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Dobson, 1935.
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DescriptionThe town is named for the surveyor George Dobson, who was murdered at this site in 1866. He was killed in a bungled robbery by a gang who had mistaken him for a gold buyer carrying gold from the nearby Arnold goldfield. A monument now stands where George Dobson was murdered.
Dobson was the site of one of the West Coast's many coal mines. The Dobson mine was opened in 1919, and closed in 1968. It was the site of one of the country's worst mining disasters. Nine men were killed in an explosion at the mine in 1926.
A hydroelectric dam was proposed for the area by TrustPower in 1999 but it failed to secure access to public land that needed to be flooded for the scheme. In 2003 Nick Smith, who was an Opposition MP at the time, attempted to remove the reserve status from the land needed for the dam reservoir in order to allow the scheme to go ahead..Date of Photo1935Map[1] External LinkWikipedia - Dobson
Dobson was the site of one of the West Coast's many coal mines. The Dobson mine was opened in 1919, and closed in 1968. It was the site of one of the country's worst mining disasters. Nine men were killed in an explosion at the mine in 1926.
A hydroelectric dam was proposed for the area by TrustPower in 1999 but it failed to secure access to public land that needed to be flooded for the scheme. In 2003 Nick Smith, who was an Opposition MP at the time, attempted to remove the reserve status from the land needed for the dam reservoir in order to allow the scheme to go ahead..Date of Photo1935Map[1] External LinkWikipedia - Dobson
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Location (city or town)DobsonEventDobson, 1935.
Category Information
Category TagCoal Mining
From Facebook
CommentsKath Merv Moreton This photo must have been taken from the mine gantry.It's like the veiw from our house on the hill next to the mine(Wick's)
Sue Lucas Kath Merv Moreton our house was burnt down.
Kath Merv Moreton Sue Lucas Ours was burnt down too Sue.
Trevor Keith Scott Wicks Home on the hill, Evi & Ida, Garry & Kath, Evi and Ron Scott very good friends and Freemasons.
Neil Wick Kath Merv Moreton Dave Crozzier was resident when house Burnt down
Neil Wick Trevor Keith Scott only one left on the coast ,
Ivan Murray Wilson See a couple of those houses still there when we drive past.
Pauline Schafer My old house stands out there.
Robert Fay Lemon Griffin What was your house Pauline.
Pauline Schafer Robert Fay Lemon Griffin on the corner of Maori St and main Rd.slightly to the left of centre of the photo, 1st intersection.
Rhys Wardrop Dobson was killed by the Kelly Burgess gang who also did the Maungatapu Murders
Colin Angus Heinz What happened to the roadside Dobson memorial halfway along the Dobson Straight?
Heather Newby Colin Angus Heinz was that the one up on the hill a bit?
Jude Blance I do miss my hometown I went visiting Dobson a few years back. My Dad worked in the mine until it closed in 1968.
Heather Newby Jude Blance same with my dad.
Heather Newby Jude Blance he loved the cameraderie down the mine.. He really missed that when he retired
Helen Chappell Awe homesick I still say over home after all this time I like chch but my heart is definitely on the coast
Heather Newby Helen Chappell at least youre not far from home. Im in porirua.. Going to sit my restricted license soon.. Me and my late husband always went to Greymouth twice a year but im stuck now. Wish it was easier to get down then. Havent been down there since 2015 since he died. Hate travelling alone
Debbie Ansett Nana and Pop Erskine lived in the house right next to the mine on Omapere Street and I can remember all the mine bumps you used to feel.
Heather Newby Debbie Ansett dad told me about the bumps
Debbie Ansett Heather Newby it’s funny really everyone just accepted that’s what they were at that time. Now after living through multiple large quakes in Christchurch. I’m sure they would scare the living crap out of me now.
John Baxter I can see Howies house....rip mate...
Pauline Schafer That’s where we bought when we got married. Brought the kids up there.
Tina Ross The old hometown. One could never forget those mine bumps that we lived with every day.
Heather Newby Tina Ross the gas coming out of the coal was a whistling sound.. Like a singing kettle on the stove
Ngaire Castles Happy Birthday Helen.
