Golden Bay XIII: Farms, Industries, Houses.

Golden light and faded sign outside the Takaka Tourist Office, Golden Bay.
Golden light and faded sign outside the Takaka Tourist Office, Golden Bay.

Introduction

I was amazed to learn that blissed-out present day Golden Bay was once a bit of an industrial hub with an iron works, a cement works and a steam tramway for transporting timber to the Waitapu Wharf.

 

I'd kept a few photos of 'interpretational signage' and found out some more stuff about these industries. The Prow local history site is excellent for this and museums have great collections of online photos. I've linked to sources where I can.

 

The running order on this page is:

 

  • Golden Bay Farming
  • Waitapu Wharf
  • The Takaka Timber Tramway
  • The Onekaka Iron and Steel Company
  • Golden Bay Cement Company
  • The Mussel Inn and Takaka Inns
  • The Pohara Beach House
  • The Upper Takaka Valley

 

It is, needless to say, a bit of a rag-bag but testimony to the fascination of this little corner of New Zealand for me during our short stay.

 

Golden Bay Farming

Tin House, Pohara
Tin House, Pohara
Wainui Bay poplars in the evening light
Wainui Bay poplars in the evening light
A fine Holstein Friesian dairy herd in the Waikoropupu Valley, Golden Bay.
A fine Holstein Friesian dairy herd in the Waikoropupu Valley, Golden Bay.
Farmer, dog and pick-up, Wainui Valley.
Farmer, dog and pick-up, Wainui Valley.
Farm machinery shed on Waitapu Wharf Road, Golden Bay
Farm machinery shed on Waitapu Wharf Road, Golden Bay
John Bull Boot - The Rural Service Centre Farm Store
John Bull Boot - The Rural Service Centre Farm Store. An Australian I got chatting to in the store reckoned these could be got for half the price in Oz.
Keeping the fields green in the Waikoropupu Valley, Golden Bay.
Keeping the fields green in the Waikoropupu Valley, Golden Bay.
Pasture near Pohara with introduced pine and cedar, Golden Bay.
Pasture near Pohara with introduced pine and cedar, Golden Bay.
Cow crop: 'Rivage' fodder beet samples from Agricom at the Rural Service Centre Farm Store
Cow crop: 'Rivage' fodder beet samples from Agricom at the Rural Service Centre Farm Store

Waitapu Wharf

Mangled tree and house, from Waitapu Wharf Road, Golden Bay
Mangled tree and house, from Waitapu Wharf Road, Golden Bay
Parapara Ridge from Waitapu Wharf Road, Golden Bay
Parapara Ridge from Waitapu Wharf Road, Golden Bay
Red-legged gull, Waitapu Wharf, Golden Bay.
Red-legged gull, Waitapu Wharf, Golden Bay.
Waitapu Wharf, Golden Bay - former terminus of the Takaka Tramway (1882-1905) and stopping point for the paddle-steamer the Lady Barkly.
Waitapu Wharf, Golden Bay - former terminus of the Takaka Tramway (1882-1905) and stopping point for the paddle-steamer the Lady Barkly.
Crab creels, Whaitapu Wharf, Golden Bay.
Crab creels, Whaitapu Wharf, Golden Bay.
Boats at Waitapu Wharf, Golden Bay.
Boats at Waitapu Wharf, Golden Bay.
Fishing boat, Wainui Bay, Golden Bay. Golden Bay is renowned for its scallops, oysters, cockles and mussels.
Fishing boat, Wainui Bay, Golden Bay. Golden Bay is renowned for its scallops, oysters, cockles and mussels.
Model of a scow, a shallow draught vessel ideal for the shallow seas of Golden Bay. They were used from the 1890s for all sorts including shipping butter in to Wellington in kahikatea boxes - clink l
Model of a scow, a shallow draught vessel ideal for the shallow seas of Golden Bay. They were used from the 1890s for all sorts including shipping butter in to Wellington in kahikatea boxes - clink link for more (Takaka Museum).
Waitapu Wharf and Lady Barkly in the 1880s (Waitapu Wharf Signage).
Waitapu Wharf and Lady Barkly in the 1880s (Waitapu Wharf Signage).
Slate River Peak (1527m) and Mt Hardy (1505m) from the Waitapu Wharf Road, Golden Bay.
Slate River Peak (1527m) and Mt Hardy (1505m) from the Waitapu Wharf Road, Golden Bay. The road runs on the old Takaka Tramway causeway.
The River Inn (the site of The Globe Inn which burnt down) near Waitapu Wharf (now a backpackers' hostel), Golden Bay
The River Inn (the site of The Globe Inn which burnt down) near Waitapu Wharf (now a backpackers' hostel), Golden Bay.

