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Coronation Hall and Public School, Ross.
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Location (city or town)RossLandmark (Place)Coronation HallOrganisation (eg business)Public School, Ross.EventCoronation Hall and Public School, Ross.
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Category TagOld buildings
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Date Created22nd July 2019CommentsLisa Winter Amanda Pike is this the one at shantytown - coronation hall
Amanda Pike Lisa Winter it sure is.
Dianne Manera No it’s belongs to Ross and should never of been shifted
Don Hutton That's a tricky point. At least it's been preserved. Maybe it could be returned?
Bob Jamieson Don Hutton As the architect for Shantytown it's appropriate I guess as Shantytown was based on early Ross township.
Jessie Guy Whatever or wherever a grand looking building
Ave Muir In Ross, remember it well, got my drivers license approved there 1968. Eileen Minehan was running it then
David Lindsay I remember being able to play up and down the stairs into the council chamber when Eileen Minehan was the librarian..
Doris Blanchard When would that have been built? My grandmother Mary Osmers, née Fendall, taught school in Ross in the late 1800s and early 1900s and I wondered if it was in that building at that time.
Biddy Manera Ross school opened 1865.....
Biddy Manera sorry, 1875 :)
I went to the Ross school in 1953-55 and I went to the Ross school centennial
John Nancekivell A mate of mine Barry Monks and I used to read the papers in the reading room at lunch time when we worked at Ross Motors about 1972
Frank Winter A truly memorable and impressive building ! Spent many hours in the library during the 1959s . The selection of the Mayor of Ross was always announced from here
Eileen Minehan was a charming lady and always extremely helpful . Sorry not to see it any more ! Gillian Davies winter
Mike Keenan Frank Winter the building is at Shantytown just out of Greymouth now
Frank Winter Thank you very much Mike , am revisiting the Coast in February and shall certainly visit Shantytown Gillian
Frank Winter Sorry 1950s g
Bob Laing I remember that building in the early 1950s. The Ross Council was based in the lower floor as was the Mayors office. I am sure that the building is now at Shanty Town
Barry Wright I remember getting my first pay thr ,after having worked for the council in the school holidays .Eileen Minehan was the clerk ,I was paid 11 pounds ,,thought I was set up for life ,,heee
Frank Winter Barry Wright just a thought , Do you know whose coronation it was ? Gillian
Sarah Veller Douglas Smales I got my drivers licence there on 1966.
Frank Winter Sarah Veller Douglas Smales my mother passed her test in Ross - she was taught by George Oates ! Gillian
Lyn Whittle I remember that as a young child aged 5-6 stayed with Katherine Herbert
Judi Mears Walking through this iconic hall in Shantytown, I often have to smile at some of the 'stories' I have been told about this building. If only walls could talk!
Murray Bone we used to live the main street from early50 to middle 50s.
Ken Johnston Remember well during the Mayoral Elections back in the Fifties when Stan Johnston and Stan Scott were standing for the position.......Stan Scott was the successful candidate.........'Good 'Ol Days '
Colin Sandra Moss Wasnt it shifted to Shantytown?
Amanda Pike Colin Sandra Moss it was and is still on site at Shantytown.
Lois Iacoppi Ross must have been bigger than i remamber going by these buildings.
Nana Pop Detlaff The reason the Coronation Hall was shifted to Shantytown was that it badly needed repairs and no one was prepared to meet these costs. We were changing from the Ross Borough Council to the Westland County Council and the building was no longer required for council meetings, office work etc, All this was going to be done in Hokitika. We looked at buying and moving the building to a section we owned and turn it into 'our house'! We rejected the idea as it was all wood -a fire hazard, and R&M would be too expensive. Along with Barney Sutherland and Shantytown founders we arranged the shift north. The building had to be cut in half (or more?) for it to get over the narrow road, rail bridges. Yes it was a sad day, but old buildings were not appreciated then, as they are today.
Amanda Pike Nana Pop Detlaff John Burford and a friend purchased it and gave it to Shantytown.
Nana Pop Detlaff Yes. Thankyou for reminding us! He and ? were very generous in supporting Shantytown in this way. This was done very quietly and it is easy to overlook their part in the Coronation Hall history! We were only told about their generosity a few years back and it was a big surprise to us! Maybe the Greymouth folk involved knew all this but the folk down our way didn't. It certainly took a dedicated lot to bring what was quite an unusual 'rescue' to fruition.
