Kuaotuna is a small hamlet bordering a white sandy north facing beach, along the eastern coastline of the Coromandel Peninsula.

Gold was discovered 2 kilometres inland on Bald Hill or Bald Spur in 1889 by Alex Peebles, who went onto a distinguished public career in the region. Bald Hill is a north-south trending steeply sided spur, getting its name from the treeless upper parts of the ridge. The claims along this were on what was called the Coffin Reef, named in 1889 after an early local prospector, but the name soon changed to the Try Fluke Reef, after the largest producing mine along the line of lode. The reef trended north-east to south-west, and extended into the valley immediately east, and neighbouring Waitaia Range again immediately east. The valley contains the Waitaia Walk, through regenerating forest, with some adits still evident. There were also some mines near the coast, to the east of Kuaotunu in sinter deposits, although considered poorer in gold.

The area had by 1906 produced 95 865 tonnes of ore yielding 82 756 ounces of gold.

Almost immediately after its discovery there was a prospector rush, followed soon after by a speculating rush of Auckland syndicates and companies. The Try Fluke Mine was by far the largest producer in the early 1890's, followed by the Great Mercury, and Red Mercury mines. From 1890-1892 around thirty mines produced relatively small amounts, and then closed. The larger mines survived into the late 1890's. The Waitaia Mine lasted until 1916. A large number of early leases amounted to little more than surface pottering, and shareholders found themselves paying money for director fees, and absent workers.

Much of the area is private property, and many of the locations have disappeared without a trace. Nearly all the locations in this section are approximate, based on written historic descriptions, and needs local verification.

Localities in this Region

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References