1800's
1800's
| Year | Event | |
| 1852 | John Grant Johnson set up a trading post on the Piako river | |
| 1873 | Mr Brissenden purchased Kuranui block from Maori | |
| 1873 | Opening of the Jolly Cripple Hotel in Studholme Street | |
| 1874 | Kuranui block transferred to Mr Thomas Morrin | |
| 1876 | Post Office opened in the Jolly Cripple Hotel | |
| 1877 | Piako County Council held first meeting in Jolly Cripple Hotel | |
| 1877 | The first school opened in Studholme Street | |
| 1878 | Post Office name changed from Waitoa to Morrinsville | |
| 1881 | First church service of the Presbyterian Church held in Morrinsville | |
| 1881 | Mail carried by Carter’s Coaches three times per week | |
| 1883 | Money Order and Savings Bank office opened | |
| 1884 | Railway station opened in Canada Street | |
| 1890 | Morse telegraph system introduced to the Post Office | |
| 1894 | Telephone office opened at the railway station | |
| 1895 | Laying the foundation stone for the Anglican Church | |
| 1895 | The Anglican Church opened as the first church in Morrinsville | |
| 1897 | Telegram delivery system by messenger established |
1900's
Year | Event | |
1903 | Methodist Church built on the corner of Thames and Canada Street | |
1908 | Town District of Morrinsville was officially gazetted | |
1908 | Bank of New Zealand established an agency in Thames Street | |
1908 | Magistrate's Court held the first sitting in Phoenix Hall | |
1909 | Methodist Church was enlarged | |
1909 | Building and opening of new Post Office in Thames Street | |
1910 | Baptist Church was opened | |
1911 | Morrinsville Star first published | |
1911 | Courthouse built in Moorhouse Street | |
1912 | Empire Theatre in Studholme Street opened for silent films | |
1912 | Presbyterian Church built in Canada Street | |
1912 | Anglican Church Parish Hall built and opened | |
1913 | Morrinsville Croquet Club formed | |
1913 | Catholic Church built in Thames Street west | |
1915 | Meeting to form Horticultural Society was held | |
1915 | Morrinsville Star newspaper was purchased by Cargill Publishing Company | |
1918 | Town Board purchased 59 acres from Mr Marshall for the Recreation Grounds | |
1918 | Meeting held to form A & P Society | |
1918 | Baptist Church was used as a hospital during the Influenza Epidemic | |
1919 | National Bank opened in Studholme Street | |
1919 | Morrinsville Rugby became a sub-union of Hamilton | |
1919 | First show of A & P Society held in Mannion’s paddock in Thames Street | |
1920 | Infants block built at the Morrinsville Primary school in Lincoln Street | |
1920 | The Morrinsville Swimming Club formed | |
1921 | Morrinsville Borough was created | |
1921 | Morrinsville Fire Brigade formed | |
1922 | Borough water supply was officially turned on | |
1922 | First electric power in Morrinsville from the Thames Valley Electric Power Board | |
1922 | Morrinsville Dairy Company first manufactured butter | |
1922 | New larger Courthouse built | |
1922 | Old Courthouse was shifted and became the Police Station | |
1923 | Orphans Club formed | |
1924 | Catholic Church moved to corner of Victoria Avenue and Thames Street | |
1925 | National Bank opened at 221 Thames Street | |
1926 | New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Company built a factory near the railway station | |
1927 | Empire Theatre changed its name to the Strand Theatre | |
1927 | Golf Club purchased 49 acres from Charles Cameron | |
1928 | Catholic Church presbytery was built | |
1928 | Dental Clinic established at Morrinsville Primary School | |
1930 | St Joseph's Convent school opened | |
1931 | St John's Ambulance Association formed | |
1931 | RSA meeting held to form the Association | |
