Gold mining in Waihi has a history that spans three centuries. However the open pit that exists today and the Favona underground operation are very different to the underground mine which operated in the early days.

• Timeline: 1878 - 2008
  
  
• The original Martha: An underground mine on 15 levels with 175 km of tunnels.
  
  
• The Victoria Battery: The foundations of this large industrial site at Waikino are now a tourist attraction
  
  
• The Cornish Pumphouse: Once a functional mine building, now a Waihi landmark.
  
  
• The Cornish Pumphouse: Extracts from the past.
  
  
• The Cornish Pumphouse: Relocation.