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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 14, 2014 14:04:53 GMT 12
Is that part of the large military training area that is around Tekapo?
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Post by pjw4118 on Nov 14, 2014 14:57:51 GMT 12
I dont know about that Dave as Fairlie is quite a few miles away, but it would be on the way from Burnham Camp to Tekapo
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Post by Barnsey on Nov 15, 2014 0:00:03 GMT 12
Strange place for an ammo dump, as there's no NZDF facilities nearby (Tekapo Army camp nearest?). Part of dispersing facilities in the face of a potential Japanese invasion? Some info here: www.nzrifle.com/ml_timaru.htm This would suggest that the Fairlie facilities were for storing rounds for the Timaru coastal defence guns? and "Army Ammunition Depot built during WW2. Railway line use to pass close to here and finished at Fairlie, so munintions could be railed from Burnham (near Ch-ch) or elsewhere, then trucked to Tekapo Military Camp. Also the advantage with threat of Japanese invasion that this depot was inland but easy access." Panoramio Link to Photos |
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phread
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by phread on Dec 13, 2014 12:10:56 GMT 12
In the photograph, that appears to be Mangaroa Railway Station in the mid-lower-left of the photograph. It has that lean-to look to what was then a standard government design for country railway stations. Presumably this would give an indication to the exact location of the Maymorn Army Camp. Note that the railway line takes a different route through the Mangaroa Valley today since the opening of the Rimutaka deviation and tunnel in October 1955. You'd need to locate an old map of the area showing the old railway corridor and location of Mangaroa Railway Station to work out the exact location of that camp, but I know the old railway formation was further east from the current railway corridor. You can see the embankment where the railway line used to climb out of the valley about 800 metres to a kilometre east of the current Maymorn Railway Station. Looking at the current 1:50,000 topomap of the area, you can see the current Wairarapa Line railway formation as it climbs the hill out of Upper Hutt and passes through No.1 “Maoribank” Tunnel to the Mangaroa Valley, crossing the Mangaroa River and running across a corner of the valley through Maymorn Railway Station and into the No.2 “Rimutaka” Tunnel. If you take a look at Flux Road, you will see where it has a sharp 100-degree curve to the left (on the map) before turning right again. Look further left from that sharp-right-hand curve and you will see an Old Tunnel. That is the former No.1 “Cruikshank” Tunnel on the old pre-October 1955 railway alignment. My understanding is that the railway line actually ran alongside Flux Road and continued on that alignment heading east (along the dotted line denoting a track) from the 100-degree curve in Flux Road. Presumably the old Mangaroa Railway Station was somewhere along that straight, which would mean that would be the locality of the Mangaroa Army Camp. If you click on the topomap, your browser will download a larger-sized version of it in a new tab without wide-screening this thread.... 
To make it easier to see things (including road names), here is a 1:20,000 map of the area which contains more localised detail. As before, click on the map to download a considerably larger version in a new tab....  |
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phread
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by phread on Dec 13, 2014 12:13:08 GMT 12
Fascinating. I'd never heard of this camp before. |
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phread
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by phread on Dec 13, 2014 13:50:58 GMT 12
There are 6 photos of the Maymorn Camp in the Upper Hutt City Library Recollect archive. In this collection is a map titled ‘Trentham manoeuvre area’ and on it is written ‘Camp Site’ over Maclaren Street
The station – (as per ‘Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand’)
Station May Morn Military Camp
Line Wellington & Masterton
Details Station opened 8/1915 / Closed 1/1916
Military used the May Morn Estates Siding
The Army Camp was located in the area about Maclaren Street, Maymorn
Buildings hospital and headquarter quarters, to the centre and centre right – these are near the junction Maclaren Street and Parks Line Road
In the foreground the old Wairarapa-Wellington railway line has some kind of station/siding. This is May Morn Military Camp Station
The chimney end of Maclaren Street belongs to the May Morn Estate Sawmilling Company, the saw mill ceased operations in 1914. The mill had a tramway which ran along side Maclaren Street and on out to, and beyond the Te Marua Golf Course. This may be the track seen in picture captioned Maymorn Camp [Postcard 025] from the Upper Hutt Libraries Archives Recollect. In the background can be seen the May Morn Military Camp Station
I actually live on the old sawmill site – the base of the chimney is still there, along with two other large concrete foundations
The camp site was not the site of the RNZAF Mangaroa base/depot in WW2. The main buildings of the RNZAF Mangaroa base/depot were situated at Mangaroa Station, Flux Road
Station Mangaroa – (as per ‘Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand’)
Line Wellington & Masterton
Details Opened 7/1891
Closed 30/10/1955
Previous to this it was Mungaroa Station/Cruickshanks Siding
There is also a reference to – (as per ‘Rail Heritage Trust of New Zealand’)
Station Mangaroa Military Camp
Line Wellington & Masterton
Details Opened 1942 (date the RNZAF Mangaroa base/depot established)
Closed No date
Was this station the name of the termination of the military siding that went from Mangaroa Station into the main buildings of the RNZAF Mangaroa base/depot?
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Post by thomarse on Dec 14, 2014 10:50:26 GMT 12
I've only just found this thread. Like "phread", I live close (and have done so all my life) but not as close as him!
