Story: Volcanic Plateau region

The government planned a town at Rotorua from 1881, but there was still little to show for it four years later. In the middle distance are the post and telegraph office and other government buildings. Beyond, towards the lake, are Brent’s Hotel and the government sanatorium. The Tarawera eruption a year later further slowed the development of the town, which finally took off with the arrival of the railway in 1894.