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Snowflake Icecream Factory, Coal Creek .1953.
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DescriptionSnowflake Ice Cream Factory, 1953.
Left to right: Frederick Norton, Percy East, Daphne Skeets, Ken Houghton, unknown, Owen Norton.
Owen Norton collection. Permission kindly given by Owen Norton.Date of Photo1953Map[1] External LinkHistory of Icecream in NZ
Left to right: Frederick Norton, Percy East, Daphne Skeets, Ken Houghton, unknown, Owen Norton.
Owen Norton collection. Permission kindly given by Owen Norton.Date of Photo1953Map[1] External LinkHistory of Icecream in NZ
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Location (city or town)Coal CreekPersonFrederick NortonOwen Norton Percy East Daphne Skeets Ken HoughtonOrganisation (eg business)Snowflake Icecream factory
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LinkFacebookDate Created2017-01-08CommentsGeorge Samuel great icecream
Like · Reply · 25 mins
Gordon McIntosh
Gordon McIntosh Snowflake!
George Samuel cola iceblocks
George Samuel any one take snowflake over
Peter Mitchell I MISS SNOWFLAKE ICE CREAM
David Blance Can remember go there 1964 on school outing nice ice cream that
Mandy Harrington Used to go there all the time
Denise Bradley Snowflake can't remember the family name
Peter Morgan Owen Norton was the owner
Bob Jamieson Down the track opposite was my favourite Grey river trout fishing spot.
Maye Dunn From the Owen Norton Collection.
Eric Holman Yes great ice cream.
Ron McCann Snowflake made on the coast for coasters
Helen Carrington I grew up living next paddock away,,, we always had icecream n fresh milk... Really takes me back
Tania Newman Loved the Polar Bars. The icecream had a unique taste. Miss it
Debbie Ansett Leeanne Sneddon This is well before Dad started
Marg Delore Excellent pic great history captured here.
Trish Rennie Loved my job their in the office with Jean Kroening...Owen was a fabulous boss. We had really memorable social gatherings all paid for by the firm. Ice cream straight from the churn was to die for...Lovely memories of all the folks there...
Angie Quinn Best ice cream ever. Was gutted when I heard it had gone.
Frances Stephen Angie Quinn
me to was gutted
Judy Fishburn That ice cream was the bomb, so sad when it closed down
Mike Johnston Judy Fishburn your do right ! Was the best ice cream ! Should’ve outdone tip-top had it had financing Help
Beryl Heperi Sure was the best Ice cream you could get.
Pauline Watts Yumm best ice cream ever
Jenny Leach Yum snow flake ice cream
Wendy Gibson Yum they made the best ice cream
Pauline Walsh My mum worked there nice ice cream
Margaret Harrington Warren Barlow
Ray Sutton I think they made the best icecream I have ever tasted
Sharyn Lodge Absolutely. Creamiest icecream ever.
Stephanie Keen The best ever. When we went to Christchurch on holiday I wouldn't eat ice cream because it wasn't as good!
Ave Muir No ice cream has never tasted the same
Anne Miller Mcmillan Mitchell Tucker operates a wrecking car yard there now. Owen still lives in house next door
Anne Miller Mcmillan Hullo Leanne Sneddon. Hope u all good love
Darcy Craze i talked to my mate Owen Norton about 3 week ago getting a flu jab!!
Sarah Veller Douglas Smales The very best tasting.Y.
Miriama Lance Johnsen They made the best chocolate Boms
Julie Ann White Best ice cream ever made yummy
Kym Murdoch Best icecream ever!!
Angela Lumsden The best Ice Crsam ever. My mum worked there for years we got ice cream birthdaycskes
Rae Amad My absolute favourite ice cream ever !!!’
Rose Green Yes never get that taste again
John Houghton My Dad (Ken Houghton) a few years before I was born
Kathryn Ward I loved snowflake ice cream especially their chocolate bombs with the coconut on the top
Joanne Conroy What a wonderful treat the Ice cream birthday cakes were
Janet Smith Love that Ice cream. Do they still operate?
Brian Steele I got a job there in the 90s. After the factory was struck by lightening and burned down it was rebuilt. I was only going to be there a month but that job turned into 5 years. Mostly I worked with Ossie Jackson out in the workshop and doing othe…See More
2
Tony Fortune My favourite ice cream...especially Hokey Pokey.
