It is located on State Highway 26, and is surrounded by dairy farmland on a flat plain.

One story suggests William Steele rode out with a syndicate looking for a headquarters, and exclaimed "Eureka I have found it" when he reached the hilltop.

[7][8] Captain William Steele, who brought militia-settlers from Sydney to Hamilton in 1864,[9] persuaded Thomas Russell and Frederick Whitaker to form a company to buy land and drain it.

In 1874 the government sold the 86,502 acres (350.06 km2) Eureka Estate, extending from Te Hoe to Tauwhare, Tamahere, Gordonton and the 35 km (22 mi) confiscation line, to New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company Limited.

[8] The sale required 25 mi (40 km) of road to be built over the swamp.

The population then increased, so that a school was built in May 1904, a dairy factory in 1905, a hall in 1914 (replaced in January 1969), a post office opened in 1915, a store in 1925 and a garage in 1928.

[7] It opened on 1 October 1884, when the 16 mi 73 ch (27.2 km) Eureka contract from Hamilton to Morrinsville was completed.

[13] Eureka had a 4th class station,[14] erected by the Auckland contractors, Price and Malcolm,[15] with a station master's house, 2 cottages, 40 ft (12 m) by 30 ft (9.1 m) goods shed, cattle and sheep pens,[16] loading bank, urinals and a passing loop for 38 wagons (extended to 61 by 1911), for £4,827.

In 1885 the Public Works Department reported that they moved the goods shed and 4th class station from Eureka to Hukutaia, yet, in 1886, the Railways Department reported that PWD had, without notification, moved the station building to Te Aroha.

[19] A hut, an equipment shed and a passing loop remain at the station site.