Community rallies to upgrade goldfields track
The vehicle track to the goldfields is in a sorry state. Photo: Gerard Hindmarsh.
An upgrade of the vehicle track up to the Aorere Goldfields looks like becoming a reality. Last week Reg Turner secured the $1,000 in donations required to get DOC on board and will be presenting them with a cheque today (Friday 14 May).
The job already has the support of local contractor Merv Solly, who hopes to make a start in a couple of weeks’ time.
The idea for the road upgrade came after the Cabaret in the Cave event on 28 Feb, when Reg helped to cart gear to the Ballroom Cave in his 4WD.
“Frankly I scared myself driving back down the washed-out track. In places it was amazing I just didn’t tip over. Afterwards I contacted DOC, asking them why the vehicle track was so neglected. They told me they were doing an extensive upgrade on the walking track but had no extra money to repair the vehicle access.”
Not to be put off, Reg appealed not only to his GB Promotions Association colleagues, but also to the whole community with a letter in The GB Weekly. “The response has been fantastic. Now with some reasonable repairs to the 4WD track many more visitors might be able to enjoy the cave and views from up there. I am surprised how few locals actually get up there. Let’s hope too we can hold more concerts, gigs and dancing in this cave just as the miners did 100 years ago. It’ll be a lot easier to do if there is good access.”
DOC area manager John Mason said even with people contributing it was unlikely that there would be enough funding to do all the work required. “But it will be a good start and we should be able to do more next year,” he said.
The Aorere Goldfields are noteworthy as this country’s first major goldfield and the first at which large-scale sluicing techniques were employed. Here, for the first time, diggers got together and set down their own regulations. By September 1857, over 1,000 men were working claims there. HP Washbourn, one of the best-known figures on the field, later described the scene as “a large camping picnic with everyone in the highest spirits as if they had just come into a fortune or were just about to”. The Ballroom Cave even reputedly had a piano in it.
The Aorere Goldfields were excluded from the creation of Kahurangi National Park in 1995 to allow for its continued used by traditional gold fossickers and less traditional trail bikers. Now, judging from the tracks, mountain bikers have become the predominate users.
“Local businesses and individuals have so far contributed $760 towards the $1000 being raised, to put towards upgrading the 4-wd track to the Aorere Goldfields.”
Gerard Hindmarsh
