|
A History of the Hamilton Anglers’
Club Lodge
The Hamilton Anglers Club was once part of the Auckland Acclimatization Society which was responsible for Fish and Game in the Auckland, Waikato area. As the Hamilton membership increased, it was decided to form a sub branch which was called the Hamilton Acclimatization Sub-Society Anglers Club. In 1962 the committee wished to find a site to build a fishing lodge at Waipapa Dam or at Lake Arapuni and, as there was no way that the Electricity Dept. would allow a fishing lodge anywhere near the Waipapa Dam, a site on the shores of Lake Arapuni was agreed to. For the Club to be able to acquire land it needed to become an incorporated society so it changed its name to the Hamilton Anglers Club Inc. At a committee meeting in 1963 it was proposed that the secretary write to the Electricity Department to seek information on the following points: 1. The ownership of the apparently derelict hut in the immediate vicinity of Bulmer’s Landing , Lake Arapuni. 2. Approval from the Department of Electricity to erect a lodge on some part of the shores of Lake Arapuni. 3. If the Department has any surplus buildings suitable for the Clubs’ needs, which could be purchased at a nominal price. Bulmer’s Landing was not an option as it was taken over by the Otorohanga County Council and they were going to demolish all buildings at the reserve and the Dept. had no suitable spare buildings to purchase. It was decided by the members of the committee that Rocky Bay, in the yet unnamed Arohena Domain, would be suitable, providing that there was road access to the site.
The farmer Mr Foley, who had a grazing tenancy on the block, was approached by committee members and they asked him for permission to have track access to the site which he strongly opposed. The Electricity Dept and the Otorohanga County Council became involved and as they wanted a recreational Domain reserve along the shore line, after much negotiation, permission was obtained in 1966. In 1966-67, after much fundraising was done, cabarets, raffles (which you needed to get permission from the Government ), donations of money and materials and a Golden Kiwi Grant, the Lodge was started in 1967, at a cost of £1665.43. Mr McCulloch officially opened the Lodge on 7 October 1967. No electricity and a coal range for cooking and heating water made it a special place to stay. In the past the Lodge was fully stocked with cutlery, blankets etc but with the many burglaries it has experienced this can no longer be so. The water tank was vandalized many times so in the early 90’s water was piped from the water access from the troughs and gravity fed to the Lodge. A boat ramp, jetty, boat shed and boat were added, and many anglers and their families have enjoyed the fishing, peacefulness and beauty of the lake without the modern comforts.
|
