History

The way it was in photos and words

History News

Any gnomes at home?

October 29, 2015May 24, 2021 N8N 18 Comments Concrete garden seal, Ian Duggan Waikato University ecologist, the history of garden gnomes NZ, Tui gnomes, Vintage garden gnomes

Freshwater ecologist Ian Duggan’s latest publication is a slight departure from science. Annette Taylor takes a journey down a historical garden path.

History News

Harvesting the turnips 88 years ago

July 6, 2015June 15, 2020 N8N 1 Comment A W Chapman early farmer Piako Rd, historic places in Gordonton, History of Gordonton, old photographs of early farming, Waikato farming history

A splendid crop of turnips grown on Mr A W Chapman’s farm on Piako Rd, Gordonton in 1927. Another historic photo gem to enjoy.

History News

Mystery surrounds local war veteran

April 27, 2015April 30, 2015 N8N 0 Comments Alan Sharp Gordonton history, Gordonton cenotaph, Paritawa Tewai, War veteran mystery Gordonton

The name of a First World War veteran on Gordonton’s cenotaph is a complete mystery. “Sometimes I wondered, was it

History News

Gordonton’s world famous Fridgehenge

December 22, 2014May 1, 2023 Annette Taylor 5 Comments consumerism, Fridgehenge, Fridgehenge Gordonton, Fridgehenge New Zealand, monuments, solstice, Solstice celebration with fridges, Stonehenge made from fridges

The replica of Stonehenge made from 42 old fridges in a paddock in the Waikato, New Zealand, attracted international attention in 1995 – check out Gordonton’s Fridgehenge!

History

When traction engines ruled the roads

December 22, 2014September 2, 2019 Perry Rice 2 Comments hamilton central libraries, NZ agricultural history, Perry Rice, steam-powered vehicles, Traction engines

They were big and robust, but slow, with limited manoeuvrability. Nevertheless, they revolutionised agriculture. Perry Rice muses about traction engines.