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Goldsborough historic walk.
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DescriptionDescription
Goldsborough (Shamrock) Track
Time: 4 hours, one way
This walk will suit those with a medium to good level of fitness. The track can be walked from either end but is easier going downhill from the old Callaghans township and finishing at the Goldsborough campsite.
From Callaghans, the track follows several steep ridgelines and water races, dropping down to the Shamrock Creek valley where the grade becomes easier for the final 1.5km. The track passes many historic features including mining tunnels, dams, sluice faces, tailings, and water races.
Callaghans Road turnoff is 5.5 km towards Dillmanstown from the Goldsborough campsite. Transport for the return trip should be arranged before departing.
The old Census shows about 100 people at Callaghans about 1901.
See comments below for amazing history from Anthea Keenan.Date of PhotoBetween 1st January 2016 and 31st December 2016Map[1] External LinkPapers pastContributorLaura Mills
Goldsborough (Shamrock) Track
Time: 4 hours, one way
This walk will suit those with a medium to good level of fitness. The track can be walked from either end but is easier going downhill from the old Callaghans township and finishing at the Goldsborough campsite.
From Callaghans, the track follows several steep ridgelines and water races, dropping down to the Shamrock Creek valley where the grade becomes easier for the final 1.5km. The track passes many historic features including mining tunnels, dams, sluice faces, tailings, and water races.
Callaghans Road turnoff is 5.5 km towards Dillmanstown from the Goldsborough campsite. Transport for the return trip should be arranged before departing.
The old Census shows about 100 people at Callaghans about 1901.
See comments below for amazing history from Anthea Keenan.Date of PhotoBetween 1st January 2016 and 31st December 2016Map[1] External LinkPapers pastContributorLaura Mills
Shown in this image
Location (city or town)Goldsborough Track
Category Information
Category TagGoldmining
From Facebook
CommentsAnthea Keenan Hi Laura Mills Detlaff ..Grandparents Steve & Jane Havill & his brother Joe Havill lived/mined up there early 1900s (& later until 1937 Steve's sons). Names like Joe Manzoni, Joe Basi, Andrew Baritich, Joe Cleopat, Larry Racetti. Reedys, Biddingtons, Honeys, Darbyson. I've got a few notes from Havill family members of early Callaghan times...:)
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 1 hr · Edited
Laura Mills Detlaff
Laura Mills Detlaff If you have time I'd love a read. Was trying to convince the kids there was a small town there once!
Like · Reply · 1 · 1 hr
Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan Clara Havill m Stephen Honey St Johns Church Stafford 1879..they lived Callaghans for many yrs working a claim - they had seven boys and two girls.
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 1 hr
Laura Mills Detlaff
Laura Mills Detlaff And pics of it???
Like · Reply · 1 hr
Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan I wonder if Lesley Jackson has any..her Dad (was eldest, Mums Brother born up there)....will ask sometime.
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 1 hr
Laura Mills Detlaff
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Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan Our Grandparents claim was at Italian Gully, Callaghans. There was a tunnel driven in foothills, with not sufficient fall on tail race, not far from where they lived..so another tunnel had to be driven below the first one. Dirt was taken from underground by small trucks on rails..ground had to be timbered to hold the surface up from caving in. They had children up there as well.
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 1 hr
Laura Mills Detlaff
Laura Mills Detlaff Here was the nearest school? It really must have been remote
Like · Reply · 1 hr
Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan From Aunty Iris - she was 6th child born 1916 up at Callaghans - there was a cart shed & stable..we could see traffic, mostly horses & carts, bikes and some cars. Uncle Joe lived in a hut a bit further up. The claim was close to our house. When men finish their wash-up for gold at kitchen table, blowing off black sand - she liked to see little nuggets. To get into claim you had to climb down three wood ladders. There was a long tunnel dug from down on flat near Kapitea Crk..tail race to take water away. A candle or lantern used for light. The tunnel was over 2000 ft long.
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 44 mins · Edited
Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan When Uncle Les & Uncle Jack were at Callaghans they would go for firewood. Sawed into lengths, stapled to a wire which stretch down the hill. They lived at Italian Gully, next to Mosquito Gully/Brace Hill/German Gully. There lots of deep shafts making it very dangerous. Aunty Winnie had to be lowered down one to rescue a wee goat. House at Callaghans had wooden steps up fron to verandah..Granny Havill had her little prayer books and would ready to us..a piano in front room..Winnie had lessons at Waimea. There was also an old phonograph with a big horn attached to ceiling and lot of records.
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 1 hr
Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan The school was handy to us. Biddingtons lived across the road..there was a ram and sheep. He would always run to bunt.. Biddingtons moved to Camerons. Our teacher had been a Miss Schweve she biked from Goldsborough. I remember peace celebration at Callaghans after First World War...I was only little and was given pink toy pig.
