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Sawyer's Creek flood - Marlborough Street, Greymouth .1978.
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DescriptionSawyer's Creek flood - Marlborough StreetDate of Photo1978Map[1] ContributorPeter Westwood
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Location (city or town)GreymouthEventSawyer's Creek flood
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Linkhttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?.....4881491605&type=3&theaterCommentsLynnette Beirne Was that the 1978 April flood which flooded all the railway houses as well.
As a result of that event Sawyers Creek got a major makeover
Suzanne Mcgeady Sounds about the right year.....
Lynnette Beirne Runanga flooded as well and I brought my house after that as I knew it would not floodhttp://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/8583
Greymouth in flood, top end of town, 1978/9
WESTCOAST.RECOLLECT.CO.NZ
Rachel Olliver My aunty & uncle live in Milton Rd -will have to ask them if their place flooded or not
Marianne Kelly 1978 - terrible weather and torrential rain - Sawyers creek blocked up towards Boddy town then it unblocked and flooded all that central area from Sinnott Road up Marlborough and Marsden Road, Elizabeth Street, etc. I recall parking my car in the mid...See More
Marianne Kelly Great photos by the way,
Suzanne Mcgeady Thanks Marianne
Nina Townsend Yip my sis & her hubby lived in Shakespeare Dick Stevens can you remember wot year
Lisa Winter Was 78 we lived across from dick - water in our houses too
Neroli Liddell Our house did that's Dad in the canoe Colin Bell and that's our House remember it well we helped lift carpet and furniture before the water came in mum was at work at the Ashley Motor Inn.
Lisa Winter Hi neroli i remember helping mr merv Jamieson move some of his stuff with mum as well
Laura Mills Detlaff
Jennifer Gaskell Those are the Railway Houses at the end of High St going into Paroa Rd opposite the Hospital
Gary Boucher Remember it well. Was living in Milton Road at that time. Thankfully we were at the IHC end and didn't get flooded. Great Photos!
David Heenan I remember it well we were living at the top of the hill on milton rd and the sight of all of those homes deluged was an awful sight. Wendy Heenan
Jennifer Gaskell The flood was 1978. Mum and Dad lived in the Railway Houses in Paroa Road. I have photos of Dad in a row boat getting Mum out to higher ground.
Carolyn Luck Milton Road, 1978. Looks like Colin Bell in the boat. We lived in Shakespeare Street, backed into Milton Road. Mum came out in a boat, water all through house and it was very muddy water. A terrible time.
Carolyn Luck Colin and Cushla Bell's house and next door Peg and Pat Kavanagh, we backed onto Kavanagh's.
Sandra Geddes 78thats about right!
Margaret Jacobs Remember it well we were living in Josephine St
Sharlene Mclaughlin Emily Kavanagh any relation to u
Geoffrey Bell Colin and Cushla Bell's House. Kirstine Latimer. Colin in boat.
Jan Powell One of the infant classes at Grey Main had a calendar on which the weather for each day was recorded. We did a count-up. There were 56 consecutive days of rain that year.
Jill Smith I lived in Milton road with my parents. I have some awesome photos. I married in 1978 so think it was well before that - unless that's another flood I remember. Milton Road flooded several times we used to ride our bikes through the water - great fun.
Lynnette Beirne This was April 78 Jill
I was still living at the High School Hostel and I brought my house at Runanga after that flood
Margaret Jacobs It was 1978 as my eldest daughter was only 5 months old at the time
Wendy Rodden 1978 for sure. I got married the weekend of the this flood. The worst of it was Friday so it wasn't to bad for our wedding on Saturday. We had a lot of hassles with guests that were arriving on the railcar. They had to get on a bus because of a slip and then when they got to New River there was a washout and they were transported over the river on a jigger to a bus waiting on the other side. This was exciting for many of our guests.
Dan Mckinley What year ,moved into 62 bout 78/79
Andrew Iraia Was bout to tag you lol
Barbie Turner Patrick Henderson...wow
Ann Knipe The flash flood was May 1978.
