Waitomo
Caves Discovery Centre
(formerly Waitomo Museum of Caves)
Ph: +64 7 878 7640 Fax: +64 7 878 6184
PO Box 12, Waitomo Caves, Waitomo 3943, New Zealand collections@waitomodiscovery.org
WAITOMO CAVES DISCOVERY CENTRE
WAITOMO CAVES VISITOR INFORMATION CENTRE
WAITOMO MUSEUM OF CAVES & NZ SPELEOLOGICAL SOCIETY (NZSS) LIBRARY
HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS
A Selection of Historic Photographs
Tane
Tinorau was raised
in the
Waitomo area and was
instrumental in developing the Glowworm Cave as an attraction in 1888. He
and Frederick Mace are thought to be the first explorers of the Glowworm
Cave. Many
of his descendants work in the same cave today. Tane Tinorau was twice
married, firstly to Te Nekehanga Tutawa Tuatara and later Whariki Huti who
bore him 16 children. Huti also became a well known and popular cave guide.
Frederick
Mace, one of the original surveyors of the Waitomo Caves. Frederick Mace
arrived in New Zealand in 1876 after service in the British Merchant Navy.
He worked briefly as a surveyor's assistant before acquiring a property in
Otorohanga in 1884 from where he worked as a surveyor throughout the King
Country. During this period he spent his spare time exploring a number of
caves in the region of which the best known was the Glowworm Cave.
A tour party in the Glowworm Cave.
Tane Tinorau in the centre, circa 1901.
A party of early tourists outside the Waitomo Hotel. Visitors were issued with smocks, bloomers, boots and lanterns before leaving for the caves, circa 1922.
An early party of tourists viewing glowworms in the Glowworm grotto of the Glowworm Cave.
Waitomo Hotel, circa 1920.
Early settler, Albert Dimond establishing his farm at Putaki,1913.
Bush camp Putaki, 1910.
James Holden and his wife Ngahaka, Tane Tinorau's daughter. James Holden developed and explored the Ruakuri cave system for early tourism.
A children's Christmas party to celebrate peace after the 1914-1918 war.
Waitomo Museum of Caves
email us at: collections@waitomodiscovery.org 20/01/2011