Tararu#History
{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Tararu
| coordinates = {{coord|-37.11241|175.51907|region:NZ|display=inline}}
| pushpin_map = New Zealand
| image_skyline = Tararu Road in Thames 02.jpg
| subdivision_name2 = Thames-Coromandel District
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name1 = Waikato
| subdivision_type1 = Region
| subdivision_name = New Zealand
| subdivision_type = Country
| population_as_of = 2013
| population_total = 525
| image_caption = Tararu Road in 2019
| official_name =
}}
Tararu is a former gold-mining village on the west coast of the Coromandel Peninsula of New Zealand. State Highway 25 runs through it; Te Puru being about {{Convert|7|km||abbr=on}} to the north, and Thames about {{Convert|2|km||abbr=on}} to the south.{{Cite web|title=Tararu, Waikato|url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz7825/Tararu/|access-date=2 August 2020|website=NZ Topo Map|language=en}}
Tararu has a boat ramp,{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=Dec 2019|title=Thames and Thames Coast Reserves: Management Plan|url=https://www.tcdc.govt.nz/Global/5_Have%20Your%20Say/Reserve%20Management%20Plans/Thames%20and%20Thames%20Coast%20RMP_Dec%2019_Final.pdf|access-date=|website=}} a 91-dwelling retirement village,{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=About Bupa Tararu Retirement Village|url=https://www.bupa.co.nz/media/933928/Bupa-Tararu-Retirement-Village-Brochurepdf.pdf|access-date=|website=}} a store,{{Cite web|title=Tararu Store Takeaway & Bait Station|url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Fishing-Store/Tararu-Store-Takeaway-Bait-Station-1891999244422935/|access-date=2 August 2020|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}} 2 motels,{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Coastal Motor Lodge|url=http://www.stayatcoastal.co.nz/|access-date=2 August 2020|website=|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Sunset Motel|url=https://www.sunsetmotel.co.nz/|access-date=2 August 2020|website=www.sunsetmotel.co.nz|language=en}} a holiday park{{Cite web|title=Dickson Kiwi Holiday Park, Thames / Coromandel|url=https://dicksonpark.co.nz/|access-date=2 August 2020|website=dicksonpark.co.nz}} and is the northern terminus of the Thames Connector bus.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Thames Connector|url=https://www.busit.co.nz/regional-services/thames-connector/|access-date=2 August 2020|website=www.busit.co.nz}} The Category 1{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Thames North School (Former)|url=https://www.heritage.org.nz/the-list/details/133|access-date=3 August 2020|website=www.heritage.org.nz}} former Thames North School opened on 25 January 1878, closed in 1971 and was taken over by Thames Coromandel Council in 1978. It is now Thames Art Gallery.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Thames Art Gallery|url=https://www.thamesartgallery.co.nz/|access-date=2 August 2020|website=Thamesartgallery|language=en}}
In the 2013 census, Tararu's population was 525, made up of 210 in meshblock 1048800, 138 (1048900), 48 (1048700), 39 (1049000) and 90 (1049100).{{Cite web|title=2013 Census map – QuickStats about a place|url=http://archive.stats.govt.nz/StatsMaps/Home/People%20and%20households/2013-census-quickstats-about-a-place-map.aspx|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929204621/http://archive.stats.govt.nz/StatsMaps/Home/People%20and%20households/2013-census-quickstats-about-a-place-map.aspx|archive-date=2020-09-29|access-date=2 August 2020|website=archive.stats.govt.nz}}
Tararu is connected to the Thames water supply.{{Cite web|title=Thames-Coromandel District Council – Tararu water improvements|url=https://www.tcdc.govt.nz/Your-Council/Council-Projects/Completed-Projects/Tararu-water-improvements/|access-date=2 August 2020|website=www.tcdc.govt.nz}}
Tararu Stream
The Tararu Stream drains a steep hilly catchment of {{Convert|15.5|km2||abbr=on}} in the Coromandel Range with regenerating native vegetation and scrub. Most of the village lies on the stream's alluvial fan on the Firth of Thames coast. Tararu suffered severe flooding during the 'weather bomb 2002'. A flood mitigation scheme has since been created,{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2013|title=Tararu flood protection scheme design report|url=https://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/assets/WRC/WRC-2019/TR201346.pdf|access-date=|website=Waikato Regional Council}} including lengthening of the SH25 bridge in 2008.{{Cite web|title=Bridge beams to be placed on Tararu Stream Bridge {{!}} Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency|url=https://www.nzta.govt.nz/media-releases/bridge-beams-to-be-placed-on-tararu-stream-bridge/|access-date=2 August 2020|website=www.nzta.govt.nz}} The {{Convert|10|km||abbr=on}} Tararu Track climbs up the valley to meet with other walking tracks at Crosbies Hut.{{Cite web|title=Crosbies Hut tracks|url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/coromandel/places/coromandel-forest-park/things-to-do/crosbies-hut-tracks/|access-date=2 August 2020|website=Department of Conservation|language=en-nz}}
History
Te Anaputa, just north of Tararu,{{Cite web|title=Rocky Point, Waikato|url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz7826/Rocky-Point/|access-date=2 August 2020|website=NZ Topo Map|language=en}} may have been the place where the Tainui waka first landed.{{Cite web|last=Warne|first=Kennedy|date=10 August 2019|title=A taniwha in the city|url=https://e-tangata.co.nz/reflections/a-taniwha-in-the-city/|access-date=2 August 2020|website=E-Tangata|language=en-NZ}} Ngāti Maru owned Tararu until it was sold, amid some controversy, in 1867,{{Cite web|last=Hart|first=Philip|date=13 June 2017|title=Maori and Goldfields Revenue|url=https://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10289/10327/No.%2018%20maoriagfr_Revised.pdf?sequence=12|access-date=|website=}} after gold had been discovered.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=27 April 1865|title=The Thames District. Press|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP18650427.2.14|access-date=2 August 2020|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}
