Some facts and figures
Discovery
1878 McCombie & Lee discover gold but are unable to find backers for project.1879 William Nichol stakes a claim on the Martha Lode, so named after a relative.
Claims registered
1880 Amaranth, Dulcibel, Rosemont, Martha, Union, Winner, Brittania, Old Waihi, Silverton, Nelson & Nut, Young Colonial.
Drilled or Mined Unsuccessfully
Waihi Beach, Waihi Extended, Waihi Monument, Favona-Brilliant, Queen of Waihi, Waihi Consolidated, Waihi Reefs, Waihi South, Gladstone.
Photo: The Cornish Pumphouse at the end of its working life. The poppet head for No.5 shaft can also be seen. This shaft descended to 1309 ft.
Producing Companies and Values
| 1882 - 1886 | Martha Company, Martha Extended Company | £ 17,370 |
| 1885 - 1887 | Union Company | £ 2,375 |
| 1885 - 1889 | Rosemont Company | £ 932 |
| 1886 - 1889 | Silverton Company | £ 48,346 |
| 1887 - 1902 | Union Waihi, Rosemont, Silverton Waihi Companies | £ 107,048 |
| 1887 - 1954 | Waihi Gold Mining Co. (after 1935 Martha Gold Mining Co.) | £ 28,469,011 |
| 1893 - 1896 | Cassels Company (tailings) | £ 19,285 |
| 1897 - 1939 | Waihi Grand Junction Company | £ 2,739,623 |
| TOTAL | £ 31,403,981 |
Employment
Waihi/Martha Gold Mining Company:
| 1885 | 238 |
| 1902 | 1141 |
| 1907 | 1500 |
| 1935 | 646 |
| 1948 | 481 |
| 1951 | 401 |
Waihi Grand Junction:
| 1906 | 238 |
| 1910 | 462 |
| 1925 | 385 |
| 1936 | 7 |
Photo: Underground goldminers at crib. A welcome break during a long shift.
Batteries and Treatment Plants:
1882 Martha, near No.4 shaft and Junction Rd. Abandoned due to low head of water.
1882 Manukau Jones Battery near Mangatoetoe Stream junction with Ohinemuri River.
Later became the Silverton and then later the Union.
1889 Waihi Gold Mining Co. at the foot of Union Hill. 1892 60 stamps, 1894 90 stamps.
1892 Victoria Battery, Waikino, 200 stamps.
1896 Grand Junction, 40 stamps, extended 1913.
Waihi Gold Mining Company (later the Martha Gold Mining Company):
Total length of tunnels approx 110 miles (190 km)
Deepest level 1910 ft (600 m)
Total ore tonnage 11,931,047 tons
Peak production (1909) £ 959,594
First Waikato hydro station Horahora 1913
Ratio of silver to gold by weight approx 7.5 to1
School of Mines:
1897 - 1905 Director - P.G.Morgan
1905 - 1946 Director - A.H.V.Morgan