1932 | Morrinsville Country Women's Institute was established | |
1932 | Plunket Rooms built in Thomas Park | |
1933 | George Burmester purchased his bakery | |
1934 | Constable Heeps was fatally shot | |
1934 | Opening of the Council Chambers Canada Street | |
1935 | Mr Osborne re-elected as Mayor of Morrinsville | |
1936 | Morrinsville Polo Club was formed | |
1936 | Fire station was built on the corner of Studholme and Anderson Streets | |
1937 | Physical Culture Hall was opened in Moorhouse Street | |
1938 | Arthur Jenkin opened shop in Thames Street | |
1938 | Mr W. Hetherington elected as Mayor of Morrinsville | |
1938 | Methodist Church purchased adjoining land | |
1939 | Veterinary Club was established | |
1940 | Methodist Church moved church to adjoining land | |
1944 | Morrinsville Battalion Home Guard was disbanded | |
1944 | Home Serviceman’s Association was formed | |
1945 | Morrinsville Rotary Club was formed with Arthur Needham as the first president | |
1946 | Jim Hishon established Creamy Clover business in Allen Street | |
1946 | RSA leased club rooms in Thames Street | |
1947 | Commercial Bank of Australia opened in Studholme Street | |
1947 | State Advances built 40 houses in Cureton St, Anzac Ave, Seville, Craig and Chapman Crescent | |
1948 | Dramatic Society was formed | |
1948 | Queen Carnival raised money for purchase of the Plunket Nurse's car | |
1948 | The Governor General and Lady Freyberg visited Morrinsville | |
1949 | Town and Country Club formed | |
1949 | Morrinsville Trotting Club was formed | |
1950 | Commercial Bank of Australia opened in Thames Street | |
1950 | Town and Country Club purchased house and land from Howie Estate | |
1950 | Morrinsville College was established with Mr Fleet as headmaster | |
1950 | Morrinsville Primary school was established with Mr Telfer as headmaster | |
1951 | RSA purchased club rooms in Thames Street | |
1952 | Town and Country Club was granted a charter | |
1952 | Burmester built a new bakery in Moorhouse Street | |
1953 | Queen Carnival raised money for the War Memorial Hall | |
1953 | The Rose Garden site in Moorhouse Street was purchased from the Salvation Army | |
1954 | Waikato Hospital Board took possession of Lynton Hospital | |
1954 | Ownership of the Morrinsville Star passed to East Waikato Publishers | |
1954 | Morrinsville Jaycees formed with Barney Hope Gibbons as president | |
1954 | Methodist Church opened new church | |
1954 | Opening of new rugby grounds in Campbell Park in Thames Street | |
1955 | Edmund Hillary visited to raise funds for an expedition to the South Pole | |
1955 | David Street Primary School opened | |
1956 | Building of new kindergarten opened | |
1956 | Commercial Bank of Australia moved to new building in Thames Street | |
1956 | New South Wales Bank opened in Thames Street | |
1957 | Library moved into the War Memorial Complex | |
1957 | Borough Council purchased land in Riverview Road for dump | |
1957 | War Memorial Hall officially opened by Major General LM Inglis | |
1958 | Presbyterian Church's Campbell Hall is opened | |
1958 | Kiwi Fertiliser Works officially opened | |
1959 | New building for the Anglican Church was opened | |
1959 | Morrinsville branch of the National Council of Women was formed | |
1959 | Morrinsville branch of the Lions International chartered | |
1960 | Waikato Savings Bank opened an agency | |
1960 | Waikato Savings Bank opened working bank | |
1961 | District Nursing Service established | |
1961 | Population 4111 | |
1962 | New Post Office and Telephone Exchange on the corner of Thames and Lorne Street | |
1962 | St John's Ambulance Hall built in Anderson Street | |
1963 | Meeting to form Senior Citizens Association was held | |