The township was laid out in 1868, when it was renamed London,{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=24 August 1868|title=NAMING THE NEW TOWNSHIP OF LONDON. DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18680824.2.19|access-date=3 August 2020|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} though the name didn't catch on.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=24 November 1870|title=PROVINCIAL COUNCIL. DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18701124.2.22|access-date=3 August 2020|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} In 1869 the track from Thames was improved{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=20 April 1869|title=THE THAMES GOLDFIELD. NEW ZEALAND HERALD|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH18690420.2.23|access-date=3 August 2020|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} and a bridleway created to Tapu.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=14 January 1869|title=THE THAMES GOLDFIELD. DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18690114.2.28|access-date=3 August 2020|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} From 1871 to 1874 a tramway linked Thames to Tararu{{Cite web|title=Ohinemuri – Thames Steam Tramway|url=http://www.ohinemuri.org.nz/journals/71-journal-43-september-1999/1585-thames-steam-tramway|access-date=3 August 2020|website=www.ohinemuri.org.nz}} and, from 1872, to the wharf,{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=3 February 1872|title=Daily Southern Cross.|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18720203.2.10|access-date=3 August 2020|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} built into deeper water at Tararu Point (Wilson Street) by Robert Graham. A track to Coromandel was started in 1871.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=8 January 1871|title=Monthly Summary DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18710106.2.37|access-date=3 August 2020|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} A racecourse was built and pleasure gardens were created in what is now Dickson Holiday Park.
From 1874 a decline started, after the wharf and tramway were badly damaged in a severe gale. Much of the ore was hard to process, and poor transport had initially held back development. Tararu transitioned to a residential area for Thames.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2011|title=Tararu History|url=http://ketehaurakicoromandel.peoplesnetworknz.info/en/thames_streets_and_places/topics/show/79-tararu-history|access-date=2 August 2020|website=ketehaurakicoromandel.peoplesnetworknz.info|language=en}}
File:Tararu_Creek,_Russell's_Gold_Battery_about_1868.jpg & Co Gold Battery in 1869, at the junction of Tararu Creek and Tinker's Gully{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=30 June 1869|title=TARARU CREEK. DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18690630.2.23.3?|access-date=3 August 2020|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}}]]
= Gold =
The Tararu valley was part of the Coromandel goldfield and had 5 batteries, with 141 stampers in about 1870,{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2006|title=The Hauraki Report|url=https://forms.justice.govt.nz/search/Documents/WT/wt_DOC_68331905/Hauraki%20Vol%203.pdf|access-date=|website=Waitangi Tribunal}} from Brown Campbell & Co at the mouth of the stream, to Tower of London Gold Mining Co at the top.
Several claims were being explored in Tinkers Gully in 1868.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=23 September 1868|title=TINKER'S GULLY (TARARU). DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DSC18680923.2.25.6|access-date=2 August 2020|website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} The remnants of the workings can be seen from a walkway through the gully.{{Cite web|title=Rocky's Walk to Tinker's Gully|url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/coromandel/places/coromandel-forest-park/things-to-do/rockys-walk-to-tinkers-gully/|access-date=2 August 2020|website=Department of Conservation|language=en-nz}} In 1872 Tinkers Gully was described as a source of kauri timber{{Cite web|title=The Purchase of Native Lands. — Mr. James Mackay, Jun., to the Hon. the Minister for Public Works {{!}} NZETC|url=http://nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-TurEpit-t1-g1-t3-g1-t11-g1-t3-g1-t1.html|access-date=2 August 2020|website=nzetc.victoria.ac.nz}} and the tramway was being extended to it.{{Cite news|date=1 January 1872|title=TINKER'S GULLY.|pages=10|work=Illustrated Australian News for Home Readers (Melbourne, Vic. : 1867 – 1875)|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60446004|access-date=2 August 2020}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
Illustrations –
- [https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/44261 1872 steam tram painting]
- [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/5733749 1872 Tinkers Gully gold mine]
- old photos of Tararu – [https://kura.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/digital/collection/photos/id/2752342 houses and hotel], 1959 aerial views – [https://natlib.govt.nz/records/32240846 north], [https://natlib.govt.nz/records/32240851 south]
{{Geographic Location|title=Neighbouring areas|Northwest=|North=Te Puru|Northeast=|West=Firth of Thames|Centre=Tararu|East=Hikuai|South=Thames|Southeast=|Southwest=}}
{{coord|-37.11241|175.51907|scale:10000|display=title}}
Category:Thames-Coromandel District