Explore

Heritage Buildings

Blackwater School Restoration Group

On the road to Waiuta, you may be intrigued to pull over and take a look through the historic Blackwater School. This charming, one-room schoolhouse, built in 1913, offers a glimpse into the past.

Rūnanga Miners’ Hall & Trust

The trials and successes of the local miners and their families are intertwined with the history of Runanga Miners Hall, which spans over a hundred years.

Hokitika Custom House

Currently, just opposite its original location, the building known as ‘Custom House’ has been a prominent feature of the Hokitika township for over 100 years.

Hokitika Regent Theatre

Built in 1935 by local builder E.H. Shirley, this architectural entertainment gem was designed by renowned architect Wilford Melville Lawry in the Art Deco style, reflecting the international trends of the time.

Hokitika Carnegie Building

Philanthropy and community spirit. The story, intertwined with the legacy of Scottish-American industrialist Andrew Carnegie, is a journey of education, resilience, and cultural preservation

Reefton Steam Shed

Constructed in 1892 by the private Midland Railway Company and relocated to its current site in 1907, the Reefton Steam Shed is the only remaining two-stall, single-road steam engine shed in New Zealand.

Jacks Mill School Historic Area

The Jacks Mill Historic Area is a four-acre site in Kotuku, It centres on the former Jacks Mill School and a collection of features created largely by the school’s own pupils.

The Lyric Theatre

The Lyric Theatre showcases community spirit and is Granity’s vibrant cultural hub. Built in 1956 by the Granity Silver Band, the art deco theatres very foundation is entwined with the history of the local people.

Reefton School of Mines

Born in 1887, amidst the 19th-century gold rush, the Reefton School of Mines served as a beacon of knowledge for aspiring miners, equipping them with relevant science and skills.

Reefton Oddfellows Hall

From hosting pioneer electrical displays and community events to serving as a temporary post office and prisoner holding facility, the Oddfellows Hall has been woven into Reefton’s fabric for over 150 years.

Reefton Railway Station

The arrival of the New Zealand Midland Railway Company in 1892 marked a significant moment for the Inangahua district, ending Reefton’s geographic isolation and supporting an industrial boom.

Waiuta – Tohu Whenua

Established in 1906 as a company town to exploit a major gold discovery, Waiuta thrived until 1951. Today, remnants of mining relics and a handful of buildings, like the police station and cottages, remain.

Friends of St Mary’s Church

St. Mary’s Catholic Church is a towering landmark and a cherished symbol of the local community. Its majestic presence has dominated the Hokitika skyline for over a century, but its future is still being determined.

Northern Buller Museum

An iconic West Coast museum on historic coal mining land. Features category two listed coke ovens onsite, three collections building including a heritage Nissan Hut and the impressive Millerton Incline on the doorstep to explore.

Reefton Courthouse

Constructed in 1872, the Reefton Courthouse is one of the town’s most significant heritage landmarks, built to meet the demand for formal law and order on the goldfields.

Shantytown Heritage Park

Recreated 19th-century gold mining town operating as an open-air museum. Offering heritage train rides, gold panning & family-friendly heritage experiences.

Seddon House – Government Buildings

Driven by the Lands and Survey Department’s need for larger premises, Government Architect John Campbell (designer of the nearby Custom House) was tasked with creating this impressive building.

Heritage Groups

Reefton Powerhouse Charitable Trust

Commissioned in 1888, Reefton’s historic hydroelectric power scheme was the first public electricity supply in New Zealand. This pioneering project made Reefton the southern hemisphere’s first town with street lighting.

Blacks Point Museum

Blacks Point Museum holds an extensive and eclectic collection of artifacts and records outlining the people and industries of the area. Their operational quartz stamper battery is a must-see experience.

West Coast Vintage Car Club

From Haast to Karamea, the West Coast Vintage Car Club (WCVCC) celebrates classic vehicles and the rich motoring heritage of our region. As a branch of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand, you’ll find a warm welcome for a vast array of vehicles.

West Coast New Zealand History – Recollect

The West Coast New Zealand History group is a passionate community of thousands of individuals around the globe, dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich photographic records of the West Coast.

