Garmin International

Bridge pier footings and ford; Old Tauranga Road
The Old Tauranga Road crossed the Ohinemuri River here. This was the site of the first bridge over the river in this district, built 1881. It was washed away early 1883, and was replaced.
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Concrete water race protector
The water race was retained here in concrete; most of the rest of the race was simply a ground channel.
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Masonry dam wing and control gates
The Masonry Dam. Circa 1897.
This dam feed water into the water race via control gates on the right (true left bank, beside cycleway). Often the entire flow of the Ohinemuri River was diverted to the race.
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Old farm ford over Ohinemuri River
It gave access to the farm from the old highway just across the river.
A suspension bridge, 50 m upstream, remained till after 1942.

Siphon end
The water race was piped across a small gully in a large diameter pipe known as the siphon.
This was the downstream end of the pipe.
Private property.

Siphon start
The water race was piped across a small gully in a large diameter pipe known as the siphon.
This was the upstream end.
Private property.

Tram crosses over water race
The first crossing, tramway over the top of the water race. The other two crossings have the race above the tramway. No remains.
Private property.

Waihi Dredging Plant
This plant removed mining tailings from the river to reprocess them, between 1897 and 1910. This image taken from across the river (c. 1904).
Hauraki District Council Reserve.

Water race crosses Ohinemuri River
The water race made its first crossing of the Ohinemuri River here, as it was deemed too difficult to maintain on the true left bank of the river.

Water race crosses Ohinemuri River and tramway
The water race made its second crossing of the Ohinemuri River here, also crossing over the tramway, so as to maintain its grade.

Water race crosses over the tramway in deep cutting
This image shows a locomotive in the deep cutting, travelling toward Waikino. c.1897. The water race crossing is behind the train, but not visible here.

Water race Penstock
The end of the water race. Water was directed to the turbines via a large diameter pipe. Look down.

Water race very close
The water race is right beside the cycleway at this point.

Low Level Water Race to Victoria Battery
The low level water race consisted of a masonry dam constructed on the Ohinemuri River, just down stream from the confluence of the Waitete Stream, and a race to convey the water to the battery site (6.5 km). A fall of 54 feet (16.5 m) was obtained at the battery, the water driving two 200 HP turbines. The water race was for the most part an open ground-channel, but crossed the Ohinemuri River twice, in wooden flumed bridges, and was piped across a small gully in a large diameter pipe known as the siphon.