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 51 mins · Edited
Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan When Uncle Steve Honeys funeral went past our house the others reckoned I kept lifting the blinds to peek. Honeys had a gold claim along the road to Manzonis claim. I remember seeing the swaggies wending their way, carrying their little bundles of possessions. I remember Tommy Seddon coming to visit Granny..he was just a young man. One trip I will never forget was the day I rode on the bar of my brother Jacks bike from Kowhitirangi to Callaghans. The school from Callaghans was moved to Upper Kowhitirangi by my father 1924... we moved to Kowhtirangi..but Steve & Jack continued mining there until 1937
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 43 mins · Edited
Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan Uncle Gordon says: the house at Callaghans was reasonably comfortable..big open fire place with crane to swing out to load boilers and pots..all hot water heated on fire, although there was colonial oven Granny preferred pots & camp ovens. To deal with mosquitoes she would burn sulphur on fire shovel in bedroom, a smell he hated. The people were real characters. Us kids would watch the sluice spraying high on the face and thought was great when there was a great fall. Some of water used was brought from Government race otherwise when wet stored in dams. If it rained heavy Dad or Uncle Joe would work late into night to make most of it. Granny was great cook..raisin scones, loaves, plum duff and roly poly puddings cooked in cloth.
Like · Reply · 42 mins · Edited
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 1 hr · Edited
Laura Mills Detlaff
Laura Mills Detlaff If you have time I'd love a read. Was trying to convince the kids there was a small town there once!
Like · Reply · 1 · 1 hr
Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan Clara Havill m Stephen Honey St Johns Church Stafford 1879..they lived Callaghans for many yrs working a claim - they had seven boys and two girls.
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 1 hr
Laura Mills Detlaff
Laura Mills Detlaff And pics of it???
Like · Reply · 1 hr
Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan I wonder if Lesley Jackson has any..her Dad (was eldest, Mums Brother born up there)....will ask sometime.
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 1 hr
Laura Mills Detlaff
Write a reply...
Choose File
Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan Our Grandparents claim was at Italian Gully, Callaghans. There was a tunnel driven in foothills, with not sufficient fall on tail race, not far from where they lived..so another tunnel had to be driven below the first one. Dirt was taken from underground by small trucks on rails..ground had to be timbered to hold the surface up from caving in. They had children up there as well.
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 1 hr
Laura Mills Detlaff
Laura Mills Detlaff Here was the nearest school? It really must have been remote
Like · Reply · 1 hr
Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan From Aunty Iris - she was 6th child born 1916 up at Callaghans - there was a cart shed & stable..we could see traffic, mostly horses & carts, bikes and some cars. Uncle Joe lived in a hut a bit further up. The claim was close to our house. When men finish their wash-up for gold at kitchen table, blowing off black sand - she liked to see little nuggets. To get into claim you had to climb down three wood ladders. There was a long tunnel dug from down on flat near Kapitea Crk..tail race to take water away. A candle or lantern used for light. The tunnel was over 2000 ft long.
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 44 mins · Edited
Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan When Uncle Les & Uncle Jack were at Callaghans they would go for firewood. Sawed into lengths, stapled to a wire which stretch down the hill. They lived at Italian Gully, next to Mosquito Gully/Brace Hill/German Gully. There lots of deep shafts making it very dangerous. Aunty Winnie had to be lowered down one to rescue a wee goat. House at Callaghans had wooden steps up fron to verandah..Granny Havill had her little prayer books and would ready to us..a piano in front room..Winnie had lessons at Waimea. There was also an old phonograph with a big horn attached to ceiling and lot of records.
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 1 hr
Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan The school was handy to us. Biddingtons lived across the road..there was a ram and sheep. He would always run to bunt.. Biddingtons moved to Camerons. Our teacher had been a Miss Schweve she biked from Goldsborough. I remember peace celebration at Callaghans after First World War...I was only little and was given pink toy pig.
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 51 mins · Edited
Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan When Uncle Steve Honeys funeral went past our house the others reckoned I kept lifting the blinds to peek. Honeys had a gold claim along the road to Manzonis claim. I remember seeing the swaggies wending their way, carrying their little bundles of possessions. I remember Tommy Seddon coming to visit Granny..he was just a young man. One trip I will never forget was the day I rode on the bar of my brother Jacks bike from Kowhitirangi to Callaghans. The school from Callaghans was moved to Upper Kowhitirangi by my father 1924... we moved to Kowhtirangi..but Steve & Jack continued mining there until 1937
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 43 mins · Edited
Anthea Keenan
Anthea Keenan Uncle Gordon says: the house at Callaghans was reasonably comfortable..big open fire place with crane to swing out to load boilers and pots..all hot water heated on fire, although there was colonial oven Granny preferred pots & camp ovens. To deal with mosquitoes she would burn sulphur on fire shovel in bedroom, a smell he hated. The people were real characters. Us kids would watch the sluice spraying high on the face and thought was great when there was a great fall. Some of water used was brought from Government race otherwise when wet stored in dams. If it rained heavy Dad or Uncle Joe would work late into night to make most of it. Granny was great cook..raisin scones, loaves, plum duff and roly poly puddings cooked in cloth.
Like · Reply · 42 mins · Edited
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West Coast New Zealand History (15th Sep 2019). Goldsborough historic walk.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 4th Apr 2026 17:01, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/16186