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Coal range.
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DescriptionA coal range or stove was for cooking as well as heatingPhotographer Unidentified photographerMap[1] Contributor Brian McIntyre
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Location (city or town)Greymouth
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CommentsLinzi Woods They were great. Made many a fat belly and hot baths. I bet there are still a lot left and still being used on the Coast.
Phyllis Aberhart I love coal ranges They cook your food, heat your water, heat the house, air your clothes, & used to burn your rubbish. No other single appliance I know can do all that
Linzi Woods True ! Environmentally friendly.. when you weight it all up...... so a bit of coal smoke never hurt any of us kids. a bit of grit was beneficial to the old lungs made us stronger :)
Bob Jamieson Couldn't agree more, Phyllis, our house in Runanga had one.
Nova Elizabeth Hichens Brings back memories.
Pam Englefield-Absolum Yes, 1966 was the coal range for me in Hari Hari. Heated the rooms and the water as well as cooked meals.
Jeff Sutherland Yes,, i cooked a roast pork in my Wellstood today, in Granity :)
Jeff Sutherland Lucky,,, hmm, im not so sure those were the days, the reality is a bit different than the thought,, shovelling coal into a blackened firebox, coal smoke 'escaping' into the room whilst doing so, having the roast cooked but then having to stoke it up to cook the pots of veges, can't turn your back or it may go out, windows and doors open to let the heat out. And tomorrow, having to clean the firebox and ashpan then reset it, bringing in more wood and coal. But the pork was awesome, and my hot water is piping hot.
Jeff Sutherland I think i'll stick to my Panasonic combination Microwave/Convection oven in future,,, thanks all the same.
Heather Newby Jeff Sutherland if I wasnt working fulltime and was living near a good supply of wood or coal.. i would have one. The one thing i didnt like about coalranges is that they make the walls and ceiling so dirty
Pam Murphy And we are supposed to be living a better life, don't think so, those were the days.
Heather Newby now they are saying people are getting too sick too soon because of a sedentary life. The car has replaced their legs.
Scotty Ogilvie Hmmmm... We live longer than ever before. Maybe cars aren't so bad.
Heather Newby Scotty Ogilvie its ok if the car doesnt replace your legs. After 60 its so important to keep moving.
David Shatford hell I remember them my grand mother use too use hers all the time
Pam Murphy Oh to have them back and then all our West Coast miners would have jobs + our woodsmen + plenty of money to spend on the coast. Oh yes and the men that built the stoves, chimney sweeps and the environment was better then than now. We didn't waste water on 3 showers a day, and changed clothes & put in the wash every 5 mins.
Donna Marie Morgan My Nana had coal ranges for hot water & cooking....big pot of tea,always hot on top
Heather Taylor i cooked on one right up to 1982 loved it
Chris Keenan My grandparents in Kamara, had and used one.
Pauline Schafer I had one in my last house in Cobden, sold 11 years ago, but it was a modern one. I also had an electric oven, but it was great to heat the house and water, and I’d cook in/on it too sometimes.
Trish Rennie That's all I ever used Heather until we moved 12 months ago...great for scones, roasts, soups n casseroles etc... Loved my old Shacklock 501... Can still bake a pretty good scone in the electric now ...just don't have to light it anymore....Brydon Nimmo I remember it used to heat up the back room of your place really good
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Heather Newby
Heather Newby we had a shacklock 501 in Blaketown.. thats all Mum ever used till i was about 16 and they bought an electric stove... but they still lit the coalrange every day because they never ever did get electric water heating... and even after that mum still made soups and stews on the coalrange. I do remember winning prizes at the school fair for scones and a sponge.. Mum used to make nice scones on the girdle.The other thing i liked about the coalrange. it made the best bread. I make bread a lot.. by hand.. the old way.. and the electric range doesnt cut it.. not the same as the coalrange.
Trish Rennie Mmmnnn..can smell it all now...nothing more welcoming in a home than the smell of home made bread etc
Lynnette Walford We had one in Denniston,great heat,and a wet back.
Kelly McGrath We have one, also electric too. Most of my children's friends are amazed by it!! A fire that you can cook in??
Trish Stikkelman Some how the scones an roast tasted better
Amber Williams Grandparents cooked on one food was devine. I also had one in the house i brought cooked on it for 2 yrs until told not safe to do so from a builder.
Toni Eyles I remember going over to grandma Stella's at crosstown for Sunday roasts that were cooked in the coalrange, they were amazing!! Oh and grandmas steamed pudding YUM!!Julie Clark I would have a coal range in a heartbeat if we were allowed them here!!!