In the early photo, the chimney is at the end of the present McLaren Road, and was indeed part of the Maymorn Estate mill. The station building is not Mangaroa station as I knew it; however, the principal means of transport of timber from the mill was by rail to Wellington and I suspect that's a siding built for the purpose. From memory, the Wairarapa line was opened in 1878, well before Maymorn Estate got going. Incidentally, also well before the North Island Main Trunk!
"Mangaroa Station" as I remember it was exactly where the green "dot" appears on the map just above, opposite the "RD" of Flux Road. If you follow the link to the Wikipedia page a few posts back, there is a very recent photo of the platform as it's seen today. However, I take issue with the statement that the siding to Maymorn ran off "a few chains to the North-east" - it was more like 100 chains. As someone suggested, the rail line followed the dotted line on this map until that line veers to the right (don't know what that represents). To the South-west it took a reciprocal direction across a level crossing where Flux Road takes a 90 degree turn, crossed the river then headed for the "Old Tunnel" as marked on the map.
More trivia? The building shown on the left hand side of Collett's Road (extreme RH border of map) is the bin on what used to be Lindsay Bros airstrip, long since disused. This strip has appeared in this forum at least once, in the Agricola thread. The original photo in this thread showing the chimney and camp was taken from a point very close to this bin.
Most of the RNZAF sheds stand to this day - Google Earth shows them.
Cheers
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rneil
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by rneil on Sept 19, 2016 23:31:17 GMT 12
Strange place for an ammo dump, as there's no NZDF facilities nearby (Tekapo Army camp nearest?). Part of dispersing facilities in the face of a potential Japanese invasion? Some info here: www.nzrifle.com/ml_timaru.htm This would suggest that the Fairlie facilities were for storing rounds for the Timaru coastal defence guns? and "Army Ammunition Depot built during WW2. Railway line use to pass close to here and finished at Fairlie, so munintions could be railed from Burnham (near Ch-ch) or elsewhere, then trucked to Tekapo Military Camp. Also the advantage with threat of Japanese invasion that this depot was inland but easy access." Panoramio Link to Photos |
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rneil
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by rneil on Sept 19, 2016 23:39:54 GMT 12
Nine Magazines were constructed at Fairlie in 1942/42, the area was chosen for it isolation, the cover the plantations provided and its proximity to the railway line which was the primary transport for the high tonnages needed to be stored. Onter Magazines were also constructed in the South Island, 16 at Glenn Tunnel, 8 at Burnham, 9 at Alexandra and 10 at Mount Somers.
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Post by waterrace on Jun 23, 2017 20:07:40 GMT 12
The chimney end of Maclaren Street belongs to the May Morn Estate Sawmilling Company, the saw mill ceased operations in 1914. The mill had a tramway which ran along side Maclaren Street and on out to, and beyond the Te Marua Golf Course. This may be the track seen in picture captioned Maymorn Camp [Postcard 025] from the Upper Hutt Libraries Archives Recollect. In the background can be seen the May Morn Military Camp Station I actually live on the old sawmill site – the base of the chimney is still there, along with two other large concrete foundations I have been researching May Morn Estates (NZ) Ltd and associated tramway. When I read the above I had no option but to join this forum  I had been researching the extant water tunnel that took water from the Mungaroa River to Cruickshank's Mill at the top of the road (in Upper Hutt) of the same name. James Duff Cruickshank had a tramway over what was then called Cruickshank Ridge or Saddle. Logs were pulled to the top of the hill by a horse operated capstan. Parts of the tramway formation can be walked today. Studying the 1915 Trentham Camp Manoeuvre area map I noticed the Maymorn Mill and Tramway. From my researches I am aware that May Morn Estates (NZ) Ltd was a UK registered company that had a grandiose scheme to clear the land between Te Marua and Otaki. Fortunately (IMHO) the scheme failed. I have not looked at the photos of the Maymorn camp because they did not seem relevant. I will now have a look at them. I would like to share information with anyone who has an interest in the Mill/Tramway. To be blunt I live locally and would like the opportunity to photograph the foundations of the three storey mill, claimed to be the most modern in NZ Because the May Morn Estates Company did not operate aircraft I am sure that discussion on tramways and mills will be off-topic for this list. Therefore if it is possible on this forum please contact me by private message. Thanks. |
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Post by waterrace on Jun 23, 2017 20:14:17 GMT 12
I have been researching May Morn Estates (NZ) Ltd and associated tramway. When I read the above I had no option but to join this forum I have just looked at message #1 in this thread. First, I know Mr kiwithrottlejockey. He may know me as griptypethyne from yahoo groups days. Second,that is a fantastic photo  Is that the three storey mill on the left? If it is then I have achieved success in one aspect of my research. |
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jun 24, 2017 13:41:25 GMT 12
Welcome to the group, David.
I warn you....you can waste many days/weeks/months/years trawling through the marvellous archive this group has become over the years.
Bruce.
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Post by thomarse on Jun 25, 2017 14:05:22 GMT 12
PM me contact details David - I'm very close by too and have a contact who's forgotten more about Maymorn Estates than many will know!
I recall (from a distant past) some bits of the Maymorn Tram and walked right to the end about 2 years ago
Tom
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Is that the three storey mill on the left? If it is then I have achieved success in one aspect of my research. 