Gail N Gary Martin Gary's uncle Percy East
Sarah Jolly Is it possible to get a copy of this picture, as Daphne Jolly (nee Skeats) is in a dementia unite in Christchurch and we often talk to her about working in the snowflake ice cream factory?
Sue Vaughan Best ice cream ever, and Chocolate Bombs were the dream.
Karlene Jane Batchelor Loved this when we first moved here, it was such a special treat....
So fluffy
Vanette Hawke Absolutely the best
Carol Thomson The best ice cream in the world. Can someone start doing their recipes again
Sue Berry The best ice cream ever!
Lois Iacoppi Remember it , we used to sell it in our shop
Anna Reiha Walters Yum fabulous ice cream
Doreen Thomson Stocked their ice cream in our shop their service was great and the ice cream was superb
Doris Blanchard We sold it in our shop in Greymouth and I loved the chocolate bombs. When my father told me that I could have one I would return to the freezer a couple of times hoping that he would not notice that I was actually having three.
Arthur Dehn I sure loved snow flake ice cream when I was a kid in Whataroa in the 30s. and 40s
Justine Christopher Best I've cream ever
Johnny Kwin Regional Council tried to run it, couldn't make it work, even though it had for decades before that.
Gordon Dixon Great ice cream the only one to have
Ray Chandler It was just the best
Mary Prendergast My favourite. A walk up the road.
Trish Stewart Owen Norton used to own it, my dad used to take us there sometimes, best ice cream Maurice O'Flaherty has anyone got the recipe best ice cream
George Samuel whats on the site now
Heather Newby thats what I was wondering
Laura Mills Detlaff Heather Newby think it's a car wreckers now
Wayne Thornton I Remember Snowflake ice cream when did it close
Karen Kellaway Best tasting icecream ever!!
Robin Gibbens Crime of the century , the closing of the worlds best Ice cream factory Great opportunity for the Grey country to reopen it , as this could be a money maker and a win for us all
Lindsay Forrest Especially hokey pokey!!
Brendon Forrest I was banana chip!!!
Heather Newby OMGosh,, hokey pokey!! my favourite
Gavin Davy Great delivery truck.
Jeni Waters best icecream ever, loved the milk ices too
Midge Tuffley awsome icecream which we still could get it now remember going home fom school in late 50s an eating one
Heather Newby after i read all the comments i biked downtown and got some icecream!! lol
Peter Westwood Percy East eventually became manager for Apex Ice Cream in Greymouth, Cool room was in back lane behind Grey Star.
Marty Byrne The BEST ice cream ever .... loved their Polar Bars when I was a kid visiting from Nelson
Warren Thomson
Little diary near Empire Hotel Ross did great trade with Snowflake ice cream 1940's. Daisy Peoples and Jack Smith's shop..
Dianne Manera
Warren Thomson , Joan (Manera)Anderson owned the little shop.
Warren Thomson
Daisy & Jack were before Joan. They lived at the rear of the shop. If I remember correctly they had a nice little garden.
Warren Thomson
Hi Dianne. I've just been corrected by my sister. She says Daisy Peoples had the haberdashery shop next to Joan Manera. I now remember getting ice creams from Joan Manera in the rectangular cones. Daisy Peoples and Jack Smith then bought a shop in Selwyn St Christchurch in a block of shops originally owned by my grandfather.
Greg Hine
Just another NZ business done over by the big boys and cheap imports. Very sad and very wrong.
Marty Byrne
Loved snowflake ice cream and their Polar Bars
Murry McKendry
Loved there ice cream
Joy Hill-Cooper
The only icecream my dad would eat
Frances Stephen
I loved snowflake
Ice cream
Sandra Rooney
Favourite brand.
Tom Jones
My mouth is drooling Banana Chocolate Chip was my favorite,5lt cardboard box every week
Kathryn Ward
Loved that ice cream, especially their chocolate bombs.
Susan Ann James
They had the best ice cream Eva was a shame when they closed down ,
Ray Deo
Is that a Daimler van?
Joyce White
Snowflake was the best icecream ever.