1963 | Morrinsville New World Supermarket opened in Thames Street | |
1963 | Opening of new swimming pool in the recreation grounds | |
1964 | Catholic Church built a new church building on corner of Thames Street and Victoria Ave | |
1964 | Governor General Sir Bernard Fergusson visited Morrinsville | |
1964 | Dutch Government Minister Mr Veldkamp visited Morrinsville | |
1964 | Kereone School bus accident | |
1964 | After 56 years Gummers Ltd closed its shop in Thames Street | |
1965 | New South Wales Bank closed its Morrinsville branch | |
1965 | A & P Society built new building at Recreation Grounds | |
1965 | Arts and Craft Group was formed | |
1965 | RSA opened new Clubrooms in Studholme Street | |
1966 | Morrinsville Co-op Dairy Co opens the first fully–automated butter factory in world | |
1966 | Morrinsville Motel opened | |
1966 | Morrinsville Lyceum Club opened with 200 members | |
1966 | Lucy Money awarded MBE for services to Solomon Islands | |
1967 | Strand Theatre demolished | |
1967 | Meeting was held to form the Morrinsville Historical Society | |
1968 | Laurie Maber was elected mayor | |
1969 | Grain drying plant opened by Rae and Beverly Seales | |
1969 | Morrinsville and District Museum opened June 28th | |
1970 | Intermediate school opened | |
1971 | Rhoda Read Geriatric Hospital opened in Morrinsville | |
1971 | Building of club rooms and curator's office at Morrinsville Swimming Pool | |
1972 | Dalgety's sale yards in Thames Street dismantled | |
1972 | Norm Ball purchased Martelli Motors and renamed it Greenline Motors | |
1972 | Leo Echlins 60 year old building on corner Thames and Studholme Street demolished | |
1972 | Morrinsville Tennis Club relocated to the Recreation Grounds | |
1974 | G.G. Burmester Bakery destroyed by fire | |
1974 | Kathleen M Potter appointed Matron of the Geriatric Hospital | |
1974 | Ken Fitness, chemist retired after 40 years in Morrinsville | |
1974 | Roy T Scott, chairman of Piako County Council retired and Ken Thomas elected | |
1975 | Morrinsville Co-operative Dairy powder factory was destroyed by fire | |
1975 | Zoe C Wells, Matron of Morrinsville Maternity Hospital retired | |
1975 | Centrespot Arcade opened on the site of Hetherington's shop in Thames Street | |
1975 | Cliff Wisely, Principal of Morrinsville Primary School retired after 17 years | |
1975 | Council built eight pensioner flats in Moorhouse Street | |
1976 | Wally Manning awarded Queen's Fire Service Medal | |
1976 | Flight Lieutenant Trevor Butler DFC received Queen's Commendation | |
1976 | Kereone Rugby Club opened new clubrooms | |
1976 | Morrinsville Playcentre opened new building in Lorne Street | |
1976 | Vince Ashworth appointed on permanent staff of World Bank | |
1976 | Sub-division of Oak and Elm Street | |
1976 | Morrinsville Co-operative Dairy Company opened new milk powder complex | |
1977 | First issue, Volume 1, Number 1 of Piako Post printed | |
1977 | Morrinsville Community Affairs & Information Office opened | |
1977 | Country and Western Club formed | |
1977 | Piako Community Arts Council formed | |
1977 | Air Training Corps formed | |
1977 | Extension of Anderson Street to Avenue Road opened | |
1977 | Rukumoana Marae renovations completed, Werewere meeting house refurbished | |
1977 | Plaque to honour Mr Harold Daines placed in the Civic Rose Gardens | |
1978 | Roach Road rubbish tip opened | |
1978 | Tom Lithgow elected President of Waikato Rugby union | |
1978 | Maungakawa archaeological treasures returned to Rukumoana Marae | |
1978 | Brightwell Furnishers closed after 30 years | |
1978 | Amy’s Morrinsville Cycle Works celebrated 50 years | |
