E mihi ana ki ngā tohu ō nehe, ō Hauraki
E mihi ana ki ngā tāngata whenua ō te rohe nei
We recognise the ancestral and spiritual landmarks of Hauraki.
We acknowledge the indigenous people of this area.
Do you or your family have historic connections to the Coromandel-Hauraki area? Are you interested in knowing more about this region's rich and significant past? If so, you have found your way to the right place. There is every chance The Treasury can help you bring to life the stories of bygone days that you are seeking.
The Treasury, a Research Centre and Archive, has its home in Thames on the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula. Having evolved into specialists in family records, we collect, house, preserve and make accessible paper-based records of the history of the people, organisations and businesses from our rohe/area which includes the entire Coromandel Peninsula and the Hauraki area including Paeroa, Waikino, Waihi, the Hauraki Plains, Ohinemuri and Te Aroha.
The Treasury is housed within two extraordinary buildings side by side at 705 Queen Street, Thames, each quite imposing in their own way and completely juxtaposed architecturally. The Thames Carnegie Library, built in 1905, was refurbished by Thames-Coromandel District Council in 2007 and reopened as The Treasury in 2009. Today The Carnegie Library is recognised as a Category 2 Building by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Alongside it, The Treasury Archive is a bespoke designed, award-winning state of the art facility, stark in its architecture, which respectfully and artistically interprets aspects of the Carnegie Library design. Read more about the buildings.
At The Treasury, the past is not lost. It is tended carefully and respectfully. The stories are honoured and told. Currently holding largely post-colonisation records, an active move toward broader cultural inclusion in our collections is underway at The Treasury.
Led by heritage sector professionals, our team of history-passionate volunteers are here to help you explore detail of the lives of those who came before you and us.
As guardians of our local heritage, The Treasury Research Centre and Archive has always been committed to preserving and sharing our community's rich history. Today, we find ourselves at a crucial juncture, facing challenges that threaten our ability to continue this vital kaupapa.
The past year has brought unprecedented financial difficulties. Despite our tireless efforts, including a successful 'keep the doors open' campaign that raised $25,000, the reality of dwindling public funding and a competitive charitable landscape has hit us hard. We are now having to press pause on our operations.
Our primary focus remains the safety and preservation of our treasured collections. These include rare and invaluable items like a late 1800s ledger written in Te Reo Māori, an 1798 issue of the UK's 'The Times', and historical documents signed by figures like the Duke of Wellington. Our commitment to safeguarding these items is unwavering, even as we navigate these challenging times.
Given our current financial situation, our Board has made the difficult decision to temporarily suspend public services and volunteer activities. This hiatus, starting from December 1, 2023, is a strategic step to ensure the long-term preservation of our collections and the eventual resumption of our services.
While our physical doors may be closing temporarily, our digital doors remain open. Our website and online bookstore will continue to operate, offering access to our digitised collections and a range of publications for purchase.
We are actively exploring all avenues for funding and support. We believe in the power of community and are reaching out to philanthropists, heritage enthusiasts, and anyone who shares our passion for preserving history. Your support, whether through donations, purchasing our publications, or simply spreading the word, is invaluable.
This is not an end, but a pause in our journey. We are committed to finding a sustainable path forward and are hopeful that with your support, we can continue our mission of preserving and sharing our heritage for generations to come.
Stay tuned for further updates, and thank you for your continued support and understanding.
The Treasury Research Centre and Archive Team
We're excited to announce the release of our new book True Tales of Waihi! A collation of local recollections by local people. Visit our online bookshop to purchase a copy, pop into our centre in Te Kauaeranga | Thames or visit your local book shop.
Our archive catalogue is now available online! It opens the doors to a trove of historical records, including digitised images of the Coromandel Peninsula and Hauraki District. Approximately 40% of our catalogue has been catalogued with more being added every day. Click here to start searching.
We wouldn’t be able to safeguard our treasures or share them with you without vital funding and partnerships. There are a number of ways you can support what we do:
Volunteer with us
Donate
Become a member
Follow us on our Facebook and Instagram pages
Subscribe to our e-newsletters.
The Treasury’s doors are open to both physical and remote visitors. You can explore our abundant collections in person; or you can engage our skilled research team to assist you or even to do all the research yourself; and as more and more of our collection is catalogued and digitised, in the future our whole Archive and Reading Room resources will be accessible and you will be able to research virtually.
This quote was the opening statement of The Coromandel Heritage Trust’s successful 2013 application to Lottery Environment & Heritage which was the final enabler of the Archive build. Daring to dream is what has created the Archive we see today at The Treasury.
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