Whangaparapara is a harbour and coastal community on Great Barrier Island in New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf.
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Europeans settled Whangaparapara for mining, timber milling and whaling.[1] It is now a tourism and boating spot, where boats can pick up fuel and water.[2]
History
editEuropean settlers felled native forests, establishing tramlines to extract the timber to the harbour where it was transported to Auckland for milling. The tramline is now part of a heritage trek.[3]
Gold and silver were discovered in the area in the late 19th century. The Oreville stamping ore-crushing battery is still visible from the road.[1]
The Kauri Timber Company sawmill was established in the early 20th century, to process logs from the Coromandel Peninsula and Northland Region. For a while it was the largest mill in the southern hemisphere.[1]
New Zealand's last whaling station operated on the northern side of the Whangaparapara Harbour from 1957 to 1962. It is also still visible.[1]
The anchor of the SS Wiltshire, which wrecked in the area in 1922, is still visible at a local lodge.[1]
The 2010s, the Department of Conservation permanently closed the Mount Whangaparapara walking track due to the risk of Kauri dieback.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Palmers Beach". greatbarrierisland.nz. Destination Great Barrier Island.
- ^ "Information for boaties". greatbarrier.co.nz. Destination Great Barrier Island Trust.
- ^ "Whangaparapara Historic Trek, Great Barrier Island". aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Auckland Council.
- ^ "Port FitzRoy: Warren's and Bridle Tracks". doc.govt.nz. Department of Conservation.