Milestone event marks ‘helter skelter’ gold rush stampede

In 1875, it was hoped that the Ōhinemuri Goldfield would be the “new Eldorado”.
A reporter for The Thames Advertiser, as compiled in The Ohinemuri Regional Historical Journal, noted “wild scenes unprecedented in these parts” as eager diggers dashed madly across the river in the Karangahake Gorge, on horse and foot, awaiting the following day’s proclamation – the opening of the Ōhinemuri Goldfield.
What occurred on March 3, 1875, described as a “stampede” of those hoping to secure gold-rich ground, marked the beginning of the Karangahake and Mackaytown communities, and next month an event will be held to commemorate it.
The Karangahake Hall Committee is acknowledging 150 years since the Ōhinemuri Goldfields in the gorge opened up to prospectors with a historic showcase on March 9.
“I think it’s important to mark this occasion because it is such a big number – 150 years,” hall secretary Aura Hurrell told The Profile.
“We found out about the anniversary just before Christmas so [there was] not a lot of time to organise anything like the 1975 centenary celebration, but we really felt it should be acknowledged. We have such a great community here in Karangahake and Mackaytown, with many family ties that go back generations and lots of wonderful ‘new blood’ too… We wanted to acknowledge the milestone and honour our heritage by keeping the memory alive of what went on here over the years to make it the special place it is today.”
In 1975, the Paeroa, Karangahake, and Mackaytown communities went to a “great effort” to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the stampede, Aura said, with a full re-enactment, period fancy dress, and a hangi put on by the local marae.
The event on March 9 this year would be an “informal get together where people can come along and read about the local history and view the photos,” she said.
According to the Ōhinemuri Journal, on the morning of March 3, 1875, there was a “mounting impatience” as the hundreds of prospectors awaited the opening of what they finally hoped would prove “the new Eldorado”.
“As the hour approached, the excitement intensified; impatience was visible on every face. Some were already mounted on horses, ready to rush towards the site of the prospector’s claim, to secure ground close to it,” the reporter wrote.
“The helter skelter across the Ōhinemuri River, which was unavoidable, was perhaps the most amusing, and was watched with great interest by numbers who stationed themselves on the hill for that purpose.
“In some cases, men could be seen swimming across, miner’s right in hand, to gain the opposite bank in advance of others.
“Others would attempt to run over the slippery boulders, and through the strong stream, whilst others again would run and swim alternately. Some swam horses at another place to a steep bank, where they dismounted and went straight up. How they managed to grasp scrub and fern, and so reach the summit, was perhaps a marvel to themselves after it was all over.”
Aura said the things she found most fascinating about this piece of history was how industrious people were back in ‘the years of the gold’: 1875-1935.
“The other thing I am really impressed about is how much effort was put into the 1975 centenary celebrations – a combined effort by the Paeroa Drama Society, The Paeroa and District Centennial Committee, local Iwi and many volunteers from town. The NZ Army even got involved and provided uniforms for the actors.”
The Karangahake Hall Committee’s historical showcase will be held at the hall on Sunday, March 9 from 10-2pm. Records will cover the original stampede and the ‘Years of the Gold’, the centenary celebrations in 1975, The Karangahake School history, and the build – and rebuild – of the Karangahake Hall.
DETAILS: If anyone has information they want to share with the committee before the event, or just want to be involved they are welcome to get in touch: Call 022 540 9162 or email karangahakehallcommittee@gmail.com