New Zealand - Kawakawa - Bay of Islands, Northland - 8 May 1958 - Whites Aviation Photo Kawakawa, New Zealand - Kawakawa starting developing as a town with the mining of coal, which was discovered there in 1861. A horse-drawn tramway was opened in 1868 to carry coal from the mines to the Taumarere wharf. In 1871 two steam locomotives were acquired and the tramway was upgraded to railway standard. In 1884 a railway line from Kawakawa to Opua was opened, and this replaced the line to Taumarere wharf. - By 1899 there were about 1,000 residents in the town, which was built mainly on the hillside. In 1899 a fire destroyed all but a few of the buildings. The town was rebuilt on the flat, alongside the railway tracks. The present railway station was built in 1911. - A railway line south to Whangarei was completed in 1911. Coal mining ceased at Kawakawa in the early 20th century. - The Bay of Islands County headquarters were in Kawakawa until the county was disestablished in 1989. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawakawa,_New_Zealand) ------------------------- Image source: Kawakawa, Bay of Islands, Northland Region. Whites Aviation Ltd: Photographs. Ref: WA-45986. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/32054297 https://natlib.govt.nz/records/32054297 #kawakawa