Family walking towards Clarks Mill limestone building.

Explore an early example of colonial engineering. Bring a flour mill to life to the buzzing of spiralling shafts and spinning belts and discover how the mill was ‘modernised’ in the 1890s. Tunnel your way through time all the way to Clarks Mill.

Opening Hours

Closed: May – mid-October

Open: Labour Weekend (October) – April

Thursday
10.00am - 1.00pm

Sunday
1.00pm - 3.00pm

Machinery operates last Sunday of the month

Closed Christmas Day

parking no-smoking toilet

Entry

Member Free

Adult $10.00

Adult Operating Day $15.00

Student (tertiary) $5.00

Under 18 years Free

* Surcharges may apply for special events

Address

State Highway 1,
1017 Alma-Maheno Highway
Maheno
Ōamaru 9492

+64 3 433 1269

clarksmill@heritage.org.nz

Accessibility Accessibility

The mill

Clarks Mill is a four-storey building, with steps for entry. The upper floors may not be suitable for those with mobility issues due to the steep and narrow staircases.  Unfortunately, the mill has limited wheelchair accessible areas, with only the basement available. Wheelchair access to the basement is from outside the mill.

If you have mobility issues and find the upper floors inaccessible, our visitor hosts can share the history of our site with you while enjoying the first floor and basement, including a DVD screening, introduction to the machinery and machinery viewing.

Miller’s house

The miller’s house is a one-storey building with steps for entry. Unfortunately, there is no wheelchair access to the miller’s house.

Smokey Joe’s

Smokey Joe’s is a one-storey building with steps for entry. Unfortunately, there is no wheelchair access to Smokey Joe’s.

Grounds

The grounds and miller’s house garden are accessible and ready for you to enjoy.

Please note the grounds have grass and dirt throughout and limited paths. This can make it difficult for some wheelchairs to navigate

Cafe Food and Drink

Visitors are welcome to bring a picnic with them to enjoy in our grounds. Please take all food and rubbish with you. Alternatively, pop up the road to Totara Estate for tea, coffee and light refreshments. There is also a great selection of local cafés and eateries located in Ōamaru.

This is a smoke and vape free site.

Clarks Mill food and drink 02

More info

Children and whānau

Both inside and out, there are things for kids to do. Inside, discover the inner workings behind the mill, and learn how the flour that goes into your favourite sandwich bread used to be made. Can you find where the miller toasted his oats? Outside, there is plenty of room to stretch little legs and a garden to explore.

Things to remember

Clarks Mill is more than 150 years old and originally used as an industrial site. Please take care on uneven surfaces, stairs and remain behind safety barriers when machinery is operating. We’ve installed directional arrows and safety barriers to help you navigate safely. 

We care for some important taonga (treasures) in our collection and our heritage buildings have lived a long life, so some rooms or items may be off limits at times for conservation and maintenance.

Some spaces may be dimly lit and cold depending on the weather and time of year.

Safe Space

Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga is proud to be part of the Safe Space Alliance, offering safe and inclusive spaces that welcome and support the LGBTQI+ community.

A safe space is a space where the LGBTQI+ community can freely express themselves without fear. It is a space that doesn’t tolerate violence, bullying, or hate speech towards the LGBTQI+ community.

Safe spaces logo a rainbow circle with the words 'Safe Space, wāhi haumaru'


Thursdays at the mill

For 15 years a group of blokes has met weekly at what must be one of the country’s ultimate ‘heritage sheds’. Heritage New Zealand magazine editor Caitlin Sykes and art director Amanda Trayes meet the volunteers at Maheno’s Clarks Mill complex.

Read more
Clarks Mill volunteers standing at the back of the mill near the old water race

Photo: Amanda Trayes

Historic black and white photo of Clarks Mill

Ngā Kōrero
Stories

Photo: Owned by Mr W Clark

Not sure where to start?

There’s plenty of heritage throughout the stunning Otago landscape. We’ve put together some ideas to get you started.

Explore Ōtākou | Otago heritage
The Otago Central Rail has it all – four to five days of cycling through the most stunning scenery, safe, easy and mostly off-road trails, historic pubs and gold mining sites, and great kiwi hospitality throughout.

Photo: Tim Hawkins / Otago Central Rail Trail Trust

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