Ruth Fensom I cook on my Fisher fire in winter and always have kettle on it. It also is wet back so heats the water. My power bills in winter are around $40. In summer I turn the power on to cylinder and cook on electric stove. This doubles my power usage.
Lisa Williams Mary Harrington does grandad still use his??
Martin James I used mine for almost everyday for 30 years here in christchurch.. until tbe house was demolished as a result of the earthquake rebuild. The demolition digger just ran over it.... and I cried.
Martin James Shacklock Centennial made in Dunedin in
Robert Hilton Marsh my mother had one
Vanette Hawke Funny Bob so did mine
Sandra Geddes Yip most of our back mustering huts have these!
Heather Newby Dad got one out of an abandoned house in Ahaura and put it in his bach at kopara.. it was really old fashioned. I dated it 1930. .. I made some really nice bread in it and it was great for cooking roasts
Susan Walker Mine is a bit rusted out, but I use it as a wine rack.
Bobbie Johnson We had one growing up and when I got married that's what I had to use until we moved into a house that had a stove. They made the best scones ever.
Dorothy Wills I used one on Maruia up until 26 years ago a Raeburn not sure if that’s the right spelling fantastic
John Anderson Visited Takaka the other day and saw a couple of fully restored ones ,in a secondhand shop .around $800from memory .
Phyllis Aberhart A few years on the West Coast in the Charleston motorcamp I saw a coalrange you could use. Does anyone know if its still there?
Kathleen Power Had one I used in the 70s loved it with the babies dry nappies up on rack at top always tons hot water for bath . Heating the house I would have another tomorrow if I was allowed.
KevinandMargaret Mills When my parents built their home in 64/65 they installed a coal range
Heather Newby is it still there?
Salty Fraser i would just love one of those did wood burn ok in them as well
Amelia Stoddart Yes, we had one at Foxhill, and only burnt wood. I used to iron my school uniform with the old stove top irons, after my Dad had them re-surfaced with copper. Still have my Griddle, fits well on our camping BBQ.
Geoffrey Bell We don't have a coal range any more, but I still have a Griddle for making those Girdle Scones. Note the Griddle on the Black Range.
Sheryl Iraia That was me
Richard Stevens Nanas house use to have one Sunday roast yum
Nina Townsend Mum cooked many xmas dinner for 50 + people but how many times i dropped my toast in the ashpan lmao
John Stuart Essential items in houses.Hot water ...no problems.Warm house....no problems...power bills.....what were they???.
Jenny Leach used to have one in ruatapu and used it everyday for cooking and heating the water
Ron Pearson Buller Hotel had a double unit in when it burnt down. Suspected as the cause of the fire but...? John Anderson you will remember the details. Fire pumps driven by v8 blew up. Heaps of action for us kids. Re the coal stoves, Westport Foundry use to make grates for Shackelton, Orion, Champion, and a few others. Caledonian, Royal, Wellstood, etc etc.
John Anderson Yep Ron ...I remember that day well ,Canterburywere playing Buller at Victoria Square ...could never understand how that fire got such a hold and spread so quickly from Adderley to Palmerston st's ....I was busy emptying the contents of Ballie &Co whic…See More
Esther Bruns We used to havw one of the black ones. Learned to judge the temparature by putting my hand near the oven door. Knew the difference between scones and a sponge. Couldnt do it now though
Debbie Gilroy we ahve one in our house got it all done up and we use it everyday to cook on and it heats our hot water cooks yummy roasts
Debbie Gilroy it also bakes yummy cakes too
Debbie Gilroy we still ahve our modern stove but dont use it much . as the coal range heats our hot water as our hot water is not connected to the elertircty . but we are going to connect it soon and have a switch where we can turn it on and off to suit
Angela Emmerson My bestie does and beats electric any day.. Makes the best food ever
Debbie Gilroy sure does
Averil Thorpe Used one up until 26 years ago
Marilyn Hill I wish I still had one
Helen Hutchison I have a wood stove for cooking . Burns coal as well ...fantastic. Keeps rooms cosy warmth in winter .
Denise Kelly Willis Learnt to cook on one of these My Nana had one Jackie Loughnan We had 1 as well wen we were in the house on the hill in Te Kinga plus Lake Brunner.
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Vern Pattinson We did as well 50s and 60s
Erin Dense And I'm about to pull mine out soon lol hate the smokey old thing!