1979 | Tatuanui Dairy Co introduced Angel Dairy Whip to the New Zealand market | |
1979 | Morrinsville Council donation the Rukumoana Marae for piping water | |
1979 | Librarian Jean Dickinson retired after 18 years service | |
1979 | John Willis appointed Principal of David Street School | |
1979 | Alan Scott awarded Associate Honour Distinction for Horticulture | |
1979 | Motumaoho Dairy Factory closed | |
1980 | New ANZ Bank opened-corner Thames and Canada Streets | |
1980 | Janice Arnold named Golfer of the Year | |
1980 | Tom Laurent Ltd opened new premises | |
1980 | Molly Hotene received the Queen's Service Medal | |
1980 | Old staff quarters and boiler room at Nottingham Castle demolished by fire | |
1980 | Snow fell in Morrinsville | |
1980 | Bill Johnston retired after 45 years as General Manager of Morrrinsville Co-op. Dairy Co | |
1981 | Dick Heathcote awarded M.B.E. for services to T.V.E.P.B. | |
1981 | Air Commodore Ian M Gillard, head of New Zealand Defence staff in Washington | |
1981 | Oxidation ponds, off Roach Road, commissioned by Morrinsville Borough Council | |
1981 | Bread cooling machine invented by Bill Pipe and John Gray | |
1981 | Croquet Club building destroyed by fire | |
1982 | Jack Swart selected for Commonwealth Games team | |
1982 | Gymnasium opened at Morrinsville Primary School | |
1982 | Refugee families from Cambodia and Czechoslovakia arrived | |
1982 | 3 Guys supermarket (Countdown) opened | |
1983 | Dave Gray awarded OBE for services to farming and education | |
1983 | Plunket Nurse Maureen Nicholson farewelled after 18 years | |
1983 | John Allen appointed Queen's Counsel | |
1983 | Morrinsville Sports Centre opened at Recreation Grounds | |
1983 | Tatuanui Tennis Club celebrates its 100 years anniversary | |
1983 | St John's honours Tom Brodie for 23 years service | |
1984 | Canada Street Railway Station demolished | |
1984 | Fire Chief Trevor Barlow retires after 33 years service | |
1984 | Dick Gwatkin appointed as principal of Morrinsville College | |
1985 | Jean Bodmin awarded the QSM for Public Service | |
1985 | Introduction of the STD equipment in the Morrinsville Telephone Exchange | |
1985 | Dave and June Close opened Dalemara Resthome | |
1986 | Indoor cricket stadium opened in Anderson Street west | |
1986 | Local Maori elders Waea and Sue Murray at opening of Te Maori exhibition in New York | |
1986 | Dr Lin Wallace awarded Honorary Science Doctorate from Massey University | |
1986 | Jocelyn Fish elected President New Zealand Council of Women | |
1987 | Lyceum Club rooms open in Moorhouse Street | |
1987 | Fitness Centre opened in Allen Street | |
1987 | Morrinsville and District Public Relations Assoc. Centre opened | |
1987 | Regent Theatre closed with the showing of the last film "Crocodile Dundee" | |
1988 | Ezekiel Trust Kindergarten officially opened | |
1988 | Independent Newspapers Ltd assumes ownership of the Piako Post | |
1988 | J Shay Noonan new principal of Morrinsville Primary School | |
1989 | Railway houses in Eynon Road sold to an Auckland company | |
1989 | Ray and Andrew Lowe open the Vegie Bin in Thames Street | |
1989 | Glass milk bottles became obsolete | |
1990 | Maternity Hospital closed and maternity annexe opened at Rhoda Read Hospital | |
1990 | Rushton Road Kindergarten opened | |
1990 | Chemical spill into Piako River from Kiwi Fertiliser Works | |
1990 | Morrinsville Primary School train excursions to Tauranga | |
1991 | Town welcome signs erected by Lions, Pakeke Lions, Rotary and Kiwanis | |
1991 | First four homes at Tasman Retirement Village opened | |
1991 | New Zealand Railcar Service through Morrinsville commenced | |
1992 | Neil Gray managed the All Blacks | |
1992 | Community House opened | |