Jil Cowan We lived in Omapere St up until 1969, after the mine closed.
Sandra Sands Arthur Sands l worked for Des Baxter at the service station when l was a school kid until l started work in the railways
Jenny Adamson Sandra Sands i bet you were a handful then
Cheryl Johnston Sandra Sands is that Des Baxter ex Dobson Agencies?
Sandra Sands I think Des came from Moana way somewhere memories not as good as it used to be
Pauline Schafer Cheryl Johnston it would have been. Colin also worked for Des in the holidays when he was at school.
Sandra Sands Pauline Schafer I played soccer with Colin and Alan l rememberwhen lyall Blanch painted their father's Holden at the garage when they had the pub
Jason Baxter Sandra Sands Des came from Stillwater
Pauline Schafer Sandra Sands how is Des Jason?
Pauline Schafer Sandra Sands I’ll bet Alan was impressed with that!
Dave Steers I worked there too. Remember pushing the olb Vanguard down the road trying to start it.
Kath Merv Moreton I remember Kathy and Alistair Cameron and their family.Also the Griffins,Maggie Robert and Peter.Used to play together as kids.Good old days.
Neil Wick Kath Merv Moreton worked with Peter at the Bower tavern years ago .
Shona Ratana
My ole home town. Dad worked in the mine Many memories of this road and people who lived in those houses plus the swimming place close by called The Sands. (Tackney).
2h
Reply
Brent Duggan
Same here Vern. We had a great childhood.
Sue Eade
My home town
Vern Pattinson
My old home town great days
Heather Reid
Vern Pattinson remember old Mary in the we house down from the bins
Vern Pattinson
Heather Reid Mary Burns Maye White
Rob Lunn
Heather Reid my eldest daughter owns the white house on the hill now it’s been completely refurbished and gets a lot of good comments apart from Billy Quy who lived there previously???
Beryl Heperi
Was a great place to live
Beryl Heperi
Was a great place to live
Ed Dando
Perfect spot to grow up. Bustling town back then
Vern Pattinson
My old home town great days
Glenda Stewart
I have vague recollections of a blue house on a hill...
Judith Mccormick
My home town
Andrew Nichols
And Arthurs Pass for the same man...
David Howe
A big place in those days.
Beverley Attewell
A great place to grow up. Basil
Dennisand Francie Wick
Looks very familiar, left Dobson 1963 regrettably.
Shona Ratana
My ole home town. Dad worked in the mine Many memories of this road and people who lived in those houses plus the swimming place close by called The Sands. (Tackney).
Thelma Coutts
Has a big place in my heart.
Tina Ross
Old hometown.
Pauline Schafer
I can see our house we bought when we got married, on the corner of Maori St. Just about unrecognisable to what it is now since we renovated and extended it.
Sue Lucas Kath Merv Moreton our house was burnt down.
Kath Merv Moreton Sue Lucas Ours was burnt down too Sue.
Trevor Keith Scott Wicks Home on the hill, Evi & Ida, Garry & Kath, Evi and Ron Scott very good friends and Freemasons.
Neil Wick Kath Merv Moreton Dave Crozzier was resident when house Burnt down
Neil Wick Trevor Keith Scott only one left on the coast ,
Ivan Murray Wilson See a couple of those houses still there when we drive past.
Pauline Schafer My old house stands out there.
Robert Fay Lemon Griffin What was your house Pauline.
Pauline Schafer Robert Fay Lemon Griffin on the corner of Maori St and main Rd.slightly to the left of centre of the photo, 1st intersection.
Rhys Wardrop Dobson was killed by the Kelly Burgess gang who also did the Maungatapu Murders
Colin Angus Heinz What happened to the roadside Dobson memorial halfway along the Dobson Straight?
Heather Newby Colin Angus Heinz was that the one up on the hill a bit?
Jude Blance I do miss my hometown I went visiting Dobson a few years back. My Dad worked in the mine until it closed in 1968.
Heather Newby Jude Blance same with my dad.