Don Hutton Peter, that's the approach to the Marlborough St bridge over Sawyers Creek in the foreground I think. The creek would have been in high flood at that bend. Did the water flow down the street to the right towards Rugby Park etc?
Don Hutton Peter Westwood I had a friend in the 1940s who lived just over the bridge to the left and we spent a lot of time in the bush (since cleared and subdivided) along the creek at the foot of the hill. Their lawn which sloped down to the creek was flooded regularly. I think Ray Rollinson head of Grey Main in the 1950s lived in that house.
Peter Westwood Don Hutton Our house was built in 1952 by Bruce Erickson, works overseer at MOW, it was a wonderful home, Les and Joan Richards were in the house next door and on other side was Miss Davidson from High Sch. She is still there , great neighbour.
Don Hutton Peter Westwood Yes, I remember those houses being built. Les's older brother John was my year at school and Yvonne was a young teacher at GTHS in the early 1950s.
Peter Lambert Water through the garage at 58 Marlborough St. I think I remember water all around the Shakespeare St area as well.
Peter Westwood Don we had sold the house to Education Dept. And that was the weekend I was moving to ChCh and my wife Noreen was to follow 3weeks later. With the help of Hospitall sparkies , I drove for WCHB.and Blake Knox x Harley’s we recarpeted all within 3 days. Only on the Coast.
Ray Vincent remember taking Tom from work home in my rubber boat with the little jet outboard on the back. was to somewhere in this area.
Ray Vincent Tom who was NZR stationmaster in Grey.
Brendon Rae That your old place Glen?
Glen Mesman Yeah mate, there was tide marks when we did Reno’s
Karen Potter I remember poor mum that day. Water past her waist. Then the scrubbing after it went.
Martin James My great aunt and uncle were Fred and Marian Heveldt. I think they livec at 83 Marlborough Street. Min Rollenson lived next to the creek.
Karen Potter Just lived over the bridge from us. Mr rollenson was grey mains head master. We used to get crab apples off his tree.
Martin James I didnt know Mr Rollinson. He must have died perhaps. I stayed with the Heveldts on and off in the late 70's early 80's. We would get a taxi into town with Min. Min would have a basket of cash!
Megan Elizabeth Adams I grew up at 99 Marlborough St. Mrs Heveldt gave me the one and only experience of seeing a chook running around with no head after she chopped it off with an axe!
Don Hutton I remember that tree Karen Potter, it was there in the 1940s when my friend John Montgomerie lived there. Ray Rollinson bought the property in 1950 and was head at Grey Main until 1963 when he probably retired Martin James.
Martin James Mums cousin Carolyn Luck
I remember this very well.
Tony Simpson
Remember this - we were teaching at GHS at the time and lived above the waterline in Leith Crescent. Remember also Geoffrey King and I launching his jet boat at the bottom of Leith Crescent and going door to door giving help where needed.
Geoffrey King
Tony Simpson Is that where u have gotten to Tony Simpson, Balclutha
Tony Simpson
Geoffrey King Only been here 41 years Geoffrey. Obviously you are still in Grey - last lost you at Sumner.... No doubt for both of us lots of water under the bridge since then. If you are up for a dose of nostalgia and old times, would love to catch up… See more
Murray Browne
Remembered a couple of times having Sawyers Creek running through our place in Sinnott Road in the 50s.
Sandra Rooney
Remember
Dan Mckinley
Year after we moved here . Lived on Marlborough st but don't really remember
Leone Stewart
We lived on the cnr of Marlborough and High Streets in the 50’s & 60’s, certainly remember the rain but never flooding like this
Spanners Watson
Brendon Gibson
Peter Lambert
Remember that well. Sawyers Creek overflowed. The house at 58 was OK but the garage had 18" of water through. . . Silt everywhere
Peter Westwood
Peter Lambert I see 56 on the market at present.
Peter Westwood
That was our home, we got 8 inches through the house. One car in the garage got swamped. I was at work stuck by a slip on the coast Rd. My wife got the kids out early and she eventually got picked up by boat, taking the cat with her.