Vern Pattinson
Back in the good old years
Tim Johnston
Vern Pattinson best ice cream Eva Vern
Vern Pattinson
Tim Johnston 4 sure Ti
Sheryl Iraia
Loved that ice cream
Belinda Roselli
The best
Arthur Dehn
Snowflake ice cream had a taste of it's own I also loved it at Whataroa, I was a naughty boy on the way home from school i would order a 3p ice cream a nd put it on Dad's account ,When they found out i got a real tongue thrashing
Leeanne Mahuika
Shit was the place to go Tom Jones so good. Great times.
Charlie Blanchett
Snowflake was the best cheers
Judy Ann Hinde
My father David Oates drove an ice cream truck for this company in his youth. He told me a story of how at the end of the day they would park up the truck in the shed and have to undo the valves on the coolant system (liquid ammonia)and allow it to drain out. It took some time to do this and all the while the ammonia would be boiling on the floor creating terrible lung damaging fumes. The driver would have to take a deep breath and hold it for some time during this procedure then run for the outdoors. He loved his time working there. Also drove for Monteiths at one time doing the Waiuta deliveries which was a challenging drive.
Judy Ann Hinde he would have known my Dad.. who worked at Monteiths after Dobson Mine closed down.
Dorothy Wills
Best ice cream ever
Judy Wilson
Yummy ice-cream would love to have it now. Can't buy anything that comes close to it.
Bob Jamieson
Just opposite this, a track led down to the Grey river, good fishing spot.
Dianne Johnson
Fantastic memories of going to visit Owen on Sundays and getting free ice creams. Snowflake still the best ice cream in the world I reckon.
Heather Newby
Chocolate bombs
Linda Howard
Best ice cream ever.
Robin Gibbens
Makes me wild just thinking how the hell did the best ice cream ever end up disappearing of the face of the world
Angie Quinn
Best ice cream ever!
Trish Rennie
I worked in the office there in the late 60’s early 70’s ….Owen was one of the best bosses I’ve had in my working career. Great workmates and social functions. I remember Owen n Sybil Norton, Wattie n Elsie ,Kevin n Warren Barlow, Jack Dando, Bernie Bennett, Keith Harris, Pauline Virtue, Jean Kroening and Marg Wilson.
Nothing can outdo Snowflake ice cream straight from the churn and into a cone on a hot summers day …oh the lovely memories
Debbie Ansett
Trish Rennie Jack Dando is my father
Diana Clark
That was THE BEST ICIEST ice cream ever xxx
Mel Higson
Yumm the best ice-cream
Suzanne Clark
Best Ice cream ever made !!!! Loved the little pottles
Craig Pollock
We hand loaded pallets of this awesome ice cream and then I would take it to the supermarkets in Ch Ch twice a week. Those were the days
David Hopgood
More of the story @ https://www.nzicecream.org.nz/history-nz-westland...
History of Ice Cream in New Zealand | NZICA - The New Zealand Ice Cream Association (Inc.)
NZICECREAM.ORG.NZ
History of Ice Cream in New Zealand | NZICA - The New Zealand Ice Cream Association (Inc.)
History of Ice Cream in New Zealand | NZICA - The New Zealand Ice Cream Association (Inc.)
Ivan Murray Wilson
Iconic Coast product .
Mel Riddle
I remember a school trip out there, absolutely loved it. We all got a little pottle of ice cream with the wee wooden spoon under the lid
Ian Haussmann
Mel Riddle just didn't get enough ice cream
Mel Riddle
Ian Haussmann no, but we went home and harped to our parents till they relented and bought more at the supermarket
Geoffrey King
Use to ask my Grandfather, Durham Dowell, when he was going to Snowflake. We would get an ice-cream striaght from the churn, like a soft freeze now days. So yummy
Peter Moore
Yep.Best ever
Kenny Williams
It was the best end of story.
Shellz Dando
Omg luv that place remember going there on a school trip yum yum yum snow flake ice cream eva thank u for sharing. Wat does it lok like knw please xx
Terry MJ
I remember the Snowflake taste quite well even after not consuming it for many years. It was part of our lives in Greymouth. Someone told me that it was being made by another company now but like everything else these days I will bet that its lost that "West Coast flavour" it once had. I Wish SOME things could stay the same and to hell with "progress" !!!!!!