1992 | St Matthew's Court retirement units dedicated | |
1993 | Hostage siege in Police Station with Larry Hammond shot by Armed Offenders Squad | |
1993 | Old Regent Theatre which started life as a hall was demolished | |
1993 | Phillip Crawford and Mark Munro's photo book "Beyond Thames Street" launched | |
1994 | Morrinsville Recreational Sports Centre destroyed by fire | |
1994 | Ray Fitness awarded Order of St John's Priory Vote of Thanks | |
1994 | Countdown Supermarket opened for business | |
1995 | Mushroom Factory sold to New Zealand Mushrooms Ltd | |
1995 | Morrinsville United Old Boys Rugby Club amalgamated with St Joseph’s | |
1995 | Old Maternity Hospital demolished with three existing buildings converted into houses | |
1996 | Stefan Choppo does 50 years delivering newspapers and flyers | |
1996 | Annah S opened store in Morrinsville | |
1996 | Fluoridation of water supply ceases | |
1996 | Kaumatua Waea Murray at opening of the new High Commission in South Africa | |
1996 | Council bought Globe Auctioneer Building for $120 000 | |
1997 | Westpac Trust Events Centre opened | |
1997 | Demolition of building of the former Globe Auction Mart | |
1998 | Degussa Peroxide Ltd purchased Du Pont Hydrogen Peroxide factory | |
1998 | Merging of four pharmacies with new company owners Maureen Horan and Paul Vester | |
1998 | Warehouse opened in Morrinsville | |
1998 | Pakeke Lions transform gully near railway line | |
1998 | Ngati Haua presented Mayoral chain | |
1999 | Morrinsville Library moved into a remodelled War Memorial Hall | |
2000's
| Year | Event | |
| 2000 | Stan Hill made the Member of the Order of Merit for services to basketball | |
| 2000 | Te Hauora o Ngati Haua launched in Morrinsville | |
| 2000 | Dr Alwyn D'Souza retired after 29 years of service | |
| 2000 | Post Office in Thames Street closed and replaced by Books and More store | |
| 2000 | Roz Reekie-May selected for Sydney Olympics in cycling | |
| 2001 | Fire Chief Ray Hampton retired after 39 years service | |
| 2002 | Morrinsville streetscape completed | |
| 2002 | Pine trees in Waterworks Road Forestry block harvested | |
| 2002 | Peter Hanan awarded New Zealand Order of Merit for services to IHC and RSA | |
| 2002 | Philip Jenson won hammer throw-silver medal at Manchester Games | |
| 2002 | Tracey Manufacturing closed after 40 years | |
| 2003 | Morrinsville Primary School opened Jubilee Sports dome | |
| 2003 | Morrinsville Old Time Dancing folds after 40 years | |
| 2004 | Court battle won with 3 protected plane trees planted in Sterling Heights to stay | |
| 2004 | Morrinsville Hotel (Top Pub) transported to Waitetuna | |
| 2004 | Waitoa train track back in service after 14 years | |
| 2004 | New Police Station opened | |
| 2005 | Morrinsville Early Learning Centre opened in Moorhouse Street South | |
| 2005 | Dr Wayne Laing, Morrinsville dentist in Asia helping with Tsunami Relief | |
| 2005 | Anti Pylon Group New Era Energy in protest march | |
| 2005 | Morrinsville Heritage Trail opened | |
| 2006 | Prime Minster Helen Clark opened Wallace Corp finished leather tannery | |
| 2006 | Restored Maori Parliament Building at Rukumoana opened by the Maori Queen | |
| 2006 | Professor Clifford Tasman Jones awarded C.N.Z.M for service to Public Health | |
| 2006 | Lex de Jong appointed as Family Court judge | |
| 2006 | John Henderson won award for service to the Morrinsville A & P Show | |
| 2006 | Morrinsville first Country Market, Lions and Rotary | |
| 2007 | Regent Picture Theatre building demolished | |
| 2007 | Two houses for ‘Habitat for Humanity’ dedicated in Morrinsville | |
| 2007 | Peter Ryan named as a full-time coroner | |
