We all know about Martha Mine, but there were several other mines operating in the area about 100 years ago. One of these was Grand Junction, and the most significant reminder of this mine is the refinery building.
Grand Junction, situated to both the east and west of Martha Mine, was the second most important mine in the Waihi area. The western workings never produced any gold despite workings that included four shafts. However the main shaft of the eastern workings that descended to 1573 feet and worked the Martha and Mary lodes experienced considerable success. This was the first shaft to have an electric winder installed. The stamper battery was the most modern of its time and had 60 stamps to crush the ore. Mine production peaked in 1914.
Today the most visible reminder of this once great gold mine is the refinery building. This structure was within the boundaries of the present Martha Mine, and so was not open to the general public.
Waihi Heritage Vision worked with Newmont Waihi Gold and Historic Places Trust to find a way of preserving the building and also to make it more accessible to the public. The building could not be accessed while the mine continues to operate, but even when the mine finally closes public access would have be difficult as the refinery building sat between two high hazard zones as identified in the IGNS report.
The solution was to move the building about a hundred metres north adjacent to the Pit Rim Walkway. This has regained access, provided the opportunity to consider a range of compatible uses, and allowed for the development of an appropriate conservation plan.
Click here for PDFs of the posters and photographs of the history of Grand Junction and the Refinery move. (2MB PDF)
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A hundred years ago The Grand Junction Battery looking east. The stamper battery was the most modern of its time and had 60 stamps to crush the ore. Mine production peaked in 1914 |
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August 2008 View looking south. The building has remained largely undisturbed over the years. The shuttered/louvre style vent system on the roof is a distinctive feature of the refinery building. |
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17 January 2010 View looking north. On Martha Mine Open Day several hundred people took the opportunity to visit the building. |
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March 2010 Plans are drawn up to move the building about 100 metres in the approximate direction of the arrow. This will place it next to the Pit Rim Walkway and provide the opportunity for a range of uses. |
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19 May 2010 Work is well underway. The high walls of waste rock that used to surround the building as protection have been removed and earthworks have begun to construct the causeway on which the building will be moved. The proposed route is just visible at top rght. |
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19 May 2010 The floor of the refinery building has been removed. Next week a new concrete slab will be poured below the level of the original floor. This will form a work area for the construction of the steel tripod and sled system on which the building will be moved. |
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26 May 2010 The new concrete floor has been poured. Staff from Mount Maunganui Engineering begin the task of erecting two large steel tripod structures that will support the weight of the building. |
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28 May 2010 The sun comes out briefly, but heavy rain over the last few days has slowed earthworks. Here a backhoe works on the culvert the building must cross to get to its new home. |
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31 May 2010 Inside: The tripods are welded into place. Next they will be connected by high tensile rods to a large steel frame (just visible at the bottom of the picture) that rings the inside of the building. This total structure will support the building and provide the attachment points for winching. |
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31 May 2010 Outside: Work continues on the causeway along which the building will be winched. The ground level is currently being lowered and metal fill being placed. Heavy rain is forecast for the next few days. |
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2 June 2010 Inside: The steel work is nearly all in place. A universal joint is attached to the top of the tripods (1) with four parallel connection points. High tensile rods are attached to both the universal joints and to the steel perimeter frame (3). The building is jacked off the ground at (4) and the weight is supported on the frame (3). In turn the tripods support the frame (so holding the building), and the building itself will be winched to its new destination and skid on (2). |
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2 June 2010 Outside: Heavy rain and floods across the region yesterday. Today preparation of the transport route continues. |
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9 June 2010
A truck and trailer deliver another load of metal for the causeway which is now about half way. Meanwhile a crane assists with the completion of the interior structural supports. |
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9 June 2010
The view looking north showing the route the building will take next week. This picture and the one above were taken from a helicopter. How cold is it hanging out of a chopper with no doors in the middle of winter? We'll let you know when the photographer thaws out. |
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11 June 2010
Outside: Today the building has been cut away from its foundations. A piece of the original foundations can be seen in the foreground. |
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11 June 2010
Outside: The causeway is almost complete. This is the view of the move you will get on Monday from the Pit Rim Walkway as the building is slowly winched towards you by two large tow trucks. |
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11 June 2010
Inside: The high tensile rods have been installed. By the end of the weekend the building will be able to be supported on the rods and tripods which in turn are supported on steel skids. One special feature of this system is that the building can pivot on the top of the tripods even while it is being supported. |
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11 June 2010
Flatjacks like the ones used to lift the pumphouse are in place. These jacks are like steel hot water bottles. They inflate when oil is pumped into them and so lift the building just enough for it to be moved. |
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13 June 2010
Just over thirty people braved the winter weather to get a close up look at the building before tomorrow's move. You can see that the causeway has now been built up around the steel perimeter frame. Don't be fooled by the blue sky ... Tomorrow is the big day! |
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14 June 2010
Just like the Cornish Pumphouse, the refinery building has needed a bit of gentle persuasion to convince her to move. 12 metres today, hoping for better tomorrow. This pic shows one of the two tow trucks, and the D10 Cat dozer being used as an anchor. And yes, that is a rainbow (so that's where the gold is ...) |
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15 June 2010
Great day today. Only about 40 metres to go! |
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16 June 2010
The late afternoon sun illuminates the refinery in its new home. The picture was taken from the Pit Rim Walkway. Next the foundations will be rebuilt and the bullion store moved to its new position. Once everything is complete the fence will be moved to the other side of the building to allow public access to the area. |
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25 June 2010 The bullion store is placed next to the refinery building. Two cranes lifted the thick concrete wall store onto a low loader which transoprted the building to its new site where it was lifted off to its new home. |
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