Collection Stories

Excerpt from The Waikato Times 9 October 1884 ‘The Cambridge railway passes through one of the most forward and prosperous settlements in the North Island. Though the land in the immediate vicinity of the line…

The Invasion of the Waikato 1864. Excerpt from ‘Such Things Were’ by C W Vennell (1939) “Tamehana’s stronghold at Te Tiki o te Ihingarangi [Pukekura] was definitely threatened, and his watchers renewed their vigilance. On…

The New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association was formed in 1916. Cambridge returned soldiers rallied each Anzac Day and attempted to form an Association. In 1920 the Government declared 25th April in each year, the anniversary…

In July 1881, a month before St Andrews Anglican Church in Cambridge was dedicated, Ed Hewitt, the proprietor of the local Criterion Hotel, offered to buy a 16 cwt bell if the Vestry could see…

Sanitary Inspection of Cambridge Borough covering Victoria and Empire Streets – 13 June 1921. “The triangle comprises a little more than two acres and is built over with shops along the Victoria Street side with…

6,495 men from New Zealand went to the South African War 1899-1902. There were 228 New Zealand deaths – 59 killed in action, 11 died of wounds, 25 from accidents and 133 from disease. 166…

Te Waikato Sanatorium provided care for tuberculosis (TB) patients and convalescing servicemen between 1903 and 1922. The sanatorium was located on a hill called Pukemako (later known as Sanatorium Hill) near Cambridge. The main building…

Ten thousand acres of land were leased and bought in 1868 by Daniel Bateman Thornton. He was visiting with his brother-in-law Josiah Firth of Matamata and had travelled by river to Cambridge. They continued on…

Originally the area occupied by the present Town Hall was the sale yards – the centre of activity for Cambridge. A controversy arose when it was decided to move the yards out near the race…

The Waikato Farmers’ Club was formed 20 October 1875, to advance the development of agriculture and pastoral lands; for essays on agricultural subjects and discussions. It was a common meeting ground for ideas on farming…