| 2008 | Law firm Allen, Needham & Co celebrated 100 years | |
| 2008 | Industrial sections developed in Avenue Road North by the Norman family trust | |
| 2008 | Lorraine Thompson honoured for establishing the first Maori Language class | |
| 2008 | Morrinsville/Waikato rugby player Brendon Leonard selected for the All Blacks | |
| 2008 | Morrinsville marked 100 years of Morrinsville Police | |
| 2008 | Parklane Industrial Estate on Avenue Rd established | |
| 2008 | Morrinsville Floral Festival celebrated the Centennial at the event centre | |
| 2008 | 100 years since the first meeting of the Town Board | |
| 2008 | Matamata Piako District Council Civic Ceremony and Time Capsule burial | |
| 2010 | Tasman Village is home to nearly 75 people | |
| 2011 | Tatua Cooperative Dairy Company appoint a new CEO Paul Mc Gilivray | |
| 2011 | The ASB Bank opens a branch in Thames Street Morrinsville. Lance Bullen, manager. | |
| 2011 | Pig racing at the Morrinsville A & P Show at the Recreation Grounds | |
| 2012 | New Zealand Mushroom closes its Composting Plant in Taukoro Rd | |
| 2012 | Morrinsville Museum moved to new building in Canada Street | |
| 2012 | Anna Hawkins performed in the TV Series 'Stars in their Eyes' | |
| 2012 | Donny Van run by Colin and Jenny Hindman for 12 years handed over to Morrinsville Lions | |
| 2013 | Morrinsville Baptist Church 100 year Centenary Celebrations | |
| 2013 | Colin Gordge recognised for 40 years service as a JP | |
| 2013 | Presbyterian Church marks its Centenary Celebration | |
| 2013 | Morrinsville Community Board disestablished by M.P.D Council | |
| 2014 | Mushroom Industries closes its factory in Avenue Road relocating to Christchurch | |
| 2014 | Laurie and Yvonne Maber celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary | |
| 2014 | Launch of centenary history book by Ian Hunter about Tatua Dairy Company | |
| 2015 | Motumaoho School celebrates its Jubilee | |
| 2016 | Tatuanui Tennis Club celebrates 70 years of tennis | |
| 2017 | Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett has lunch with the Care and Craft group | |
| 2018 | Suffrage celebration of 125 years | |
| 2018 | Morrinsville's Mega Cow unveiled in Thames Street outside Power Farming | |
| 2019 | A multi cultural celebration of Waitangi Day in Morrinsville hosted by Ngati Haua | |
| 2020 | Morrinsville College Performing Art Centre opened | |
| 2020 | Chief Fire Officer Brian Watters gives 49 years of service | |
| 2020 | Wallace Gallery 10 years old | |
| 2020 | Morrinsville Genealogy Society holds its 40th celebrations | |
| 2020 | Nicholson Autos have been in business for 40 years | |
| 2020 | Russell Fantham made a Life Member of Harness Waikato-Bay of Plenty | |
| 2020 | Andy Smith in business for 75 years from 11 Oct 1945 to 11 Oct 2020 | |
| 2020 | Rhys Compton awarded the Fulbright NZ Science and Innovation Award | |
| 2020 | Deb May and Joanna Chase awarded Life Membership of the Morrinsville Theatre | |
| 2020 | Greg Tordoff retires from Tordoff Auto Services after 60 years | |
| 2020 | Bob and Shirley Stevens celebrate their 65th Wedding Anniversary | |
| 2021 | Jan Barnes awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Years Honours | |
| 2021 | Rotary Club celebrates 75 years | |
| 2021 | Tatunui Tennis Club celebrates its 100 year anniversary | |
| 2021 | Rhoda Read Geriatric Hospital was opened on the 30 April in 1971, 50 years ago |
Morrinsville Museum
41 Canada Street, Morrinsville (opposite the Public Library)
P. 07 889 4190
E. info@morrinsvillemuseum.org.nz
Opening Hours
- Monday to Friday from 11.00am to 4.00pm
- First Saturday of the month open for Morrinsville Market Day from 9.00am to 1.00pm
- Sunday from 11.00am to 3.00pm.