Back in the day. Firth Tower was built in 1881/82. Josiah Clifton Firth, who farmed the 56,000 acres of land on which the Tower was built, was a successful businessman and used the folly to display his treasures. Over the years the first level has been used as an estate office and the 3rd floor, living accommodation for the young farm cadets who worked the land. The farm manager, John McCaw, and his family lived in the homestead from 1895, which was joined to the Tower until in 1902. At this time a fire completely destroyed not only the homestead but gutted the inside of the tower. A new homestead was quickly built, with help from the local community. The McCaw family moved back in and continued to live there until John McCaw retired in 1917. Check out our virtual tour of Firth Tower courtesy of Virtual Tourism New Zealand.
https://www.virtualtourismnewzealand.co.nz/firth-tower---3d-tour.html
📷Matamata Historical Society
Posted: 08 June 2026 08:00