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Thomas Wakelin
BiographyThomas Wakelin and his wife Mary were amongst the first European settlers of Kamo. Born in Braintree in Essex, Thomas came to New Zealand as a young man on board the ship Frenchman which arrived in Auckland in 1860. He worked for a time on a farm at Whareora, then as a pit sawyer at Awaroa Creek and Pataua. He was then employed by local Whangarei man Edward Dent and during that time built stone walls. In the late 1850s, he built a butcher's shop in Cameron Street in Whangarei. The shop had dwelling quarters attached and an abattoir behind it.
By 1871 he had bought land in Kamo and eventually owned from the Kamo railway to the top of what is now Fairway Drive, where he built his home. He and his wife Mary (nee Udy) raised a family of three boys and three girls.
The site of the present Kamo High School was once Wakelin's land. He farmed sheep and cattle. Thomas constructed saleyards on his land in Kamo, where cattle and horses from around the district were brought to be sold. Wakelin's wit and entertaining style as an auctioneer drew in the crowds.
Wakelin built the first hotel in Kamo in 1880. It burnt down three years later and was rebuilt. He also built the first blacksmith's shop and these facilities were well supported by clients of his saleyards. Two of his sons, Frank and Walter, carried on their father's business and became auctioneers and land agents.
Thomas Wakelin served as Chairman of the Kamo Town Board and as a Whangarei County Councillor for at least 25 years.
He died when he was seventy-five but just a few months before was still reporting stock sales information to the newspapers.
Thomas Wakelin was interred at Kamo Cemetery at Ketenikau with his wife and other members of their family. His family name lives on in Wakelin Street in Kamo.
Date of Birth1841Place of BirthBraintree, Essex, EnglandDate of Death22 October, 1916Date of Burial/Cremation23 October, 1916Place of Burial/CremationKamo Cemetery, Kamo, Whangarei, Northland, New ZealandOccupationFarmerButcherCattle dealerAuctioneer
By 1871 he had bought land in Kamo and eventually owned from the Kamo railway to the top of what is now Fairway Drive, where he built his home. He and his wife Mary (nee Udy) raised a family of three boys and three girls.
The site of the present Kamo High School was once Wakelin's land. He farmed sheep and cattle. Thomas constructed saleyards on his land in Kamo, where cattle and horses from around the district were brought to be sold. Wakelin's wit and entertaining style as an auctioneer drew in the crowds.
Wakelin built the first hotel in Kamo in 1880. It burnt down three years later and was rebuilt. He also built the first blacksmith's shop and these facilities were well supported by clients of his saleyards. Two of his sons, Frank and Walter, carried on their father's business and became auctioneers and land agents.
Thomas Wakelin served as Chairman of the Kamo Town Board and as a Whangarei County Councillor for at least 25 years.
He died when he was seventy-five but just a few months before was still reporting stock sales information to the newspapers.
Thomas Wakelin was interred at Kamo Cemetery at Ketenikau with his wife and other members of their family. His family name lives on in Wakelin Street in Kamo.
Date of Birth1841Place of BirthBraintree, Essex, EnglandDate of Death22 October, 1916Date of Burial/Cremation23 October, 1916Place of Burial/CremationKamo Cemetery, Kamo, Whangarei, Northland, New ZealandOccupationFarmerButcherCattle dealerAuctioneer
Whānau
FatherThomas WakelinChildrenFrank WakelinArthur WakelinWalter WakelinAnnie CopelandLouisa WakelinElla OvensPartnerMary WakelinDate Married24 August, 1865Place of MarriageAuckland
ChildrenFrank WakelinArthur WakelinWalter WakelinAnnie CopelandLouisa WakelinElla OvensPartnerMary WakelinDate Married24 August, 1865Place of MarriageAucklandThomas Wakelin. Northland Room Digital Collections, accessed 29/03/2026, https://wdc.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/5375
