The Thames School of Mines is back in its home with a new, but old, look.
Since November 2024, the School of Mines (SOM) has been operating out of the Carnegie Library at nearby Te Whare Pātaka the Treasury Heritage Research Centre and Archive on Queen St.
Plans were made earlier this year to move the SOM back into its Cochrane St address.
Pouhere Taonga Heritage New Zealand, which manages SOM, also took the opportunity to repaint the site’s mineral museum, which was last renovated in the 1950s.
Inside, the museum’s vintage pastel palette has been colour-matched and refreshed.
The exterior now sports new signage funded by the Thames Community Board, which contributed $1600 to the renovation.
Several changes have also been made to the site’s layout.
The shop and ticketing office have been moved into the museum itself, with the former shop space being repurposed into a dedicated education and holiday programme space.
Property lead Fiona Cameron said she was excited by the changes.
“It’s a new look based on what the place used to look like… it’s true to its heritage,” she said.
“Bringing the shop [into the museum] gives it more of a focused feel – this was the initial entrance so in many ways we’re bringing it back to its original intent and layout.”
The site was officially opened on June 12, with volunteer Steve Clarke hosting a tour for Thames Community Board members, councillors, volunteers, and representatives from Heritage New Zealand.
The site has now resumed its regular opening hours and tours. An open day will also be held at the end of the month for the public to see the renovations.
Fiona said the refresh and move was just the beginning of other innovations at the site.
“I’m going to develop the shop more… it’s going to have a vintage school vibe. And we’re going to develop our relationships with the schools even stronger.”
The SOM is also leasing an office space from Thames Squash club because the historical site is located on an urupā (burial site), which means no food, drink, or bathrooms are allowed onsite. Fiona said the location of the office space will allow her to manage the SOM with ease while still observing tikanga.
Heritage New Zealand acknowledged the support of Ngāti Maru in returning to the site.
“We are standing on their footprint and also on their urupā in that sense,” heritage asset manager Boris Bogdanovic said.
“It’s managing those layers of history, both as the kaitiaki (guardians) of the museum today, but also making sure we are kaitiaki of that Māori history that’s beneath our feet.”
DETAILS: Open Day, June 27, 10am-4pm at 101 Cochrane St.