Friends of Waiuta

The historic town of Waiuta, once a bustling gold mining settlement, now offers a glimpse into a bygone era. All carefully tended by the Friends of Waiuta, a passionate group dedicated to preserving the town’s heritage.

The Lyric Theatre

The Lyric Theatre showcases community spirit and is Granity’s vibrant cultural hub. Built in 1956 by the Granity Silver Band, the art deco theatres very foundation is entwined with the history of the local people.

Westland Industrial Heritage Park

The Westland Industrial Heritage Park has grown out of the original Westland Farm and Vintage Machinery Club formed in the 1980s. Showcasing big engines, miniature train rides and mechanical marvels on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Reefton Historic Trust Board

The Reefton Historic Trust Board was formally incorporated in 1979 when the town’s physical history faced dismantling. The community’s successful campaign to save the Reefton Courthouse set a precedent for work that continues today.

Friends of St Mary’s Church

St. Mary’s Catholic Church is a towering landmark and a cherished symbol of the local community. Its majestic presence has dominated the Hokitika skyline for over a century, but its future is still being determined.

Greymouth Heritage Trust

Finding ways to utilise Greymouth’s Heritage to encourage employment initiatives and opportunities while maintaining, enhancing, and promoting the historic values of Greymouth.

West Coast Gem & Mineral Club

Established in 1966, this passionate group has amassed a vast collection of rocks, minerals, and fossils, offering a glimpse into the geological wonders of the West Coast and beyond.

West Coast Historical and Mechanical Society

Shantytown Heritage Park’s creation wasn’t a stroke of magic. It was born from the passion and dedication of a group of local heroes coming together under one man’s vision!

WRENIS

The Westland Environment Network Incorporated Society (WRENIS) is a volunteer group working on heritage projects in Ross for over 12 years. So far they’ve completed a Heritage Tramping Track, Chinese gardens, and are creating a community greenspace, amongst other projects.

Millerton and Plateau Protection Society

The small Millerton settlement, boasting a population of around 30-40 residents, carries a history deeply intertwined with coal mining, similar to its neighbour Denniston. MAPPS now acts as a conservator for the area.

Heritage Hokitika Inc.

Dedicated to restoring and preserving the historical identity of Hokitika. Since its inception in 1988, the completed projects of Heritage Hokitika have drawn enthusiastic responses from locals and visitors alike.

Rūnanga Miners’ Hall & Trust

The trials and successes of the local miners and their families are intertwined with the history of Runanga Miners Hall, which spans over a hundred years.

Blackwater School Restoration Group

On the road to Waiuta, you may be intrigued to pull over and take a look through the historic Blackwater School. This charming, one-room schoolhouse, built in 1913, offers a glimpse into the past.

Museums

Shantytown Heritage Park

Recreated 19th-century gold mining town operating as an open-air museum. Offering heritage train rides, gold panning & family-friendly heritage experiences.

Reefton School of Mines

Born in 1887, amidst the 19th-century gold rush, the Reefton School of Mines served as a beacon of knowledge for aspiring miners, equipping them with relevant science and skills.

Hokitika Museum

Telling the stories of Westland, the wider West Coast and its people. The museum collection reflects the life of our communities in the extreme and inspiring place that is Te Tai Poutini-West Coast, New Zealand.

Karamea Centennial Museum

A small museum that punches above its weight. Showcasing an incredible collection of artefacts and archival resources of the Karamea area, even their visitor book is a living piece of history!

Ross Goldfields Information & Heritage Centre

Located at the southern end of Aylmer Street, Ross, the centre dives into the town’s golden boomtown past. Reflecting on one of the West Coast’s last and most profitable rushes.

Northern Buller Museum

An iconic West Coast museum on historic coal mining land. Features category two listed coke ovens onsite, three collections building including a heritage Nissan Hut and the impressive Millerton Incline on the doorstep to explore.

Mawhera Pa – Pounamu Pathway

Poutini Ngāi Tahu are showcased at Māwhera Pā. An innovative modern experience whisking you back in time, revealing the history of the Iwi who became key players in the West Coast/ Te Tai o Poutini story.

