Mercer Art and History Museum - Waikato New Zealand

25/10/2026

Caesar Roose beside a kauri log at Mercer.

Caesar Roose is often remembered for his boats and river transport business, but timber was another part of his working life.

Jeanette Thomas’s biography records that he rafted logs in his younger years and bought timber mills at Mercer and Katikati after the First World War. He went on to become a major timber exporter to Australia.

This photograph connects Caesar with that side of his work, alongside a kauri log at Mercer. While his biography provides useful background, it does not establish when this photograph was taken or where the log came from.

Do you know more about this photograph, or have family memories of working with Caesar Roose?

Mercer Art and History Museum
7 Roose Road, Mercer
Open Friday and Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm
Entry by koha

22/10/2026

THE WAIKATO IN FLOOD: MERCER, JANUARY 1907

In January 1907, the Waikato River rose above its banks, flooding homes, damaging railway lines and disrupting travel through Mercer and surrounding settlements.

A contemporary account published in the New Zealand Graphic on 26 January 1907 described the lower part of Mercer as submerged. Floodwaters reached the doors of the railway station, while residents moved household belongings to higher ground and boats became essential for getting around.

The flooding extended well beyond the township.

Travelling along the river towards Huntly, the reporter described Māori kāinga on low-lying ground suffering particularly badly, with potato and kūmara crops damaged by floodwaters.

One photograph published in the same issue, titled *The Rescue: An Incident in the Flood at Mercer, on the Banks of the Waikato*, shows a Māori woman in a waka helping rescue children from the roof of a whare.

Together, the photograph and newspaper account provide a valuable record of the January 1907 flood, capturing both the scale of the flooding and its impact on homes, livelihoods and daily life along the Waikato River.

Historical sources:

New Zealand Graphic and Ladies Journal, 26 January 1907, Volume ###VIII, Issue 4, page 18, “The Waikato in Flood.”

Photograph: The Rescue: An Incident in the Flood at Mercer, on the Banks of the Waikato*. Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections, NZG-19070126-0010a-01.

20/10/2026

From Our Young Visitors

“I like the cash register.”

Thank you to our young visitor for leaving this comment in our visitors’ book! It’s lovely to see what catches children’s attention when they explore the museum.

18/10/2026

How did people arrange flowers before floral foam became widely available?

One solution was the flower frog, a simple but effective device that helped keep flower stems in place. This pink ceramic flower bowl, donated to Mercer Art and History Museum by Jeanette Thomas (née Roose), still has its original metal cage flower holder.

Flower frogs have a long history. Before floral foam became widely used, arranging flowers in shallow bowls could be difficult, as the stems would often fall to one side. Metal cage holders provided a practical solution. The bowl was filled with water, and individual flower stems were placed through the openings in the metal grid, allowing them to be arranged and held securely in position.

By the early 20th century, flower frogs had become popular household accessories. They were particularly fashionable during the 1920s and 1930s, when decorative flower arrangements were a feature of many homes. Flower frogs continued to be used for decades afterwards, and some are still used by flower arrangers today.

Based on its shape and decoration, this example is thought to date from around the 1920s to 1940s.

During this period, New Zealand households used a wide range of decorative ceramics. Some were manufactured locally, while others were imported from Britain, Europe, Australia and Asia. Without a maker's mark or further information, the exact origin of this particular bowl remains uncertain.

Objects like this can tell us quite a lot about everyday life. They show how people decorated their homes, the household items they valued and the practical solutions they used long before many modern products became available.

15/10/2026

Is this Tuoro Island?

Could the wooded land left of centre be the island opposite Mercer, where the Roose family lived and regatta visitors gathered for picnics?

Hamilton City Libraries suggests that possibility in its description of this photograph, catalogued as 1932. A 1923 map offers some clues, but we haven’t confirmed the view.

Read the story on our blog, and see what you think: https://mercermuseum.org.nz/?p=122

Do you recognise the river bend or hills? We’d love to hear from you.

Photo: Hamilton City Libraries, “The Waikato River”, HCL_11769.

13/10/2026

AGEE PYREX BABY BOTTLE
c. 1955 to 1960

Milk has long been part of family life, including feeding the youngest members of the household.

This Australian made Agee Pyrex bottle held approximately 8 fluid ounces. Its heat resistant glass could withstand boiling for sterilisation, cooling and repeated use. Moulded measurement markings allowed milk or infant formula to be prepared directly in the bottle, which would originally have had a teat and closure.

A CLEVER PIECE OF PYREX HISTORY

Pyrex feeding bottles were also produced in America, where one memorable advertising line captured the durability of the glass:
“Boil me, chill me, see if I care.”

For parents, this was more than a catchy slogan. A bottle that could withstand regular sterilisation made an everyday household task simpler.

This small object gives us a glimpse into infant feeding and everyday family life during the mid 20th century.

11/10/2026

A New Chapter for Mercer Art and History Museum

There's plenty happening behind the scenes at Mercer Art and History Museum!

We're gradually refreshing our displays, researching objects in the collection and uncovering more of the stories that make Te Paina, Mercer and the Waikato River such an interesting part of our history.

Over the coming weeks, we'll be sharing historical photographs, collection highlights, local stories and some of the research we're working on.

We'd also like to hear from our community. Whether your family has lived in Mercer for generations, you once worked in the area, or you simply have memories of visiting, we'd welcome your stories.

There's still a great deal for us to discover, and we're looking forward to reconnecting with the people and histories of Mercer.

Mercer Art and History Museum
The museum of the working Waikato River.

01/10/2026

FUNERAL NOTICE

Jeanette Roose Thomas

The Mercer Art and History Museum acknowledges with sadness the passing of Jeanette Roose Thomas, founder of the museum and a much loved member of the Mercer community.

For those wishing to join Jeanette’s whānau, friends and the Mercer community in remembering and celebrating her life, Jeanette’s funeral will be held:

Monday 12 October 2026
1.00pm
Mercer Rowing Club

Jeanette’s life was deeply woven into the story of Mercer.

She gave so much to preserving and sharing the stories of Mercer, including establishing the Mercer Art and History Museum.

Jeanette leaves a very special legacy. Her stories, her work and her love for Mercer will remain part of this place for generations to come.

18/09/2026

19/06/2026

White's Aviation photo of Port Waikato.