Cambridge Town
Learn about the history of town and its districts, schools and roads over the years.
View moreCambridge Town Trail Walking Tour
Kia ora. Welcome to the Cambridge Town History Trail.
Take a gentle stroll through the heart of Cambridge. This walk brings local history to life. Along the way, you’ll uncover stories of Māori voyagers, colonial soldiers, floods, fires, secret bunkers, and everyday life from days gone by. Every corner has a tale to tell.Cambridge’s story begins with the Waikato River.
In the 14th century, Tainui Māori travelled up the river and settled along its banks. They built pā (fortified villages), grew crops, and formed strong communities. These settlements thrived, trading with nearby areas, Auckland and Australia. But by the 1860s, growing tension between Māori and the colonial government led to war. Land confiscations followed. After the upheaval of the New Zealand Wars, a new town was laid out on either side of the river. It was named after the Duke of Cambridge, Commander-in-Chief of the British Army.Click on a tile below to begin your tour
Victoria Street Facades
Walking Tour #14 Look closely at the buildings along Victoria Street. Many date from the 1920s–30s and still feature ornate plasterwork, leadlight windows, and historic details.
MOREPost Office
Walking Tour #15: Cambridge Post Office – Built in 1908 and extended in 1936, this building served as Cambridge’s communication hub handling letters, banking, telegraphs and phone calls.
MORECentral Court
The first hotel was built on corner of Duke and Victoria Streets in 1877. Today’s building was erected after a fire in 1926, and converted form a hotel into offices and shops in 1977.
MORECourthouse
This building was first opened in 1909. It is where the town’s court sessions were held until 1979. Today, it is filled with exhibitions about the town’s history. Well worth a look if you’ve time. It’s free!
MOREThe National Hotel
The National Hotel has always been a landmark in Cambridge. In 1866 in the infant town of Cambridge, the Alpha (now National) was erected for Mr Robert Kirkwood – his name is perpetuated in a…
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