E mihi ana ki ngā tohu ō nehe, ō Hauraki
E mihi ana ki ngā tāngata whenua ō te rohe nei
We recognise the ancestral and spiritual landmarks of Hauraki.
We acknowledge the indigenous people of this area.
Do you or your family have historic connections to the Coromandel-Hauraki area? Are you interested in knowing more about this region's rich and significant past? If so, you have found your way to the right place. There is every chance Te Whare Pātaka | The Treasury can help you bring to life the stories of bygone days that you are seeking.
Te Whare Pātaka | The Treasury, a heritage research centre and archive, has its home in Te Kauaeranga | Thames on the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula. Having evolved into specialists in family records, we collect, house, preserve and make accessible paper-based records of the history of the people, organisations and businesses from our rohe/area which includes the entire Coromandel Peninsula and the Hauraki area including Paeroa, Waikino, Waihi, the Hauraki Plains, Ohinemuri and Te Aroha.
Our centre is housed within two extraordinary buildings side by side at 705 Queen Street, Thames, each quite imposing in their own way and completely juxtaposed architecturally. The Thames Carnegie Library, built in 1905, was refurbished by Thames-Coromandel District Council in 2007 and reopened as The Treasury in 2009. Today the Carnegie Library is recognised as a Category 2 Building by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Alongside it, our Archive is a bespoke designed, award-winning state of the art facility, stark in its architecture, which respectfully and artistically interprets aspects of the Carnegie Library design. Read more about the buildings.
At Te Whare Pātaka | The Treasury, the past is not lost. It is tended carefully and respectfully. The stories are honoured and told. Currently holding largely post-colonisation records, an active move toward broader cultural inclusion in our collections is underway.
Led by heritage sector professionals, our team of history-passionate volunteers are here to help you explore detail of the lives of those who came before you and us.
BOOK LAUNCH
SUNDAY 24 NOVEMBER 2024 at 1 PM
CARSONS BOOKSHOP
ARCHAEOLOGY OF ‘THE THAMES’ GOLDFIELD - Volume 1
AUTHOR: DAVID WILTON
You are invited along to the Launch of David Wilton’s book - Archaeology of ‘The Thames Goldfield - Volume 1 on Sunday 24 November 2024 at 1pm at Carson’s Bookshop, Thames.
This is an exceptionally well researched 210 page historical book which covers some of the Thames mining settlements, the Hauraki Mission Station, the Thames Orphanage, the Giant Kauri of the Tararu Valley, Hall’s Arboretum, some of the early hotels and much more. All sites are in the Thames area apart from Sailors Grave in Tairua and connect families to the sites where possible. Many photos are included showing the site in the past versus present day. Anybody wanting to visit these sites will value the GPS position being included in the story.
About our Author
Dave Wilton is a very well respected Thames historian whose writings and presentations have always been well received. He has been involved with The Treasury since its inception. Although Dave has written articles for various journals this is his first published book. He is passionate about the history of the area and has received a Community Archaelogical Award from the Archaelogical Society. There is the potential of a further two volumes being published. He has kindly donated all profits to The Treasury.
This book would make a great Xmas present. As Greg and Theresa from Carson’s say there are very few well researched Thames historical books like this on the market. Limited number of books have been printed as we test the market. Available for purchase at the Launch itself and afterwards at Carson’s Bookshop and in our bookshop from the 25th of November 2024. Retail price $70.
As guardians of our local heritage, Te Whare Pātaka | The Treasury Research Centre and Archive has always been committed to preserving and sharing our community's rich history. Today, we find ourselves at a crucial juncture, facing challenges that threaten our ability to continue this vital kaupapa.
The past year has brought unprecedented financial difficulties. Despite our tireless efforts, including a successful 'keep the doors open' campaign that raised $25,000, the reality of dwindling public funding and a competitive charitable landscape has hit us hard. We are now having to press pause on our operations.
Our primary focus remains the safety and preservation of our treasured collections. These include rare and invaluable items like a late 1800s ledger written in Te Reo Māori, an 1798 issue of the UK's 'The Times', and historical documents signed by figures like the Duke of Wellington. Our commitment to safeguarding these items is unwavering, even as we navigate these challenging times.
Given our current financial situation, our Board has made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend public services and volunteer activities. This hiatus, starting from December 1, 2023, is a strategic step to ensure the long-term preservation of our collections and the eventual resumption of our services.
While our physical doors may be closing temporarily, our digital doors remain open. Our website and online bookstore will continue to operate, offering access to our digitised collections and a range of publications for purchase.
We are actively exploring all avenues for funding and support. We believe in the power of community and are reaching out to philanthropists, heritage enthusiasts, and anyone who shares our passion for preserving history. Your support, whether through donations, purchasing our publications, or simply spreading the word, is invaluable.
This is not an end, but a pause in our journey. We are committed to finding a sustainable path forward and are hopeful that with your support, we can continue our mission of preserving and sharing our heritage for generations to come.
Stay tuned for further updates, and thank you for your continued support and understanding.
The Treasury Research Centre and Archive Team
Our archive catalogue is now available online! It opens the doors to a trove of historical records, including digitised images of the Coromandel Peninsula and Hauraki District. Approximately 40% of our catalogue has been catalogued with more being added every day. Click here to start searching.
We wouldn’t be able to safeguard our treasures or share them with you without vital funding and partnerships. There are a number of ways you can support what we do:
Volunteer with us
Donate
Become a member
Follow us on our Facebook and Instagram pages
Subscribe to our e-newsletters.
The Treasury’s doors are open to both physical and remote visitors. You can explore our abundant collections in person; or you can engage our skilled research team to assist you or even to do all the research yourself; and as more and more of our collection is catalogued and digitised, in the future our whole Archive and Reading Room resources will be accessible and you will be able to research virtually.
Collecting and telling the stories of our rohe/district is The Treasury's core purpose. Learn more about the events that moulded our region, help us preserve our history for future generations, and support The Coromandel Heritage Trust by purchasing from our bookshop today.
This quote was the opening statement of The Coromandel Heritage Trust’s successful 2013 application to Lottery Environment & Heritage which was the final enabler of the Archive build. Daring to dream is what has created the Archive we see today at The Treasury.
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