Trish Rennie
Remember this Bruce Nimmo
Julie Steele
We lived at 73 Marlborough street across the road it was lapping our front door
Lyn Galvin
My grandmother lived in Marlborough St then and got water through her house. A policeman had to piggyback her out She thought it was a bit exciting to get to 90 and have a policeman to rescue her
Ray Port
Remember it well.
Nina Townsend
Ray Port i remember jen & dick getting it rite thru the railway house they had carpet tiles & each little square shrunk but was waist deep outside the front dooor prob hip deep inside so cupla feet
Naomi Riley
Ray Port what address is the circled house? I can’t get my bearings from the picture!
Ray Port
Naomi Riley my old house 109 Sinnot road..further down in right out of picture was Minty Curtis store.
Eva st is right across from circled house...Barry Sweetman is on corner opposite us...
Murray Browne
Ray Port I lived at 113 Sinnot Road from 1955 to end of 1963. Just down an to the left of your house in the picture. Remember Minty Curtis store well! Used to be mates with his sons.
Ray Port
Murray Browne i moved to Greymouth from Ross late 60's.
Very fond memories of Minty.
Always great with us local kids.… See more
Murray Browne
Ray Port yes, nice guy! He used to deliver our groceries in a little van.
First time I've seen a photo of our old house since we left!
Robert Porter
The railway house we lived in High street across the road from the hospital Bridge almost got water inside the house was high of the ground.
Murray Saunders
We lived next door to Rob on high street
Had water come thru our place (141)
Robert Porter
Murray Saunders our place was a bit higher of the ground than yours. Went through the garage sheds and the sleep out aswell
Peter Westwood
Robert Porter that’s the same flood
Robert Porter
Peter Westwood we were just before the bend ours was the 1st railways house ( 143 ) alot of people knew my dad as jingles
Gary Reid
Robert Porter I lived 3 doors down was canoing round house no water inside
Lisa Ryan
Oh yes for sure. We were Milton Rd
Lisa Ryan
We were flooded in the house and then I got bad bronchitis after
Grant Ellingford
I remember this well, helped
David Hoy grandparents shift furniture in their home.
Graham Mahy
look at this Aleisha Rose Gill
Peter MacRae
Our family lived at 37 Marsden Road until 1970 and endued many floods.
Karen Potter
Right where our family grew up. Erickson home and Cahill home
Tony Gardyne
Heck
Gayle Borman
We lived in Bridge Street and our home was flooded. Quite an adventure for a 12 year old!!
Karina Cook
I Remember this very well my Grandparents house on 29 chapter street water going into there front door like a river
Peter Westwood
No train to Hoki that day either
Lee Henderson
Coal warming or global warming
Peter Westwood
Lee Henderson west coast rain
Lee Henderson
Bus Chc to Whataroa had tight single lane in Otira. The side mirror snapped off against the Otira rock wall at Candys bend. The Otira was roaring high & the mail train got swept away. It was my first visit to the West Coast to find my Dad
Alex McDougall
The street I grew up on. We lived in 58 then moved next door to 56 with grandparents living at 48.
Lynn Tacon
Lived Shakespeare street no water in house but to top of steps inside.mini car in garage water up to the steering wheel.wood in shed floated up then dropped back when water receded.jet boats came up to front door to see if we were OK.
Tony Simpson
Could have been Geoffrey King and I who nosed up to your front door. An amazing day.
Paul Southon
The house directly behind the Marist Brothers was 19 Alexander Road and the home of my grandparents Arthur and Jess Colins until the early 60s. It has since been demolished but still have great memories of the climb up the hill to the house and the area
Wayne Southon
The last year I played rugby against Marist Bros 1st xv
Jocelyn Hector
We lived 10 Elizabeth Street went right through our house
Peter Westwood
At the time we had sold this house to the education dept as we were moving to CHCH where I had secured a job at Templeton Hospital It was my last day at West coast hospital bd So once water recede we recarpeted and dried the walls that had recently been redecorated. By the time the ed dept evenuatly inspected the flood damage and settled the sale 3 months had passed.
Sandy Jones
I had a paper run. We were told by the Grey Star we still had to deliver the newspaper but only to mail boxes above water. A kind man rowed me in his boat down Marsden Road to the visible mailboxes.
