Historic Signs of Thames

HISTORIC SIGNS OF THAMES

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Erected by the Thames Lion Club (?For Thames (1967) or Borough (1973) Centenary) and are still today a wonderful reminder of out past

NB. Over the years some have been replaced, and wording has been altered. In my list signs old and new are given if available.

Compiled 2004-2009 by Althea Barker     Last updated 30 October 2009

SUMMARY OF HISTORIC SIGNS
SIGN DESCRIPTION SUMMARY & Location  (For Maps of Thames Click here)
(Links to Sign)
A & G PRICE FOUNDRY: Corner Burke & Owen Streets. (At back of foundry)
BANK OF NEW ZEALAND:
Corner Brown & Albert Streets
BRIGHT SMILE MINE:
Mackay Street. (East between Cochrane & Pahau St)
BURKE STREET WHARF:
Corner of Burke Street and Fergusson Drive, Moanataiari
BUTTS CORNER:
Corner of Grey & Pollen Streets. (Opposite Campbell Tubes)
CALEDONIAN MINE:
Corner Moanataiari Creek Rd & Queen St (By Hauraki Prospectors Asn)
CALEDONIAN STAMPER BATTERY:
Queen Street. (By Hauraki Prospectors Assn)
CHARLES JUDD LTD:
Queen Street. (Opposite Amy St)
CONSOLS SHAFT: Corner of Mill & Cook Sts. (North side of Hape Creek)
DEEP SINKER: Rolleston Street. (By Thames High School Pool gate)
FIRST GOLD DISCOVERY: Karaka Road. (North side of Karaka Rd, above Thames Hospital)
FIRST WOODEN COURTHOUSE: Corner of Grey & Pollen Streets. (Outside Campbell Tubes)
GAS WORKS:  Mary Street/Queen Street area (Unable to locate sign)
GOLDEN CROWN MINE:
Queen Street. (By Hauraki Prospt Assn Site)
GRAHAMSTOWN PASSENGER WHARF:  Albert Street. (South side of Victoria Park)
GRAHAMSTOWN RAILWAY STATION:  Beach Road. (End Cochrane St, Thames Min. Railway)
KAURI CLASSROOM BLOCK:  Rolleston Street. (Outside Thames South School, building by path)
KELLY & LEWIS COMPRESSOR:  Cnr Waiokaraka Road & Bella Street. (By Old Pump House)
KURANUI BATTERY SITE:  Tararu Road. (North, going up to Kuranui EurekaRd
LONG DRIVE: Tararu Road. (South of Kuranui-Eureka Road)   
MANUKAU MINE:
Queen Street. (By Hauraki Prospt. Assn.Site, south of entrance) 
MINERS UNION HALL:
Queen Street. (Just before Albert Street, west side of road)
MOANATAIARI TUNNEL: Tararu Road. (South of Kuranui-Eureka Road turnoff) 
OLD COURTHOUSE:  Queen Street. (Between Albert & Cochrane St intersect)
ORIGINAL LADY BOWEN HOTEL: Brown Street. (By Sunkist Lodge, bet.Williamson/Albert Sts)
PACIFIC HOTEL:  Corner of Brown & Albert Streets
PHOENIX BREWERY:  Court Street. (Outside Thames Bowling Club)
PRINCE IMPERIAL MINE:
Pollen Street. (Bet.Williamson St & Waiotahi Road)
QUEEN OF THE MAY MINE: Corner Waiokaraka Road & Bella Street. (By Old Pump House)
SAXON MINE: Corner of Pollen & Albert Street 
SCRIP CORNER
: Corner of Brown & Albert Streets
SHORTLAND CEMETERY: Danby Street. (At entrance to Shortland Cemetery)
SHORTLAND RAILWAY STATION: Queen Street. (Outside old Railway building)
SHOTOVER MINE: Tararu Road. (On east, up Kuranui EurekaRd) 
ST JAMES CHURCH: Corner Pahau & Pollen Streets 
THAMES AERATED WATER CO.:
Pollen Street. (West side, between Grey & Willoughby Streets)
THAMES HAURAKI PUMP:Bella Street. (Behind the Old Pump House)
THAMES NORTH SCHOOL : Tararu Road. (Now Thames Arts & Crafts Centre)
THAMES VALLEY RAILWAY:Corner Mary & Brown Streets. (Goldfields MallCarpark)
THE BIG PUMP: Queen Street. (Just before Tararu Road intersection opposite St John's office)
TOOKEY'S SHAFT : Queen Street. (North of Hauraki Prospectors Assn)
WAIOTAHI MINE: Corner Waiotahi Road & Pollen Street
WAKATERE PADDLE STEAMER: Queen Street. (Children's Playground, by Goldfields Mall)

TEXT OF SIGN DETAILS AND  PHOTOS OF SIGNS

REFERENCES for photos:
Thames Lion Club Signs sited around the Streets of Thames
Thames Lion Club Handout at Thames Historical Museum
Postcards, Paintings & Photos--Athea's website: http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~althea/index.html
(1) Photos couresy of Timeframes" online at: http://timeframes.natlib.govt.nz/
(2) Postcards courtesy of Jeff Pyle online at: http://www.jeffpylenz.com/
(3) Thames Illustrated Mining Map 1860's (NZ Map 4531) online at Auckland Cities Library. Full map can be seen by permission at http://freepages.history.rootsweb.com/~althea/Thames_Illustrated_Mining_Map.html
(4) "Thames & the Coromandel Peninsula 2000 Years" by Zelma & John Williams. Williams Publishers Thames 1994
(5) "Thames South School Reunion October 2001 125 Years 1876-2001" Thames South School Reunion Com. Goldfields Print Ltd, Paeroa
(6) "1873 - 1973 Thames Borough Centenary" Editor L P O'Neil, Thames Star
(7) "The Thames Line 1898 - 1990" by R Brett Green & Trevor J Lees. Railway Enthusiasts' Society (Inc) 1990
(8) "The Amazing Thames The Story of the Town and the famous Goldfield from which it grew" by John Grainger. 1951
(9) "Thames: The First 100 Years" William A Keely, Thames Star 1868
(10) "Historic Grahamstown…recapturing Thames' Past" New Zealand Historic Places Trust pamplet
(11) "Thames Goldfields Centennial 1867 - 1967" Thames Star 1967
       (
12) "Racing for Gold" by Johnny Williams. Williams Publishers, Thames