Gavin Davy
Love the truck.
Leanna Gillespie Annie
Amazing ice cream yum yum
Leanna Gillespie Annie
Heather Reid
My sister Roselie worked there
Jade Dalzell
Moderator
I remember going here for school trips.
Hazel Oldham
My father left school to work in a ice cream factory in westporr .we need these small businesses back
Lois Iacoppi
We sold snowflake in our blackball shop,
I preferred tip top
Ralph Jonathan Croawell
I remember those days, there was one on Westport their eskimo pies were the best crea creamy soft delicious wrapped in a type of butter paper and the wafers.cant remember where it was.
Anne Clarkson
Mr Barlow worked there for years
Tania Newman
The BEST ice cream ever. Loved the Polar Bar.
Renee Panapa
Renee Panapa
Yep The Best
Kathryn Ward
Such lovely ice cream
Sharon Kearns
I knew Owen Norton in later years. He was such a nice man.
Julie Ann White
Best icecream ever made
Lorraine O'Donoghue
Great ice cream. Nothing made like it today!
Edwin Lord
Best ice cream ever
John Houghton
My dad ( Ken Houghton) in this photo - it was taken when dad was 21 and before I was born
Gaelyn Watson
Best Ice cream in New Zealand.Reply1d
Mary Costello
Snowflake Magic
Kevin Boyd
Ahead of their time. Cardboard carton for the ice-cream, not plastic.
Lyn McQuillan
Best ice cream
Sharon Arohanui Marsh
Loved eating Snowflake icecream was all we had till Tip Top came in
Shirley Barrow
Sad they didn't rebuild it
Rose Green
Best icecream ever .. especially the lime ! Enjoyed the school trips and free icecream
Les Ellis
It was a lovely tasting Ice Cream. A West Coast treat and Ikon.
Sally Ritchie
Liz Hancock
Colin Pearce
Did they make a hazelnut chocolate coated ice cream log..I remember some Sunday "lunches" ending with the log but no idea where they came from..very very yummo
Terry MJ
I think I was Frank Bells best customer as a kid during half-time at the old Opera Alton House, although Frank made his own ice cream which was also very yummy. But I can well remember as a youngster in the early 1950's calling into the Snowflake factory in Coal Creek whenever the family was out for a Sunday ride in our 1928 Dodge and paying I think one penny or tuppence for a chocolate bomb straight from the freezer and boy they were GREAT.
Judy Crestani
Alison Blogs
Leeanne Sneddon
Debbie Ansett best ice-cream in the world
Lynn Sheldon
Remember it well. on the back road to Taylorville.
Happy Winnie The Pooh GIF
Jenny Haines
Best NZ ice cream.
Beryl Heperi
Was the Best Ice cream
Terry MJ
WTH ????????? Whats this Opera Alton House ?????? When writing this comment, I wrote the OLD OPERA HOUSE, referring to the old movie theatre in Greymouth where I was a frequent visitor as a kid in the 1940's and 50's, but it comes out on here as the "Opera Alton House." What the hell ??????????????????????????????? This is damned annoying !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gwenda Parker
Was my husband's favorite.
Gonzo Mclean
Old memories of two school trips...
Sharlene Orme
Visited with dobson school back in the day
Jill Jones
Best ice cream ever.
Murray Brown
Loved Snowflake ice cream.
Building still there.
Linda Connors
Best ice cream
Linda Gray
Linda Connors that's for sure
Gayleen Culling
Sure was
Vicki Hurrell
My mum worked there, ice cream and ice blocks every day, lucky
Kevin Arnesen
The year I was born .
Kay Nichols
We went there on a school trip, I think it was on our way home from going down a coal mine as 12 year olds. We were actually surprised to get a free ice cream. Of course we were loyal customers after that.
