Tauwhare, a house of rest, is an apt name for the district, from both Maori and European viewpoints.
The district of Tauwhare used to begin about 10 kilometres east of the present day Hamilton City
boundary. In 1883 it was part of the Tauwhare sub-division of the Eureka Estate. A century ago it
was known as the Tauwhare flats.
Debating Society
In 1913, on the 5th May, a public meeting in the hall decided to form a Literary and Debating Society. The annual subscription was fixed at two shillings for gents, ladies free. Mr William Ferris was elected President, A. Tickelpenny, Secretary, and E. Tickelpenny, Treasurer.
The first debate was "Should bachelors be taxed?". The majority spoke in the negative.
After six meetings the Society was disbanded owing to lack of support.
Early Sports Meetings
The Dairy Factory
As promised, the Waikato Land Association began erecting the framework of the Cheese Factory in June 1885, and by the 1st September it was nearly completed. It was seven chains back from the main Morrinsville Road, behind the present hall.
A report of the 20th October 1885 announced the beginning of cheese-making in the new factory. A four horse-power engine was in use and the presses were of the improved design. The curing room was large and airy and measured 50 feet by 30 feet and would hold between 35 and 40 tons of cheese.
School Buildings
In 1944, a young man who had spent his early years around Matangi, perceived an opening for a motor repair business in Tauwhare. His name was Ray Richardson and he then lived on Mr John Pope's farm on Tahuroa Road (now C. Fletcher's) where he began repairing vehicles in a farm shed. He then moved house and workshop to buildings on Dingle's farm, until 1945 when he bought a section from Mr Bill Morey who then owned the store on the east side of the road. The price paid for the section was Thirty five pounds but with legal and survey costs the total came to Ninety eight pounds.
Church Services were held in the home of Mr Thomas Russell in Scotsman's Valley during the early 1880's. When the School opened in 1884 services were held there, being taken in turn by Presbyterians and Anglicans mainly. One lay preacher was Mr Thomas Shaw, and another who drove out in a gig monthly from Cambridge was Mr F. J. Brooks. From 1875-1905 Mr Brooks was Manager of the Bank of New Zealand in Cambridge and on retiring from that position became Town Clerk of Cambridge until 1920.
As happened in many pioneering districts, the local school was used for early district gatherings. In the Waikato Times of the 22nd November 1884 a reporter noted that the school had been opened a fortnight, and that the School Committee had kindly consented to allow the school to be used for church services on Sundays. Various denominations were to share the use of the building.
In the Waikato Times of the 1st December 1885 appeared an advertisement by the Waikato Land Association to the effect that the Tauwhare Accommodation House, with Blacksmith's Shop and paddock attached, was available to a suitable tenant on very favourable terms.