Bob Laing
Sandy Jones
They would have to be joking
As a result of that event Sawyers Creek got a major makeover
Suzanne Mcgeady Sounds about the right year.....
Lynnette Beirne Runanga flooded as well and I brought my house after that as I knew it would not floodhttp://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/8583
Greymouth in flood, top end of town, 1978/9
WESTCOAST.RECOLLECT.CO.NZ
Rachel Olliver My aunty & uncle live in Milton Rd -will have to ask them if their place flooded or not
Marianne Kelly 1978 - terrible weather and torrential rain - Sawyers creek blocked up towards Boddy town then it unblocked and flooded all that central area from Sinnott Road up Marlborough and Marsden Road, Elizabeth Street, etc. I recall parking my car in the mid...See More
Marianne Kelly Great photos by the way,
Suzanne Mcgeady Thanks Marianne
Nina Townsend Yip my sis & her hubby lived in Shakespeare Dick Stevens can you remember wot year
Lisa Winter Was 78 we lived across from dick - water in our houses too
Neroli Liddell Our house did that's Dad in the canoe Colin Bell and that's our House remember it well we helped lift carpet and furniture before the water came in mum was at work at the Ashley Motor Inn.
Lisa Winter Hi neroli i remember helping mr merv Jamieson move some of his stuff with mum as well
Laura Mills Detlaff
Jennifer Gaskell Those are the Railway Houses at the end of High St going into Paroa Rd opposite the Hospital
Gary Boucher Remember it well. Was living in Milton Road at that time. Thankfully we were at the IHC end and didn't get flooded. Great Photos!
David Heenan I remember it well we were living at the top of the hill on milton rd and the sight of all of those homes deluged was an awful sight. Wendy Heenan
Jennifer Gaskell The flood was 1978. Mum and Dad lived in the Railway Houses in Paroa Road. I have photos of Dad in a row boat getting Mum out to higher ground.
Carolyn Luck Milton Road, 1978. Looks like Colin Bell in the boat. We lived in Shakespeare Street, backed into Milton Road. Mum came out in a boat, water all through house and it was very muddy water. A terrible time.
Carolyn Luck Colin and Cushla Bell's house and next door Peg and Pat Kavanagh, we backed onto Kavanagh's.
Sandra Geddes 78thats about right!
Margaret Jacobs Remember it well we were living in Josephine St
Sharlene Mclaughlin Emily Kavanagh any relation to u
Geoffrey Bell Colin and Cushla Bell's House. Kirstine Latimer. Colin in boat.
Jan Powell One of the infant classes at Grey Main had a calendar on which the weather for each day was recorded. We did a count-up. There were 56 consecutive days of rain that year.
Jill Smith I lived in Milton road with my parents. I have some awesome photos. I married in 1978 so think it was well before that - unless that's another flood I remember. Milton Road flooded several times we used to ride our bikes through the water - great fun.
Lynnette Beirne This was April 78 Jill
I was still living at the High School Hostel and I brought my house at Runanga after that flood
Margaret Jacobs It was 1978 as my eldest daughter was only 5 months old at the time
Wendy Rodden 1978 for sure. I got married the weekend of the this flood. The worst of it was Friday so it wasn't to bad for our wedding on Saturday. We had a lot of hassles with guests that were arriving on the railcar. They had to get on a bus because of a slip and then when they got to New River there was a washout and they were transported over the river on a jigger to a bus waiting on the other side. This was exciting for many of our guests.
Dan Mckinley What year ,moved into 62 bout 78/79
Andrew Iraia Was bout to tag you lol
Barbie Turner Patrick Henderson...wow
Ann Knipe The flash flood was May 1978.
Don Hutton Peter, that's the approach to the Marlborough St bridge over Sawyers Creek in the foreground I think. The creek would have been in high flood at that bend. Did the water flow down the street to the right towards Rugby Park etc?
Don Hutton Peter Westwood I had a friend in the 1940s who lived just over the bridge to the left and we spent a lot of time in the bush (since cleared and subdivided) along the creek at the foot of the hill. Their lawn which sloped down to the creek was flooded regularly. I think Ray Rollinson head of Grey Main in the 1950s lived in that house.