Jo Coleman What ya going to do with it? Maybe interested if you are just dumping it
Phyllis Aberhart I love coal ranges They cook your food, heat your water, heat the house, air your clothes, & used to burn your rubbish. No other single appliance I know can do all that
Linzi Woods True ! Environmentally friendly.. when you weight it all up...... so a bit of coal smoke never hurt any of us kids. a bit of grit was beneficial to the old lungs made us stronger :)
Bob Jamieson Couldn't agree more, Phyllis, our house in Runanga had one.
Nova Elizabeth Hichens Brings back memories.
Pam Englefield-Absolum Yes, 1966 was the coal range for me in Hari Hari. Heated the rooms and the water as well as cooked meals.
Jeff Sutherland Yes,, i cooked a roast pork in my Wellstood today, in Granity :)
Jeff Sutherland Lucky,,, hmm, im not so sure those were the days, the reality is a bit different than the thought,, shovelling coal into a blackened firebox, coal smoke 'escaping' into the room whilst doing so, having the roast cooked but then having to stoke it up to cook the pots of veges, can't turn your back or it may go out, windows and doors open to let the heat out. And tomorrow, having to clean the firebox and ashpan then reset it, bringing in more wood and coal. But the pork was awesome, and my hot water is piping hot.
Jeff Sutherland I think i'll stick to my Panasonic combination Microwave/Convection oven in future,,, thanks all the same.
Heather Newby Jeff Sutherland if I wasnt working fulltime and was living near a good supply of wood or coal.. i would have one. The one thing i didnt like about coalranges is that they make the walls and ceiling so dirty
Pam Murphy And we are supposed to be living a better life, don't think so, those were the days.
Heather Newby now they are saying people are getting too sick too soon because of a sedentary life. The car has replaced their legs.
Scotty Ogilvie Hmmmm... We live longer than ever before. Maybe cars aren't so bad.
Heather Newby Scotty Ogilvie its ok if the car doesnt replace your legs. After 60 its so important to keep moving.
David Shatford hell I remember them my grand mother use too use hers all the time
Pam Murphy Oh to have them back and then all our West Coast miners would have jobs + our woodsmen + plenty of money to spend on the coast. Oh yes and the men that built the stoves, chimney sweeps and the environment was better then than now. We didn't waste water on 3 showers a day, and changed clothes & put in the wash every 5 mins.
Donna Marie Morgan My Nana had coal ranges for hot water & cooking....big pot of tea,always hot on top
Heather Taylor i cooked on one right up to 1982 loved it
Chris Keenan My grandparents in Kamara, had and used one.
Pauline Schafer I had one in my last house in Cobden, sold 11 years ago, but it was a modern one. I also had an electric oven, but it was great to heat the house and water, and I’d cook in/on it too sometimes.
Trish Rennie That's all I ever used Heather until we moved 12 months ago...great for scones, roasts, soups n casseroles etc... Loved my old Shacklock 501... Can still bake a pretty good scone in the electric now ...just don't have to light it anymore....Brydon Nimmo I remember it used to heat up the back room of your place really good
1
Delete or hide this
Like
· Reply · 1y
Heather Newby
Heather Newby we had a shacklock 501 in Blaketown.. thats all Mum ever used till i was about 16 and they bought an electric stove... but they still lit the coalrange every day because they never ever did get electric water heating... and even after that mum still made soups and stews on the coalrange. I do remember winning prizes at the school fair for scones and a sponge.. Mum used to make nice scones on the girdle.The other thing i liked about the coalrange. it made the best bread. I make bread a lot.. by hand.. the old way.. and the electric range doesnt cut it.. not the same as the coalrange.
Trish Rennie Mmmnnn..can smell it all now...nothing more welcoming in a home than the smell of home made bread etc
Lynnette Walford We had one in Denniston,great heat,and a wet back.
Kelly McGrath We have one, also electric too. Most of my children's friends are amazed by it!! A fire that you can cook in??
Trish Stikkelman Some how the scones an roast tasted better
Amber Williams Grandparents cooked on one food was devine. I also had one in the house i brought cooked on it for 2 yrs until told not safe to do so from a builder.
Toni Eyles I remember going over to grandma Stella's at crosstown for Sunday roasts that were cooked in the coalrange, they were amazing!! Oh and grandmas steamed pudding YUM!!Julie Clark I would have a coal range in a heartbeat if we were allowed them here!!!