Amanda Pike Lisa Winter it sure is.
Dianne Manera No it’s belongs to Ross and should never of been shifted
Don Hutton That's a tricky point. At least it's been preserved. Maybe it could be returned?
Bob Jamieson Don Hutton As the architect for Shantytown it's appropriate I guess as Shantytown was based on early Ross township.
Jessie Guy Whatever or wherever a grand looking building
Ave Muir In Ross, remember it well, got my drivers license approved there 1968. Eileen Minehan was running it then
David Lindsay I remember being able to play up and down the stairs into the council chamber when Eileen Minehan was the librarian..
Doris Blanchard When would that have been built? My grandmother Mary Osmers, née Fendall, taught school in Ross in the late 1800s and early 1900s and I wondered if it was in that building at that time.
Biddy Manera Ross school opened 1865.....
Biddy Manera sorry, 1875 :)
I went to the Ross school in 1953-55 and I went to the Ross school centennial
John Nancekivell A mate of mine Barry Monks and I used to read the papers in the reading room at lunch time when we worked at Ross Motors about 1972
Frank Winter A truly memorable and impressive building ! Spent many hours in the library during the 1959s . The selection of the Mayor of Ross was always announced from here
Eileen Minehan was a charming lady and always extremely helpful . Sorry not to see it any more ! Gillian Davies winter
Mike Keenan Frank Winter the building is at Shantytown just out of Greymouth now
Frank Winter Thank you very much Mike , am revisiting the Coast in February and shall certainly visit Shantytown Gillian
Frank Winter Sorry 1950s g
Bob Laing I remember that building in the early 1950s. The Ross Council was based in the lower floor as was the Mayors office. I am sure that the building is now at Shanty Town
Barry Wright I remember getting my first pay thr ,after having worked for the council in the school holidays .Eileen Minehan was the clerk ,I was paid 11 pounds ,,thought I was set up for life ,,heee
Frank Winter Barry Wright just a thought , Do you know whose coronation it was ? Gillian
Sarah Veller Douglas Smales I got my drivers licence there on 1966.
Frank Winter Sarah Veller Douglas Smales my mother passed her test in Ross - she was taught by George Oates ! Gillian
Lyn Whittle I remember that as a young child aged 5-6 stayed with Katherine Herbert
Judi Mears Walking through this iconic hall in Shantytown, I often have to smile at some of the 'stories' I have been told about this building. If only walls could talk!
Murray Bone we used to live the main street from early50 to middle 50s.
Ken Johnston Remember well during the Mayoral Elections back in the Fifties when Stan Johnston and Stan Scott were standing for the position.......Stan Scott was the successful candidate.........'Good 'Ol Days '
Colin Sandra Moss Wasnt it shifted to Shantytown?
Amanda Pike Colin Sandra Moss it was and is still on site at Shantytown.
Lois Iacoppi Ross must have been bigger than i remamber going by these buildings.
Nana Pop Detlaff The reason the Coronation Hall was shifted to Shantytown was that it badly needed repairs and no one was prepared to meet these costs. We were changing from the Ross Borough Council to the Westland County Council and the building was no longer required for council meetings, office work etc, All this was going to be done in Hokitika. We looked at buying and moving the building to a section we owned and turn it into 'our house'! We rejected the idea as it was all wood -a fire hazard, and R&M would be too expensive. Along with Barney Sutherland and Shantytown founders we arranged the shift north. The building had to be cut in half (or more?) for it to get over the narrow road, rail bridges. Yes it was a sad day, but old buildings were not appreciated then, as they are today.
Amanda Pike Nana Pop Detlaff John Burford and a friend purchased it and gave it to Shantytown.
Nana Pop Detlaff Yes. Thankyou for reminding us! He and ? were very generous in supporting Shantytown in this way. This was done very quietly and it is easy to overlook their part in the Coronation Hall history! We were only told about their generosity a few years back and it was a big surprise to us! Maybe the Greymouth folk involved knew all this but the folk down our way didn't. It certainly took a dedicated lot to bring what was quite an unusual 'rescue' to fruition.
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West Coast New Zealand History (4th Jun 2022). Coronation Hall and Public School, Ross.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 24th Apr 2026 23:51, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/11716