Stamper battery - Golden Blocks Mine at West Wanganui - The Golden blocks goldfield covers an area of some 20sq kilometres.

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DescriptionStamper battery - Golden Blocks Mine at West Wanganui.

The Golden blocks goldfield covers an area of some 20sq kilometres.

The goldfield is bounded to the west and south by the Sandhills Creek, to the east by the Big Slaty Creek, and north by Lake Otuhie. The area is a jumble of low hills, thick scrub and forest, incised by creeks forming gorges. The nearest town is Mangarakau, 8 kilometres to the north-east. Access to the area is not easy.

Gold was first discovered in Slaty Creek by a group of Maori's in 1881. There was subsequent alluvial gold mining in the Malone, Tinnies, Cockabully and Independent streams in the area.

By 1884, interest had switched to the open pit (cast) mining of gold in cement (hardened clay) bordering Slaty Creek. Shortly after the gold was traced to quartz lodes, the first opened being the Golden Ridge Mine, with several companies then opening subsequent mines until activity ceased in 1914.

Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections NZG-19100406-0028-02

PhotographerNew Zealand GraphicDate of Photo1910-04-06External LinkAUCKLAND LIBRARYGOLDEN BLOCKS MINEContributorHeather Newby

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Location (city or town)West Wanganui Landmark (Place)Golden Blocks MineOrganisation (eg business)Golden Blocks Mine

Category Information

Category TagGoldmining

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Date Created20th March 2026

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Stamper battery - Golden Blocks Mine at West Wanganui - The Golden blocks goldfield covers an area of some 20sq kilometres.

Editing is temporarily disabled