History at the coalface
Welcome to the Waikato Coalfields Museum
Huntly is strategically placed at the centre of the Waikato Coalfields and mid way between Auckland and Hamilton. Since 1980 the Waikato Coalfields Museum has housed the district's coal mining collections.
These collections are displayed in an historic homestead dating from 1890 set within a scenic reserve. The homestead was originally built for William Tattley, mine manager at the Taupiri Coal Mine. Inside, displays explore the lives of coal miners and their families who worked and lived in the Waikato Coalfields.
Film footage introduces visitors to coal mining past and present, and original exhibits include mining machinery, equipment, personal items, and hundreds of photographs. The Museum has a coal mining archive, research library, collection of historic photographs, local history files, newspaper cuttings and a family history database.
Educational resource package
The Museum’s educational resource package is available on this website for downloading. This package is extensive, particularly in comparison to our previous educational resource, and is tied carefully to curriculum standards. However it is malleable enough to allow response to curriculum changes.
The package comprises the main 'Teacher's Unit' booklet of 39 pages covering geology, the place of coal as an energy resource, then the role of coal in early New Zealand history and the Huntly coalfields. Mining methods, early mining safety issues and accidents in the historic Huntly coalfields and in our more recent mining history effects of mining on the community and rehabilitation of working environments.
There are then two booklets of around 20 pages each, divided into Primary and Intermediate School Activities and Secondary School Activities both with exercises covering different course requirements and including simple worksheets to accompany a museum visit.
We are delighted to be able to present this package, which was made possible thanks to a grant from WEL Energy Trust. We look forward to your comments and feedback as you view and hopefully use this information in the coming year.
Download this package from our website from 6 December 2010 or email or phone us on admin@coal.net.nz 07 828 8128 and we will mail a bound copy to you.