This is a Virtual Geocache to pay tribute to the Historic Victoria Battery.
Gold mining around Waikino has a history dating back to early colonisation of New Zealand and Waikino was the focal point of Gold mining in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty district with the 1897 construction of the Victoria Battery on the edge of what was a busy town supporting the expansive local Mining industry.
Waikino’s Victoria Battery processed ore from the large Martha Mine in Waihi. The Victoria Battery was then New Zealand's largest Industrial Complex and besides processing ore it supported carpenters shops, a sawmill and a foundry.
By 1903 it had 200 stamps and was the largest quartz crushing plant for gold extraction in Australasia, capable of crushing over 812 tonnes of ore each day to the consistency of sand. The loud thumping sounds of crushing rock could be heard 10 kms away.
At the peak of its operation it employed 200 men and the vast majority of these workers had settled in Waikino with their families.
In the years the battery was in operation many of our ancestors worked in the mines in a variety of roles, one in particular being commended for 45 years service. Our family were also involved in engineering, building roads and improving the infrastructure in the area.
The adoption of the cyanide process by the Waihi Gold Mining Company in 1894 was one of the crucial factors in the success of the Waihi mines. Prior to this only a small percentage of gold and silver had been extracted by the old pan amalgamation process. The remains of the cyanide tanks can be seen near the posted coordinates and are a spectacular reminder of what once stood on this site. Most of the other buildings having now been reduced to rubble.
The Victoria Battery got its name from Victoria Rock, located between Waihi and Waikino, which resembles the profile of Queen Victoria.
When the Martha Mine closed in 1952, work continued at the Battery with a reduced workforce until 1955 when it was also shut down and buildings and machinery were dismantled.
After completing this Virtual Geocache take some time to explore the site and imagine what things were like back in the days when it was in operation.
To claim this Virtual Geocache please complete the following tasks:
1. At the posted co-ordinates you will find an information sign. From the information on this sign please send us via message or email the name of the Settler, the place he arrived from and the year he arrived . Do not post this information on your log.
2. On the photo near the centre of the information board count the number of men visible (including those only partially visible) and send us this number via message or email. Again, please do not include this information in your log.
3. Take a photo of the nearby battery ruins with a battery (or a device containing a battery) included in the picture and post the photo with your log. For example a GPS Unit, a torch, a radio etc.... Please try to be creative. And feel free to include yourself in the picture if you wish. Note: If you don’t have anything on hand a drawing of a battery will suffice.
You can log your find immediately after submitting your answers, you do not need to wait for a reply
We hope you enjoy our Virtual Geocache and exploring this rich piece of New Zealand history
Virtual Rewards 2.0 - 2019/2020
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between June 4, 2019 and June 4, 2020. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 2.0 on the Geocaching Blog.