Pumphouse

Waihi's Cornish Pumphouse was built in 1903 to house steam engines and pumping equipment to dewater the historic underground Martha Mine.
The pumphouse retired from use in 1913 when the steam power was replaced be electricity.

Waihi has a rich history of gold-mining. It is one of the most famous gold-mining towns in New Zealand, with present-day mining activities operating alongside old style methods of gold and silver extraction.

The present day mine, Martha, is an open pit gold mine, which began in 1987. The current workings take place over the historic underground Martha Mine which was in operation from the 1880's to 1952.