The Waterwheel Historic Trust welcomes you to a piece of history in the making 1st Public Viewing of Waterwheel in operation
Hundreds of people turned out to witness history in the making in the weekend.
Saturday marked the official opening of Kawerau's Waterwheel Heritage Park, which was launched at an open day at its Spencer Avenue site.
Waterwheel builder Stan Fretwell (right) said it was a fantastic day which attracted an estimated crowd of between 1500 and 2000 people throughout the morning. Mr Fretwell spent some 440 hours constructing the replica of the 150-year old wheel using the remains of the original wheel hub and rim section to estimate its dimensions.
The six-metre diameter wheel was transported from Mr Fretwell's Thorton yard to its new home at the park for the opening, where people had the opportunity to see it in operation for the first time. Blacksmiths, leather-makers and flax workers took part in the open day, for which a country and western band provided musical entertainment.Mr Fretwell said the heritage park would be "a hugely positive thing" for the town and it was heartening to see something he had been working on for 20 years get a step closer to fruition.
Vintage Fun: Waterwheel Heritage trustee Helen Stewart manned the gramophone at the launch of the long-awaited waterwheel in Kawerau.
Kawerau Mayor Malcolm Campbell opening proceedings
Article kindly supplied by Whakatane Beacon. Photos: Lindsay Riddick (Beacon)
View a selection movies from the Waterwheel Launch Day
Waterwheel Heritage Park Launch part 2. Video from Frans Roozendaal
Waterwheel Heritage Park Launch part 2.
After months of planning and dedicated volunteer hours the Waterwheel Heritage Park Trust is now pleased to announce the official launch of the giant 6 metre diameter Waterwheel.
Clydesdale horse's & the Dirty Spud Band: Clydesdale horses at the Kawerau Waterwheel Heritage Park
Models Aircraft display at the Waterwheel Heritage Park Launch: Eastern Bay of Plenty Plastic Modellers Group
Contact: Raymond Stewart, Phone 07 307 7101
Celtic music at the Waterwheel Heritage Park Launch
Good Old Music at the Water Wheel Launch
Read in our April Newsletter about
• Origin of the Waterwheel
• Waterwheel Park Development
• Membership and Funding hastens the dream
• Heartbreaking loss of Waterwheel Pieces
• Achievements in 2010
• Acknowledgements
Newsletter - April, 2010 -
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Waterwheel on the move!
The Waterwheel Heritage Park would you acknowledge Franz Roosendaal for the YouTube links: Part 2 of the video. Kawerau businesses putting the final touches to the great Fretwell wheel.
The Waterwheel Heritage Park is an exciting project under development in Kawerau, New Zealand. Its aims are three-fold:
• To provide a tourist attraction for visitors to the Eastern Bay of Plenty showcasing the pioneering history of the district
To protect and preserve the industrial archaeology of New Zealand, in particular that of the region’s agricultural, transport, timber, pulp and paper industries
• To offer to educate and train in industrial skills young and old alike in the Eastern Bay area. Thus both groups will be improved by joint association. This covers a huge spectrum of base skills.
The park will be on 13 acres of lush, attractive land which is being developed into an historic working village with live machinery, transport and domestic equipment. It pays homage to times past, whilst preserving skills for the future.
The Trust Committee voted to name our Endeavour after the first Power Unit in this District. In 1860 a Waterwheel was ordered by Sir George Gray, the Governor General at that time, to be set up at Braemar Road on a subterranean stream that was an outflow from Lake Rotoma as it had a constant water flow which did not vary. The wheel was to drive a flour mill to save sending the local produce to Auckland by coastal boats and then to bringing back. Also it was envisioned to hopefully bring together local people and tribes to help each other and to share thus improving their lot. Read more
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Trustees:From L: Phil Leaming, John
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