Museum of Kawatiri – Pounamu Pathway

Celebrating the heritage and exploits of the people of the Buller District. Explore the key taonga of the earth (pounamu, coal, gold) and the bravery and innovation of human and animal endeavour.

Westland Industrial Heritage Park

The Westland Industrial Heritage Park has grown out of the original Westland Farm and Vintage Machinery Club formed in the 1980s. Showcasing big engines, miniature train rides and mechanical marvels on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Blackball Museum of Working Class History

Museum in the ex-coal mining village of Blackball, telling the story of the 1908 strike, which saw the local miners lead the country into a new political era.

Blacks Point Museum

Blacks Point Museum holds an extensive and eclectic collection of artifacts and records outlining the people and industries of the area. Their operational quartz stamper battery is a must-see experience.

Sites of Significance

Denniston – Tohu Whenua

Denniston, a once-booming coal mining town, now stands as a haunting and inspiring reminder of the past, offering a unique blend of history, adventure, and natural beauty. Known by many for its “Eighth Wonder of the World” the Denniston Incline.

Waiuta – Tohu Whenua

Established in 1906 as a company town to exploit a major gold discovery, Waiuta thrived until 1951. Today, remnants of mining relics and a handful of buildings, like the police station and cottages, remain.

Jacks Mill School Historic Area

The Jacks Mill Historic Area is a four-acre site in Kotuku, It centres on the former Jacks Mill School and a collection of features created largely by the school’s own pupils.

Rūnanga Miners’ Hall & Trust

The trials and successes of the local miners and their families are intertwined with the history of Runanga Miners Hall, which spans over a hundred years.

Brunner Mine Site – Tohu Whenua

Once a hive of activity, fueling the nation’s growth with its high-quality coal, the site now stands as a haunting reminder of the devastating mining disaster that claimed 65 lives in 1896.

Brunner Mine Disaster Grave

On March 26, 1896, a fatal explosion at the Brunner coal mine left a permanent scar on New Zealand’s industrial history. Many of the recovered bodies were laid to rest in a mass grave at the nearby Stillwater Cemetery. 

Reefton Powerhouse Charitable Trust

Commissioned in 1888, Reefton’s historic hydroelectric power scheme was the first public electricity supply in New Zealand. This pioneering project made Reefton the southern hemisphere’s first town with street lighting.

Reefton Railway Station

The arrival of the New Zealand Midland Railway Company in 1892 marked a significant moment for the Inangahua district, ending Reefton’s geographic isolation and supporting an industrial boom.

Transportation and Industry

Denniston – Tohu Whenua

Denniston, a once-booming coal mining town, now stands as a haunting and inspiring reminder of the past, offering a unique blend of history, adventure, and natural beauty. Known by many for its “Eighth Wonder of the World” the Denniston Incline.

West Coast Vintage Car Club

From Haast to Karamea, the West Coast Vintage Car Club (WCVCC) celebrates classic vehicles and the rich motoring heritage of our region. As a branch of the Vintage Car Club of New Zealand, you’ll find a warm welcome for a vast array of vehicles.

Millerton and Plateau Protection Society

The small Millerton settlement, boasting a population of around 30-40 residents, carries a history deeply intertwined with coal mining, similar to its neighbour Denniston. MAPPS now acts as a conservator for the area.

Brunner Mine Site – Tohu Whenua

Once a hive of activity, fueling the nation’s growth with its high-quality coal, the site now stands as a haunting reminder of the devastating mining disaster that claimed 65 lives in 1896.

The Countess of Onslow

Thought to be New Zealand’s oldest surviving clinker-built lifeboat. From its 1886 construction by shipwright John Macfarlane to its royal christening and eventual restoration, explore how this Kauri-planked treasure transitioned from a river rescue vessel to a beloved local icon.

R28 Single Engine Fairlie

The R28 is the sole New Zealand survivor of a batch of steam engines built in Bristol, England, between 1878 and 1879. As a Single Engine Fairlie, it is one of only three of its type remaining worldwide.

Lake Mahinapua Paddle Steamer

Reefton Railway Station

The arrival of the New Zealand Midland Railway Company in 1892 marked a significant moment for the Inangahua district, ending Reefton’s geographic isolation and supporting an industrial boom.