Barbara Scott
Kay Nichols I remember that too. Hated the mine, loved the ice cream\
Anita Ross
Kay Nichols yep, snowflake, cococola, milk treatment and Dobson mine. Wood processing plant at Gladstone on way home. It was a busy day
Fay Glasson
Banana chocolate chip was my favourite
Pauline Walsh
One of my favorites my mum worked there loved there icecreàm the best
Craig Brooks
it was sooooo good
Rhonda Jackson
Lovely icecream
Pam Rayner
Alan Duncan was one of the managers in Westport. The kids were Ross and Liane
Ella Hanify
Just the best ice cream flavour ever. Coming over from chch to the coast for holidays, we couldn’t wait to have a snowflake ice cream !
Like · Reply · 25 mins
Gordon McIntosh
Gordon McIntosh Snowflake!
George Samuel cola iceblocks
George Samuel any one take snowflake over
Peter Mitchell I MISS SNOWFLAKE ICE CREAM
David Blance Can remember go there 1964 on school outing nice ice cream that
Mandy Harrington Used to go there all the time
Denise Bradley Snowflake can't remember the family name
Peter Morgan Owen Norton was the owner
Bob Jamieson Down the track opposite was my favourite Grey river trout fishing spot.
Maye Dunn From the Owen Norton Collection.
Eric Holman Yes great ice cream.
Ron McCann Snowflake made on the coast for coasters
Helen Carrington I grew up living next paddock away,,, we always had icecream n fresh milk... Really takes me back
Tania Newman Loved the Polar Bars. The icecream had a unique taste. Miss it
Debbie Ansett Leeanne Sneddon This is well before Dad started
Marg Delore Excellent pic great history captured here.
Trish Rennie Loved my job their in the office with Jean Kroening...Owen was a fabulous boss. We had really memorable social gatherings all paid for by the firm. Ice cream straight from the churn was to die for...Lovely memories of all the folks there...
Angie Quinn Best ice cream ever. Was gutted when I heard it had gone.
Frances Stephen Angie Quinn
me to was gutted
Judy Fishburn That ice cream was the bomb, so sad when it closed down
Mike Johnston Judy Fishburn your do right ! Was the best ice cream ! Should’ve outdone tip-top had it had financing Help
Beryl Heperi Sure was the best Ice cream you could get.
Pauline Watts Yumm best ice cream ever
Jenny Leach Yum snow flake ice cream
Wendy Gibson Yum they made the best ice cream
Pauline Walsh My mum worked there nice ice cream
Margaret Harrington Warren Barlow
Ray Sutton I think they made the best icecream I have ever tasted
Sharyn Lodge Absolutely. Creamiest icecream ever.
Stephanie Keen The best ever. When we went to Christchurch on holiday I wouldn't eat ice cream because it wasn't as good!
Ave Muir No ice cream has never tasted the same
Anne Miller Mcmillan Mitchell Tucker operates a wrecking car yard there now. Owen still lives in house next door
Anne Miller Mcmillan Hullo Leanne Sneddon. Hope u all good love
Darcy Craze i talked to my mate Owen Norton about 3 week ago getting a flu jab!!
Sarah Veller Douglas Smales The very best tasting.Y.
Miriama Lance Johnsen They made the best chocolate Boms
Julie Ann White Best ice cream ever made yummy
Kym Murdoch Best icecream ever!!
Angela Lumsden The best Ice Crsam ever. My mum worked there for years we got ice cream birthdaycskes
Rae Amad My absolute favourite ice cream ever !!!’
Rose Green Yes never get that taste again
John Houghton My Dad (Ken Houghton) a few years before I was born
Kathryn Ward I loved snowflake ice cream especially their chocolate bombs with the coconut on the top
Joanne Conroy What a wonderful treat the Ice cream birthday cakes were
Janet Smith Love that Ice cream. Do they still operate?
Brian Steele I got a job there in the 90s. After the factory was struck by lightening and burned down it was rebuilt. I was only going to be there a month but that job turned into 5 years. Mostly I worked with Ossie Jackson out in the workshop and doing othe…See More
2
Tony Fortune My favourite ice cream...especially Hokey Pokey.
Gail N Gary Martin Gary's uncle Percy East
Sarah Jolly Is it possible to get a copy of this picture, as Daphne Jolly (nee Skeats) is in a dementia unite in Christchurch and we often talk to her about working in the snowflake ice cream factory?
Sue Vaughan Best ice cream ever, and Chocolate Bombs were the dream.
Karlene Jane Batchelor Loved this when we first moved here, it was such a special treat....
