{"title": "Thames", "body": "
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Thames is the largest town on the Coromandel Peninsula, where a fascinating history comes alive. This vibrant town sits on the Waihou River, originally named \"The Thames\" by Captain Cook in 1769. Thames truly boomed after a major gold strike in 1867. By 1870, the town (then called Shortland) exploded to a population of over 20,000—even larger than Auckland at the time! While the easily found gold soon diminished, ingenious companies continued extraction, with nearly 700 stamper batteries once crushing quartz rock. Gold mining shaped the Thames until after World War I, leaving an incredible legacy. Today's Thames was formed by the amalgamation of Grahamstown and Shortland in 1870. You can still see relics of this rich past, including historic buildings like the Brian Boru Hotel and the Lady Bowen. Don't miss the School of Mines, dating back to 1886, which houses an old battery, a laboratory, and a treasure trove of mining relics.

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