Ruth Fensom I cook on my Fisher fire in winter and always have kettle on it. It also is wet back so heats the water. My power bills in winter are around $40. In summer I turn the power on to cylinder and cook on electric stove. This doubles my power usage.
Lisa Williams Mary Harrington does grandad still use his??
Martin James I used mine for almost everyday for 30 years here in christchurch.. until tbe house was demolished as a result of the earthquake rebuild. The demolition digger just ran over it.... and I cried.
Martin James Shacklock Centennial made in Dunedin in
Robert Hilton Marsh my mother had one
Vanette Hawke Funny Bob so did mine
Sandra Geddes Yip most of our back mustering huts have these!
Heather Newby Dad got one out of an abandoned house in Ahaura and put it in his bach at kopara.. it was really old fashioned. I dated it 1930. .. I made some really nice bread in it and it was great for cooking roasts
Susan Walker Mine is a bit rusted out, but I use it as a wine rack.
Bobbie Johnson We had one growing up and when I got married that's what I had to use until we moved into a house that had a stove. They made the best scones ever.
Dorothy Wills I used one on Maruia up until 26 years ago a Raeburn not sure if that’s the right spelling fantastic
John Anderson Visited Takaka the other day and saw a couple of fully restored ones ,in a secondhand shop .around $800from memory .
Phyllis Aberhart A few years on the West Coast in the Charleston motorcamp I saw a coalrange you could use. Does anyone know if its still there?
Kathleen Power Had one I used in the 70s loved it with the babies dry nappies up on rack at top always tons hot water for bath . Heating the house I would have another tomorrow if I was allowed.
KevinandMargaret Mills When my parents built their home in 64/65 they installed a coal range
Heather Newby is it still there?
Salty Fraser i would just love one of those did wood burn ok in them as well
Amelia Stoddart Yes, we had one at Foxhill, and only burnt wood. I used to iron my school uniform with the old stove top irons, after my Dad had them re-surfaced with copper. Still have my Griddle, fits well on our camping BBQ.
Geoffrey Bell We don't have a coal range any more, but I still have a Griddle for making those Girdle Scones. Note the Griddle on the Black Range.
Sheryl Iraia That was me
Richard Stevens Nanas house use to have one Sunday roast yum
Nina Townsend Mum cooked many xmas dinner for 50 + people but how many times i dropped my toast in the ashpan lmao
John Stuart Essential items in houses.Hot water ...no problems.Warm house....no problems...power bills.....what were they???.
Jenny Leach used to have one in ruatapu and used it everyday for cooking and heating the water
Ron Pearson Buller Hotel had a double unit in when it burnt down. Suspected as the cause of the fire but...? John Anderson you will remember the details. Fire pumps driven by v8 blew up. Heaps of action for us kids. Re the coal stoves, Westport Foundry use to make grates for Shackelton, Orion, Champion, and a few others. Caledonian, Royal, Wellstood, etc etc.
John Anderson Yep Ron ...I remember that day well ,Canterburywere playing Buller at Victoria Square ...could never understand how that fire got such a hold and spread so quickly from Adderley to Palmerston st's ....I was busy emptying the contents of Ballie &Co whic…See More
Esther Bruns We used to havw one of the black ones. Learned to judge the temparature by putting my hand near the oven door. Knew the difference between scones and a sponge. Couldnt do it now though
Debbie Gilroy we ahve one in our house got it all done up and we use it everyday to cook on and it heats our hot water cooks yummy roasts
Debbie Gilroy it also bakes yummy cakes too
Debbie Gilroy we still ahve our modern stove but dont use it much . as the coal range heats our hot water as our hot water is not connected to the elertircty . but we are going to connect it soon and have a switch where we can turn it on and off to suit
Angela Emmerson My bestie does and beats electric any day.. Makes the best food ever
Debbie Gilroy sure does
Averil Thorpe Used one up until 26 years ago
Marilyn Hill I wish I still had one
Helen Hutchison I have a wood stove for cooking . Burns coal as well ...fantastic. Keeps rooms cosy warmth in winter .
Denise Kelly Willis Learnt to cook on one of these My Nana had one Jackie Loughnan We had 1 as well wen we were in the house on the hill in Te Kinga plus Lake Brunner.
Delete or hide this
Vern Pattinson We did as well 50s and 60s
Erin Dense And I'm about to pull mine out soon lol hate the smokey old thing!
Jo Coleman What ya going to do with it? Maybe interested if you are just dumping it
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West Coast New Zealand History (20th Feb 2023). Coal range.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 10th Apr 2026 06:40, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/1302