Heather Newby Jude Blance he loved the cameraderie down the mine.. He really missed that when he retired
Helen Chappell Awe homesick I still say over home after all this time I like chch but my heart is definitely on the coast
Heather Newby Helen Chappell at least youre not far from home. Im in porirua.. Going to sit my restricted license soon.. Me and my late husband always went to Greymouth twice a year but im stuck now. Wish it was easier to get down then. Havent been down there since 2015 since he died. Hate travelling alone
Debbie Ansett Nana and Pop Erskine lived in the house right next to the mine on Omapere Street and I can remember all the mine bumps you used to feel.
Heather Newby Debbie Ansett dad told me about the bumps
Debbie Ansett Heather Newby it’s funny really everyone just accepted that’s what they were at that time. Now after living through multiple large quakes in Christchurch. I’m sure they would scare the living crap out of me now.
John Baxter I can see Howies house....rip mate...
Pauline Schafer That’s where we bought when we got married. Brought the kids up there.
Tina Ross The old hometown. One could never forget those mine bumps that we lived with every day.
Heather Newby Tina Ross the gas coming out of the coal was a whistling sound.. Like a singing kettle on the stove
Ngaire Castles Happy Birthday Helen.
Jil Cowan We lived in Omapere St up until 1969, after the mine closed.
Sandra Sands Arthur Sands l worked for Des Baxter at the service station when l was a school kid until l started work in the railways
Jenny Adamson Sandra Sands i bet you were a handful then
Cheryl Johnston Sandra Sands is that Des Baxter ex Dobson Agencies?
Sandra Sands I think Des came from Moana way somewhere memories not as good as it used to be
Pauline Schafer Cheryl Johnston it would have been. Colin also worked for Des in the holidays when he was at school.
Sandra Sands Pauline Schafer I played soccer with Colin and Alan l rememberwhen lyall Blanch painted their father's Holden at the garage when they had the pub
Jason Baxter Sandra Sands Des came from Stillwater
Pauline Schafer Sandra Sands how is Des Jason?
Pauline Schafer Sandra Sands I’ll bet Alan was impressed with that!
Dave Steers I worked there too. Remember pushing the olb Vanguard down the road trying to start it.
Kath Merv Moreton I remember Kathy and Alistair Cameron and their family.Also the Griffins,Maggie Robert and Peter.Used to play together as kids.Good old days.
Neil Wick Kath Merv Moreton worked with Peter at the Bower tavern years ago .
Shona Ratana
My ole home town. Dad worked in the mine Many memories of this road and people who lived in those houses plus the swimming place close by called The Sands. (Tackney).
2h
Reply
Brent Duggan
Same here Vern. We had a great childhood.
Sue Eade
My home town
Vern Pattinson
My old home town great days
Heather Reid
Vern Pattinson remember old Mary in the we house down from the bins
Vern Pattinson
Heather Reid Mary Burns Maye White
Rob Lunn
Heather Reid my eldest daughter owns the white house on the hill now it’s been completely refurbished and gets a lot of good comments apart from Billy Quy who lived there previously???
Beryl Heperi
Was a great place to live
Beryl Heperi
Was a great place to live
Ed Dando
Perfect spot to grow up. Bustling town back then
Vern Pattinson
My old home town great days
Glenda Stewart
I have vague recollections of a blue house on a hill...
Judith Mccormick
My home town
Andrew Nichols
And Arthurs Pass for the same man...
David Howe
A big place in those days.
Beverley Attewell
A great place to grow up. Basil
Dennisand Francie Wick
Looks very familiar, left Dobson 1963 regrettably.
Shona Ratana
My ole home town. Dad worked in the mine Many memories of this road and people who lived in those houses plus the swimming place close by called The Sands. (Tackney).
Thelma Coutts
Has a big place in my heart.
Tina Ross
Old hometown.
Pauline Schafer
I can see our house we bought when we got married, on the corner of Maori St. Just about unrecognisable to what it is now since we renovated and extended it.
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West Coast New Zealand History (11th Mar 2025). Dobson, 1935.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 7th May 2026 02:57, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/15202