So fluffy
Vanette Hawke Absolutely the best
Carol Thomson The best ice cream in the world. Can someone start doing their recipes again
Sue Berry The best ice cream ever!
Lois Iacoppi Remember it , we used to sell it in our shop
Anna Reiha Walters Yum fabulous ice cream
Doreen Thomson Stocked their ice cream in our shop their service was great and the ice cream was superb
Doris Blanchard We sold it in our shop in Greymouth and I loved the chocolate bombs. When my father told me that I could have one I would return to the freezer a couple of times hoping that he would not notice that I was actually having three.
Arthur Dehn I sure loved snow flake ice cream when I was a kid in Whataroa in the 30s. and 40s
Justine Christopher Best I've cream ever
Johnny Kwin Regional Council tried to run it, couldn't make it work, even though it had for decades before that.
Gordon Dixon Great ice cream the only one to have
Ray Chandler It was just the best
Mary Prendergast My favourite. A walk up the road.
Trish Stewart Owen Norton used to own it, my dad used to take us there sometimes, best ice cream Maurice O'Flaherty has anyone got the recipe best ice cream
George Samuel whats on the site now
Heather Newby thats what I was wondering
Laura Mills Detlaff Heather Newby think it's a car wreckers now
Wayne Thornton I Remember Snowflake ice cream when did it close
Karen Kellaway Best tasting icecream ever!!
Robin Gibbens Crime of the century , the closing of the worlds best Ice cream factory Great opportunity for the Grey country to reopen it , as this could be a money maker and a win for us all
Lindsay Forrest Especially hokey pokey!!
Brendon Forrest I was banana chip!!!
Heather Newby OMGosh,, hokey pokey!! my favourite
Gavin Davy Great delivery truck.
Jeni Waters best icecream ever, loved the milk ices too
Midge Tuffley awsome icecream which we still could get it now remember going home fom school in late 50s an eating one
Heather Newby after i read all the comments i biked downtown and got some icecream!! lol
Peter Westwood Percy East eventually became manager for Apex Ice Cream in Greymouth, Cool room was in back lane behind Grey Star.
Marty Byrne The BEST ice cream ever .... loved their Polar Bars when I was a kid visiting from Nelson
Warren Thomson
Little diary near Empire Hotel Ross did great trade with Snowflake ice cream 1940's. Daisy Peoples and Jack Smith's shop..
Dianne Manera
Warren Thomson , Joan (Manera)Anderson owned the little shop.
Warren Thomson
Daisy & Jack were before Joan. They lived at the rear of the shop. If I remember correctly they had a nice little garden.
Warren Thomson
Hi Dianne. I've just been corrected by my sister. She says Daisy Peoples had the haberdashery shop next to Joan Manera. I now remember getting ice creams from Joan Manera in the rectangular cones. Daisy Peoples and Jack Smith then bought a shop in Selwyn St Christchurch in a block of shops originally owned by my grandfather.
Greg Hine
Just another NZ business done over by the big boys and cheap imports. Very sad and very wrong.
Marty Byrne
Loved snowflake ice cream and their Polar Bars
Murry McKendry
Loved there ice cream
Joy Hill-Cooper
The only icecream my dad would eat
Frances Stephen
I loved snowflake
Ice cream
Sandra Rooney
Favourite brand.
Tom Jones
My mouth is drooling Banana Chocolate Chip was my favorite,5lt cardboard box every week
Kathryn Ward
Loved that ice cream, especially their chocolate bombs.
Susan Ann James
They had the best ice cream Eva was a shame when they closed down ,
Ray Deo
Is that a Daimler van?
Joyce White
Snowflake was the best icecream ever.
Vern Pattinson
Back in the good old years
Tim Johnston
Vern Pattinson best ice cream Eva Vern
Vern Pattinson
Tim Johnston 4 sure Ti
Sheryl Iraia
Loved that ice cream
Belinda Roselli
The best
Arthur Dehn
Snowflake ice cream had a taste of it's own I also loved it at Whataroa, I was a naughty boy on the way home from school i would order a 3p ice cream a nd put it on Dad's account ,When they found out i got a real tongue thrashing
Leeanne Mahuika
Shit was the place to go Tom Jones so good. Great times.