The Takaka Timber Tramway 1882-1905

Takaka Tramway signage at Waitapu Wharf.
Takaka Tramway signage at Waitapu Wharf.
The Pioneer on the East Takaka to Waitapu Tramway 1882-1905 (Waitapu Wharf signage).
'The Pioneer' on the East Takaka to Waitapu Tramway 1882-1905 (Waitapu Wharf signage).
Takaka Tramway signage, Commercial Street, Takaka.
Takaka Tramway signage, Commercial Street, Takaka.
The route of the East Takaka to Waitapu Tramway 1882-1905 (Waitapu Wharf signage).
The route of the East Takaka to Waitapu Tramway 1882-1905 (Waitapu Wharf signage).
Takaka in the 1880s with rails for the East Takaka to Waitapu Tramway 1882-1905 (Takaka signage).
Takaka in the 1880s with rails for the East Takaka to Waitapu Tramway 1882-1905 (Takaka signage).

The Onekaka Iron and Steel Co. 1924-1935

Placid Golden Bay once rang to the sound of iron furnaces running 24 hours a day between Takaka and Collingwood (Iron Works signage).
Placid Golden Bay once rang to the sound of iron furnaces running 24 hours a day between Takaka and Collingwood (Iron Works signage).
Between 1924 and 1935 the plant employing 150 men produced 42,000 tonnes of pig iron. in 1923 and 370m pier was built to ship the iron out of the bay.
Between 1924 and 1935 the plant employing 150 men produced 42,000 tonnes of pig iron. in 1923 and 370m pier was built to ship the iron out of the bay.
Using local iron ore and coal it was thought Onekaka would become a major steel town. It was not to be. Closed in 1935 and mothballed through the IIWW the furnaces were never fired again (Iron Works s
Using local iron ore and coal it was thought Onekaka would become a major steel town. It was not to be. Closed in 1935 and mothballed through the IIWW the furnaces were never fired again (Iron Works signage).
Onekaka Ironworkers breaking-up the cast pigs from the feeding rail for shipment (The Prow - click for link).
Onekaka Ironworkers breaking-up the cast pigs from the feeding rail for shipment (The Prow - click for link).
Map showing the derelict Onekaka Iron Works wharf, Iron Works Road and (top right) Limonite Creek - the original source of the iron ore (NZ Topo Map).
Map showing the derelict Onekaka Iron Works wharf, Iron Works Road and (top right) Limonite Creek - the original source of the iron ore (NZ Topo Map).

The Golden Bay Cement Company 1908-1988.

A worker beside pulley hook and grinder inside the Golden Bay Cement Works, Tarakohe. Photograph taken circa 1939, by Thelma Rene Kent.(Click for source)
A worker beside pulley hook and grinder inside the Golden Bay Cement Works, Tarakohe. Photograph taken circa 1939, by Thelma Rene Kent.(Click for source)
Site of the Golden Bay Cement Company that exploited a 30 metre thick belt of tertiary arenaceous limestone extending over about 24 square km at Tarakohe (Click for details).
Site of the Golden Bay Cement Company that exploited a 30 metre thick belt of tertiary arenaceous limestone extending over about 24 square km at Tarakohe (Click for details).
Picking up the spill at Golden Bay Cement Works (1939). The company ran from 1908 to 1988 supplying cement for the Manopuri Hydro scheme and the Clyde Dam (Click for credits).
Picking up the spill at Golden Bay Cement Works (1939). The company ran from 1908 to 1988 supplying cement for the Manopuri Hydro scheme and the Clyde Dam (Click for credits).

The Mussel Inn and Takaka Inns

Mussel Inn, famed local pub and live music spot in Golden Bay
Mussel Inn, famed local pub and live music spot in Golden Bay.
Post boxes near the Mussel Inn, Golden Bay.
Post boxes near the Mussel Inn, Golden Bay.
Carving outside Mussell Inn
Carving outside Mussell Inn
Driveway near Mussel Inn
Driveway near Mussel Inn
Junction Hotel, Takaka
Junction Hotel, Takaka
Telegraph Hotel, Takaka
Telegraph Hotel, Takaka

Pohara Beach House

Cloud dragon over Golden Bay.
Cloud dragon over Golden Bay.

The Upper Takaka Valley

Looking down the Takaka Valley to the north west from Takaka Hill.
Looking down the Takaka Valley to the north west from Takaka Hill.
Devil River Peak (1784m) from Takaka Hill
Devil River Peak (1784m) from Takaka Hill
The Snowden Range and Mt Snowden (1859m) from Takaka Hill.
The Snowden Range and Mt Snowden (1859m) from Takaka Hill.