Peter Westwood Don Hutton Our house was built in 1952 by Bruce Erickson, works overseer at MOW, it was a wonderful home, Les and Joan Richards were in the house next door and on other side was Miss Davidson from High Sch. She is still there , great neighbour.
Don Hutton Peter Westwood Yes, I remember those houses being built. Les's older brother John was my year at school and Yvonne was a young teacher at GTHS in the early 1950s.
Peter Lambert Water through the garage at 58 Marlborough St. I think I remember water all around the Shakespeare St area as well.
Peter Westwood Don we had sold the house to Education Dept. And that was the weekend I was moving to ChCh and my wife Noreen was to follow 3weeks later. With the help of Hospitall sparkies , I drove for WCHB.and Blake Knox x Harley’s we recarpeted all within 3 days. Only on the Coast.
Ray Vincent remember taking Tom from work home in my rubber boat with the little jet outboard on the back. was to somewhere in this area.
Ray Vincent Tom who was NZR stationmaster in Grey.
Brendon Rae That your old place Glen?
Glen Mesman Yeah mate, there was tide marks when we did Reno’s
Karen Potter I remember poor mum that day. Water past her waist. Then the scrubbing after it went.
Martin James My great aunt and uncle were Fred and Marian Heveldt. I think they livec at 83 Marlborough Street. Min Rollenson lived next to the creek.
Karen Potter Just lived over the bridge from us. Mr rollenson was grey mains head master. We used to get crab apples off his tree.
Martin James I didnt know Mr Rollinson. He must have died perhaps. I stayed with the Heveldts on and off in the late 70's early 80's. We would get a taxi into town with Min. Min would have a basket of cash!
Megan Elizabeth Adams I grew up at 99 Marlborough St. Mrs Heveldt gave me the one and only experience of seeing a chook running around with no head after she chopped it off with an axe!
Don Hutton I remember that tree Karen Potter, it was there in the 1940s when my friend John Montgomerie lived there. Ray Rollinson bought the property in 1950 and was head at Grey Main until 1963 when he probably retired Martin James.
Martin James Mums cousin Carolyn Luck
I remember this very well.
Tony Simpson
Remember this - we were teaching at GHS at the time and lived above the waterline in Leith Crescent. Remember also Geoffrey King and I launching his jet boat at the bottom of Leith Crescent and going door to door giving help where needed.
Geoffrey King
Tony Simpson Is that where u have gotten to Tony Simpson, Balclutha
Tony Simpson
Geoffrey King Only been here 41 years Geoffrey. Obviously you are still in Grey - last lost you at Sumner.... No doubt for both of us lots of water under the bridge since then. If you are up for a dose of nostalgia and old times, would love to catch up… See more
Murray Browne
Remembered a couple of times having Sawyers Creek running through our place in Sinnott Road in the 50s.
Sandra Rooney
Remember
Dan Mckinley
Year after we moved here . Lived on Marlborough st but don't really remember
Leone Stewart
We lived on the cnr of Marlborough and High Streets in the 50’s & 60’s, certainly remember the rain but never flooding like this
Spanners Watson
Brendon Gibson
Peter Lambert
Remember that well. Sawyers Creek overflowed. The house at 58 was OK but the garage had 18" of water through. . . Silt everywhere
Peter Westwood
Peter Lambert I see 56 on the market at present.
Peter Westwood
That was our home, we got 8 inches through the house. One car in the garage got swamped. I was at work stuck by a slip on the coast Rd. My wife got the kids out early and she eventually got picked up by boat, taking the cat with her.
Trish Rennie
Remember this Bruce Nimmo
Julie Steele
We lived at 73 Marlborough street across the road it was lapping our front door
Lyn Galvin
My grandmother lived in Marlborough St then and got water through her house. A policeman had to piggyback her out She thought it was a bit exciting to get to 90 and have a policeman to rescue her
Ray Port
Remember it well.