Charlie Blanchett
Snowflake was the best cheers
Judy Ann Hinde
My father David Oates drove an ice cream truck for this company in his youth. He told me a story of how at the end of the day they would park up the truck in the shed and have to undo the valves on the coolant system (liquid ammonia)and allow it to drain out. It took some time to do this and all the while the ammonia would be boiling on the floor creating terrible lung damaging fumes. The driver would have to take a deep breath and hold it for some time during this procedure then run for the outdoors. He loved his time working there. Also drove for Monteiths at one time doing the Waiuta deliveries which was a challenging drive.
Judy Ann Hinde he would have known my Dad.. who worked at Monteiths after Dobson Mine closed down.
Dorothy Wills
Best ice cream ever
Judy Wilson
Yummy ice-cream would love to have it now. Can't buy anything that comes close to it.
Bob Jamieson
Just opposite this, a track led down to the Grey river, good fishing spot.
Dianne Johnson
Fantastic memories of going to visit Owen on Sundays and getting free ice creams. Snowflake still the best ice cream in the world I reckon.
Heather Newby
Chocolate bombs
Linda Howard
Best ice cream ever.
Robin Gibbens
Makes me wild just thinking how the hell did the best ice cream ever end up disappearing of the face of the world
Angie Quinn
Best ice cream ever!
Trish Rennie
I worked in the office there in the late 60’s early 70’s ….Owen was one of the best bosses I’ve had in my working career. Great workmates and social functions. I remember Owen n Sybil Norton, Wattie n Elsie ,Kevin n Warren Barlow, Jack Dando, Bernie Bennett, Keith Harris, Pauline Virtue, Jean Kroening and Marg Wilson.
Nothing can outdo Snowflake ice cream straight from the churn and into a cone on a hot summers day …oh the lovely memories
Debbie Ansett
Trish Rennie Jack Dando is my father
Diana Clark
That was THE BEST ICIEST ice cream ever xxx
Mel Higson
Yumm the best ice-cream
Suzanne Clark
Best Ice cream ever made !!!! Loved the little pottles
Craig Pollock
We hand loaded pallets of this awesome ice cream and then I would take it to the supermarkets in Ch Ch twice a week. Those were the days
David Hopgood
More of the story @ https://www.nzicecream.org.nz/history-nz-westland...
History of Ice Cream in New Zealand | NZICA - The New Zealand Ice Cream Association (Inc.)
NZICECREAM.ORG.NZ
History of Ice Cream in New Zealand | NZICA - The New Zealand Ice Cream Association (Inc.)
History of Ice Cream in New Zealand | NZICA - The New Zealand Ice Cream Association (Inc.)
Ivan Murray Wilson
Iconic Coast product .
Mel Riddle
I remember a school trip out there, absolutely loved it. We all got a little pottle of ice cream with the wee wooden spoon under the lid
Ian Haussmann
Mel Riddle just didn't get enough ice cream
Mel Riddle
Ian Haussmann no, but we went home and harped to our parents till they relented and bought more at the supermarket
Geoffrey King
Use to ask my Grandfather, Durham Dowell, when he was going to Snowflake. We would get an ice-cream striaght from the churn, like a soft freeze now days. So yummy
Peter Moore
Yep.Best ever
Kenny Williams
It was the best end of story.
Shellz Dando
Omg luv that place remember going there on a school trip yum yum yum snow flake ice cream eva thank u for sharing. Wat does it lok like knw please xx
Terry MJ
I remember the Snowflake taste quite well even after not consuming it for many years. It was part of our lives in Greymouth. Someone told me that it was being made by another company now but like everything else these days I will bet that its lost that "West Coast flavour" it once had. I Wish SOME things could stay the same and to hell with "progress" !!!!!!
Gavin Davy
Love the truck.
Leanna Gillespie Annie
Amazing ice cream yum yum
Leanna Gillespie Annie
Heather Reid
My sister Roselie worked there
Jade Dalzell
Moderator
I remember going here for school trips.
Hazel Oldham
My father left school to work in a ice cream factory in westporr .we need these small businesses back
Lois Iacoppi
We sold snowflake in our blackball shop,
I preferred tip top
Ralph Jonathan Croawell
I remember those days, there was one on Westport their eskimo pies were the best crea creamy soft delicious wrapped in a type of butter paper and the wafers.cant remember where it was.
