13 censuses counted a Eureka area of {{Convert|122.19|km2||abbr=on}}. In 2018 Eureka lost the area on the Hamilton border to a new area, Hamilton Park, and was grouped in the Eureka-Tauwhare statistical area, which covers {{Convert|135.57|km2||abbr=on}} and also includes Tauwhare.{{Cite web|title=Stats NZ Geographic Data Service|url=https://datafinder.stats.govt.nz/data/|at=Statistical Area 2 2023 (generalised)|access-date=20 March 2025}} Eureka-Tauwhare had an estimated population of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Eureka-Tauwhare|y}} as of {{NZ population data 2023 SA2|||y|y||,}} with a population density of {{Decimals|{{formatnum:{{NZ population data 2023 SA2|Eureka-Tauwhare|y}}|R}}/135.57|0}} people per km².

{{Historical populations|2006|1,539|2013|1,917|2018|2,142|2023|2,154|percentages=pagr|align=left|title=Historical population for Eureka-Tauwhare|source={{NZ census 2018|Eureka-Tauwhare (173100)|eureka-tauwhare|Eureka-Tauwhare}}}}

Eureka-Tauwhare had a population of 2,154 in the 2023 New Zealand census, an increase of 12 people (0.6%) since the 2018 census, and an increase of 237 people (12.4%) since the 2013 census. There were 1,065 males, 1,083 females and 3 people of other genders in 699 dwellings.{{cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_005&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=doTotal%2Bdo1.173100.2023&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_DWD_003|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for dwellings, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses}} 2.4% of people identified as LGBTIQ+. The median age was 38.7 years (compared with 38.1 years nationally). There were 486 people (22.6%) aged under 15 years, 375 (17.4%) aged 15 to 29, 1,035 (48.1%) aged 30 to 64, and 261 (12.1%) aged 65 or older.

People could identify as more than one ethnicity. The results were 87.2% European (Pākehā); 13.4% Māori; 1.5% Pasifika; 7.7% Asian; 0.3% Middle Eastern, Latin American and African New Zealanders (MELAA); and 3.1% other, which includes people giving their ethnicity as "New Zealander". English was spoken by 96.9%, Māori language by 3.1%, Samoan by 0.6%, and other languages by 10.0%. No language could be spoken by 1.9% (e.g. too young to talk). New Zealand Sign Language was known by 0.3%. The percentage of people born overseas was 17.5, compared with 28.8% nationally.

Religious affiliations were 28.6% Christian, 1.0% Hindu, 0.6% Islam, 0.7% Māori religious beliefs, 1.0% Buddhist, 0.3% New Age, and 3.1% other religions. People who answered that they had no religion were 57.8%, and 7.4% of people did not answer the census question.

Of those at least 15 years old, 444 (26.6%) people had a bachelor's or higher degree, 924 (55.4%) had a post-high school certificate or diploma, and 297 (17.8%) people exclusively held high school qualifications. The median income was $52,500, compared with $41,500 nationally. 282 people (16.9%) earned over $100,000 compared to 12.1% nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 990 (59.4%) people were employed full-time, 270 (16.2%) were part-time, and 30 (1.8%) were unemployed.{{Cite web|url=https://explore.data.stats.govt.nz/vis?fs[0]=2023%20Census%2C0%7CTotals%20by%20topic%23CAT_TOTALS_BY_TOPIC%23&pg=0&fc=Variable%20codes&bp=true&snb=9&df[ds]=ds-nsiws-disseminate&df[id]=CEN23_TBT_008&df[ag]=STATSNZ&df[vs]=1.0&dq=hq011%2Bhq010%2Bhq009%2Bhq008%2Bhq007%2Bhq006%2Bhq005%2Bhq004%2Bhq003%2Bhq002%2Bhq001%2Bhq000%2Bws1%2Bsp99%2Bra80%2Bra08%2Bra07%2Bra06%2Bra05%2Bra01%2Bra04%2Bra03%2Bra02%2Bra00%2Brb1%2Bls66%2Bls03%2Bls02%2Bls05%2Bls04%2Bls01%2Beg6%2Beg5%2Beg4%2Beg3%2Beg2%2Beg1%2BbiTotal%2Bbi0%2Bbi1%2BasTotalLG%2Bas4%2Bas3%2Bas2%2Bas1%2Bws4%2Bws3%2Bws2%2Bge3%2Bge2%2Bge1%2Brc%2BasMed%2BegTotal%2BlsTotal%2BgeTotal%2BrbTotal%2BraTotal%2BhqTotal%2BibTotal%2Bib7%2Bibmed%2BwsTotal.173100.2013%2B2018%2B2023&to[TIME]=false&ly[rw]=CEN23_TBT_IND_003&ly[cl]=CEN23_YEAR_001|publisher=Stats NZ – Tatauranga Aotearoa – Aotearoa Data Explorer|access-date=3 October 2024|title=Totals by topic for individuals, (RC, TALB, UR, SA3, SA2, Ward, Health), 2013, 2018, and 2023 Censuses|at=Eureka-Tauwhare (173100)}}