Nina Townsend
Ray Port i remember jen & dick getting it rite thru the railway house they had carpet tiles & each little square shrunk but was waist deep outside the front dooor prob hip deep inside so cupla feet
Naomi Riley
Ray Port what address is the circled house? I can’t get my bearings from the picture!
Ray Port
Naomi Riley my old house 109 Sinnot road..further down in right out of picture was Minty Curtis store.
Eva st is right across from circled house...Barry Sweetman is on corner opposite us...
Murray Browne
Ray Port I lived at 113 Sinnot Road from 1955 to end of 1963. Just down an to the left of your house in the picture. Remember Minty Curtis store well! Used to be mates with his sons.
Ray Port
Murray Browne i moved to Greymouth from Ross late 60's.
Very fond memories of Minty.
Always great with us local kids.… See more
Murray Browne
Ray Port yes, nice guy! He used to deliver our groceries in a little van.
First time I've seen a photo of our old house since we left!
Robert Porter
The railway house we lived in High street across the road from the hospital Bridge almost got water inside the house was high of the ground.
Murray Saunders
We lived next door to Rob on high street
Had water come thru our place (141)
Robert Porter
Murray Saunders our place was a bit higher of the ground than yours. Went through the garage sheds and the sleep out aswell
Peter Westwood
Robert Porter that’s the same flood
Robert Porter
Peter Westwood we were just before the bend ours was the 1st railways house ( 143 ) alot of people knew my dad as jingles
Gary Reid
Robert Porter I lived 3 doors down was canoing round house no water inside
Lisa Ryan
Oh yes for sure. We were Milton Rd
Lisa Ryan
We were flooded in the house and then I got bad bronchitis after
Grant Ellingford
I remember this well, helped
David Hoy grandparents shift furniture in their home.
Graham Mahy
look at this Aleisha Rose Gill
Peter MacRae
Our family lived at 37 Marsden Road until 1970 and endued many floods.
Karen Potter
Right where our family grew up. Erickson home and Cahill home
Tony Gardyne
Heck
Gayle Borman
We lived in Bridge Street and our home was flooded. Quite an adventure for a 12 year old!!
Karina Cook
I Remember this very well my Grandparents house on 29 chapter street water going into there front door like a river
Peter Westwood
No train to Hoki that day either
Lee Henderson
Coal warming or global warming
Peter Westwood
Lee Henderson west coast rain
Lee Henderson
Bus Chc to Whataroa had tight single lane in Otira. The side mirror snapped off against the Otira rock wall at Candys bend. The Otira was roaring high & the mail train got swept away. It was my first visit to the West Coast to find my Dad
Alex McDougall
The street I grew up on. We lived in 58 then moved next door to 56 with grandparents living at 48.
Lynn Tacon
Lived Shakespeare street no water in house but to top of steps inside.mini car in garage water up to the steering wheel.wood in shed floated up then dropped back when water receded.jet boats came up to front door to see if we were OK.
Tony Simpson
Could have been Geoffrey King and I who nosed up to your front door. An amazing day.
Paul Southon
The house directly behind the Marist Brothers was 19 Alexander Road and the home of my grandparents Arthur and Jess Colins until the early 60s. It has since been demolished but still have great memories of the climb up the hill to the house and the area
Wayne Southon
The last year I played rugby against Marist Bros 1st xv
Jocelyn Hector
We lived 10 Elizabeth Street went right through our house
Peter Westwood
At the time we had sold this house to the education dept as we were moving to CHCH where I had secured a job at Templeton Hospital It was my last day at West coast hospital bd So once water recede we recarpeted and dried the walls that had recently been redecorated. By the time the ed dept evenuatly inspected the flood damage and settled the sale 3 months had passed.
Sandy Jones
I had a paper run. We were told by the Grey Star we still had to deliver the newspaper but only to mail boxes above water. A kind man rowed me in his boat down Marsden Road to the visible mailboxes.
Bob Laing
Sandy Jones
They would have to be joking
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West Coast New Zealand History (17th Dec 2021). Sawyer's Creek flood - Marlborough Street, Greymouth .1978.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 4th Apr 2026 20:17, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/18196