The Trust’s first major project is to restore the stamping battery and water wheel at the Canton mine.
This is a major undertaking that will make a significant contribution to preserving and protecting Waipori’s gold-mining heritage.
You can read about the Trust’s earlier projects here.
The Canton mine is an important heritage site
The Canton mine site is part of the Otago Pioneer Quartz (OPQ) complex, a small area at Waipori containing several mines including the first quartz mine in Otago. The whole OPQ complex is listed by Heritage New Zealand as a category 1 historic place. The site sits on Department of Conservation (DoC) stewardship land, and is part of the Otago Goldfields Park.
The Canton claim was first made by four Chinese miners in 1877, who raised capital from Chinese all over New Zealand to develop the underground mine. This was a very early example of Chinese miners in New Zealand carrying out capital-intensive industrial mining, rather than the fossicking and small-scale mining they are better known for, so this site is an important part of the area’s social history.
The Canton stamper battery is a good example of a type of five-stamp quartz crushing battery widely used in New Zealand’s goldmining industry from the 1860s to the 1940s. The adjacent water wheel is a rare surviving example of a small wooden water wheel of a type that was once commonly used on the goldfields for driving pumping machinery.
Much of the Waipori goldfield was submerged under Lake Mahinerangi when it was created to generate hydro power for Dunedin City. This and the ravages of time mean the Canton battery and water wheel are among the few remaining relics of this once-thriving goldfield.
The overall site is a relatively rare surviving intact example of what was once a very common industrial plant in New Zealand, most of which have now been destroyed. The battery and water wheel are deteriorating although they are still reasonably sound considering their long exposure to the elements. They are still restorable and the site is readily accessible, providing an excellent opportunity to showcase the rich goldmining history of the Waipori area.
The restoration project
The project involves major stabilisation work and restoration of the Canton battery and water wheel structures, with replacement instead of restoration only where the structures are no longer present.
The site became a wetland after nearby roadworks in 1984 and the higher water level is adding to the deterioration. We plan earthworks and drainage to lower the water table so the structures and foundations will dry out and restoration work can begin. This requires resource consent from Otago Regional Council.
After restoration work is completed, the access track will be improved and interpretation signage erected.
Progress
You can follow progress on this restoration project here. For further information on the project please contact the Secretary, Waipori Goldfields Charitable Trust, secretary@waiporigold.org.nz.
October 2024
The Trust launches the Canton battery and water wheel restoration project.
The Trust signs a Community Agreement with the Department of Conservation.
February 2025
Heritage New Zealand grants the Trust an archaeological authority to restore these category 1 heritage structures.
May 2025
The Clutha District Council grants the Trust $25,000 towards the cost of the restoration.
Support for the project
The Trust has entered into a Community Agreement with the Department of Conservation (DoC). DoC will provide heritage and biodiversity advice and support to the restoration project. It plans to upgrade the track from the road to the mine site to a national standard, which will improve access to and safety around the structures on the site. DoC will also contribute to interpretation signage when the restoration work is completed.
The Clutha District Council has generously provided $25,000 towards the cost of restoring the battery and water wheel.
If you have ideas for the Trust or can give some practical assistance to help the Trust in its work on this project, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact secretary@waiporigold.org.nz.
You can help the restoration project with financial support. As a not-for-profit organisation our work relies on your support, and because the Waipori Goldfields Charitable Trust is a registered charity you can claim a tax credit of 33.33% on any donation of $5 or more.
To get a receipt for taxation purposes, make a payment to the account below with ‘Donation’ in the reference field, and email your name, address and the amount and date of the payment to secretary@waiporigold.org.nz.
Bank account: Waipori Goldfields Charitable Trust, 06-0939-0245916-00.