File:Kiwi_Rail_Dc4444_(36657423564).jpg 4444 near Eureka]]

Eureka railway station was a flag station on the East Coast Main Trunk, about {{Convert|3|km||abbr=on}} north of the village. It opened on 1 October 1884, when the {{Convert|16|mi|73|ch|abbr=on}} Eureka contract from Hamilton to Morrinsville was completed.{{Cite web|date=26 Sep 1884|title=AUCKLAND STAR|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS18840926.2.26.7|url-status=|access-date=2021-04-29|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} The contract had been signed on 5 December 1883.{{Cite web|date=24 Oct 1884|title=PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT, BY THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. EDWARD RICHARDSON|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/appendix-to-the-journals-of-the-house-of-representatives/1884/II/585|url-status=|access-date=2021-04-29|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}

Eureka had a 4th class station,{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Stations|url=http://railheritage.org.nz/assets/Heritage_listings.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208074304/http://railheritage.org.nz/assets/Heritage_listings.pdf|archive-date=8 February 2013|access-date=2020-08-10|website=NZR Rolling Stock Lists|language=en}} erected by the Auckland contractors, Price and Malcolm,{{Cite web|date=15 Mar 1884|title=TE AROHA NEWS|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TAN18840315.2.7|url-status=|access-date=2021-04-29|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} with a station master's house, 2 cottages, {{Convert|40|ft||abbr=on}} by {{Convert|30|ft||abbr=on}} goods shed, cattle and sheep pens,{{Cite web|date=11 Oct 1884|title=MORRINSVILLE RAILWAY. THE STATION, ETC. TE AROHA NEWS|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TAN18841011.2.9|url-status=|access-date=2021-04-29|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} loading bank, urinals and a passing loop for 38 wagons (extended to 61 by 1911), for £4,827.

There seems to have been some confusion about the goods shed and station building. In 1885 the Public Works Department reported that they moved the goods shed and 4th class station from Eureka to Hukutaia, yet, in 1886, the Railways Department reported that PWD had, without notification, moved the station building to Te Aroha. In 1896 there was just a shelter shed. In 1907 the Prime Minister was lobbied for a goods shed,{{Cite web|date=7 Nov 1907|title=WAIKATO INDEPENDENT|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAIKIN19071107.2.9|url-status=|access-date=2021-04-29|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} which was authorised in 1908{{Cite web|date=9 Jul 1908|title=Political Notes. WAIKATO ARGUS|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WAIGUS19080709.2.6|url-status=|access-date=2021-04-29|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} and, by 1911, Eureka had a {{Convert|30|ft||abbr=on}} by {{Convert|20|ft||abbr=on}} shed.

Eureka closed to passengers on 11 September 1967 and to goods on 27 April 1980.{{cite web|url=http://www.railheritage.org.nz/assets/dates_and_names.pdf|title=Names & Opening & Closing Dates of Railway Stations|last=Scoble|first=Juliet|date=2010|website=Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724032358/http://www.railheritage.org.nz/assets/dates_and_names.pdf|archive-date=24 July 2020|accessdate=}} A hut, an equipment shed and a passing loop remain at the station site.{{Cite web|title=Holland Rd|url=https://www.google.com/maps/@-37.7232706,175.4028428,3a,15y,259.29h,88.86t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sjGRSDKPvx5CJjYaT5eY4yA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656|url-status=|access-date=2021-04-29|website=Google Maps|language=en}}{{Historical Rail Start}}

{{rail line|previous=Ruakura
Line open, station closed|next=Motumaoho
Line open, station closed|route=East Coast Main Trunk
New Zealand Railways Department|col=}}

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{{Reflist}}

{{commons cat}}

• [https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/179805 Photo of Eureka Dairy Factory in 1905]

{{Adjacent communities

|title=Places adjacent to Eureka|Centre=Eureka

|Northeast=Morrinsville|Northwest=Puketaha|West=Fairview Downs|Southwest=Newstead|South=Matangi|Southeast=Te Miro|East=Kiwitahi|North=Whitikahu

}}

{{Waikato District}}

Category:Waikato District

Category:Populated places in Waikato