My walk today was a little further afield - outside Hamilton, outside Cambridge even - to the
Maungakawa Scenic Reserve, which also happens to be the site of the Te Waikato Sanitorium and incorporates the Guidex memorial park.
This is all that's left of the once sprawling facility, along with a few stray exotic plants.
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| Old Boiler house: Te Waikato Sanitorium |
The property was first purchased by Daniel Thornton in 1886 from the local Maori, and, after his death, his wife had a homestead built on the ridge (in 1890), which was later, in 1902 purchased by government and utilised as a sanitorium for sufferers of tuberculosis. The site would be utilised after the first world war for recuperating soldiers, and dismantled and sold in 1922.
Some historic photos of the site:
Of course, nowadays, the site looks very different. The bush has regenerated, and there is a 30 minute track. I'm no good at taking photos in the bush, the light is difficult, but here are a few photos of the park none-the-less.
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| The Lions Club put this lookout up recently |
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| Hard to imagine there was so much here in the past. |
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| A very old sign. When the way up the hill was still by horse and cart, this was the spot to stop for a break. |
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| And for that reason, the scouts put this bench up. |
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| An interesting carving someone made... |
All in all, this is a historic site that's well worth visiting, bush, birds, a picnic spot and history...