Anne Clarkson
Mr Barlow worked there for years
Tania Newman
The BEST ice cream ever. Loved the Polar Bar.
Renee Panapa
Renee Panapa
Yep The Best
Kathryn Ward
Such lovely ice cream
Sharon Kearns
I knew Owen Norton in later years. He was such a nice man.
Julie Ann White
Best icecream ever made
Lorraine O'Donoghue
Great ice cream. Nothing made like it today!
Edwin Lord
Best ice cream ever
John Houghton
My dad ( Ken Houghton) in this photo - it was taken when dad was 21 and before I was born
Gaelyn Watson
Best Ice cream in New Zealand.Reply1d
Mary Costello
Snowflake Magic
Kevin Boyd
Ahead of their time. Cardboard carton for the ice-cream, not plastic.
Lyn McQuillan
Best ice cream
Sharon Arohanui Marsh
Loved eating Snowflake icecream was all we had till Tip Top came in
Shirley Barrow
Sad they didn't rebuild it
Rose Green
Best icecream ever .. especially the lime ! Enjoyed the school trips and free icecream
Les Ellis
It was a lovely tasting Ice Cream. A West Coast treat and Ikon.
Sally Ritchie
Liz Hancock
Colin Pearce
Did they make a hazelnut chocolate coated ice cream log..I remember some Sunday "lunches" ending with the log but no idea where they came from..very very yummo
Terry MJ
I think I was Frank Bells best customer as a kid during half-time at the old Opera Alton House, although Frank made his own ice cream which was also very yummy. But I can well remember as a youngster in the early 1950's calling into the Snowflake factory in Coal Creek whenever the family was out for a Sunday ride in our 1928 Dodge and paying I think one penny or tuppence for a chocolate bomb straight from the freezer and boy they were GREAT.
Judy Crestani
Alison Blogs
Leeanne Sneddon
Debbie Ansett best ice-cream in the world
Lynn Sheldon
Remember it well. on the back road to Taylorville.
Happy Winnie The Pooh GIF
Jenny Haines
Best NZ ice cream.
Beryl Heperi
Was the Best Ice cream
Terry MJ
WTH ????????? Whats this Opera Alton House ?????? When writing this comment, I wrote the OLD OPERA HOUSE, referring to the old movie theatre in Greymouth where I was a frequent visitor as a kid in the 1940's and 50's, but it comes out on here as the "Opera Alton House." What the hell ??????????????????????????????? This is damned annoying !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gwenda Parker
Was my husband's favorite.
Gonzo Mclean
Old memories of two school trips...
Sharlene Orme
Visited with dobson school back in the day
Jill Jones
Best ice cream ever.
Murray Brown
Loved Snowflake ice cream.
Building still there.
Linda Connors
Best ice cream
Linda Gray
Linda Connors that's for sure
Gayleen Culling
Sure was
Vicki Hurrell
My mum worked there, ice cream and ice blocks every day, lucky
Kevin Arnesen
The year I was born .
Kay Nichols
We went there on a school trip, I think it was on our way home from going down a coal mine as 12 year olds. We were actually surprised to get a free ice cream. Of course we were loyal customers after that.
Barbara Scott
Kay Nichols I remember that too. Hated the mine, loved the ice cream\
Anita Ross
Kay Nichols yep, snowflake, cococola, milk treatment and Dobson mine. Wood processing plant at Gladstone on way home. It was a busy day
Fay Glasson
Banana chocolate chip was my favourite
Pauline Walsh
One of my favorites my mum worked there loved there icecreàm the best
Craig Brooks
it was sooooo good
Rhonda Jackson
Lovely icecream
Pam Rayner
Alan Duncan was one of the managers in Westport. The kids were Ross and Liane
Ella Hanify
Just the best ice cream flavour ever. Coming over from chch to the coast for holidays, we couldn’t wait to have a snowflake ice cream !
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West Coast New Zealand History (2nd Jul 2023). Snowflake Icecream Factory, Coal Creek .1953.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 25th Apr 2026 03:12, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/18865