THAMES
Thames is a surprise town. At every turn there is something about
Thames is quite delightful.
Thames has a strong historic that dates back to the vibrant gold
mining era. Thames has worked hard at preserving the old buildings and
activities that once made up the culture of the town.
The town was
initially built during a gold rush, and its population peaked at about
18,000 in 1868. For a while it was thought it would replace Auckland
as the major town in the area.
Thames was
formed from two historic towns, Grahamstown and Shortland, of which
many original buildings still stand. The two towns merged in 1874
after it emerged the heart of the Goldfield were in Grahamstown.
Many people
migrated to Thames at its peak, and it was soon the second-largest
city in New Zealand (the largest being Dunedin then Auckland).
The population
is circa 7,000 and a number resident’s work in tourism and locally
owned businesses servicing the local farming community. A small number
of Thames residents commute to Auckland.
The land
involved in gold mining in Thames was Maori owned, and now a physical
museum is testament to that colourful era. 
The Methodist
Church has been magnificently preserved and is a must visit. 
A number of
heritage hotels continue to trade. 
Thames Hospital
is the oldest still operating in New Zealand, having been built in the
1860s.
The Thames es
War Memorial is one of the most spectacular in New Zealand, with views
to the Firth of Thames.
Thames today has a commercial heart that continues to grow, with new
shops opening at a pace.
Just south of Thames is
the notorious Kopu single lane bridge. The Kopu Hotel quite often
benefits from the long lines of stalled traffic.
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