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Crushington.ca.1919.
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DescriptionCrushington - a valley and small town on the road between Reefton and Springs Junction. My Watson and Bray families made their lives there. Nowadays there are few visible signs of this once busy and noisy mining community except the road sign, some rhododendrons strangely out of place in a paddock and some of the Wealth of Nations remains. These photos show something of the area ... I am not sure when they were taken. I have also included 3 descriptions from newspapers of the area - the noise and sights warranted the musing they created. Imagine how quiet the valley must have seemed when the stampers stopped for lack of quartz or water.
“As we progressed down the river, the valley, previously wide and level, contracts between the hills, and the road, which now begins to be well metalled, is formed on the hill side, at no great height over the river. Soon we heard a deafening noise, and turning round a corner came in sight of the village of Crushington, where a great waterwheel was driving a battery of twenty head of stampers, the noise of which, at some distance, is like that of a great waterfall, and close by is almost distracting. The village is built along the roadside, under the slopes of the mountain, which contains in its bowels reefs of quartz and seams of coal almost side by side. Many reefs of quartz are worked on both sides of the valley, and coal is found in the gullies all round the neighborhood. Resuming our route, we travelled about four miles down the gorge, until suddenly we came to a large plain on which stands the town of Reefton in the midst of a clearing, and surrounded by forests of birch.” Press, 10 September 1883.
“Those interested in mining matters can have more satisfaction with less exertion by following the river from Black’s Point, for about half-a-mile, to another township called Crushington, and the beautiful scenery on the road will alone repay the trouble. At Crushington the first object that meets the eye is the gigantic waterwheel, fifty feet in diameter, attached to the Wealth of Nations mine. This claim is not being worked at present. The Wealth of Nations! Be calm, shade of Adam Smith! Close by there is another waterwheel, of even more colossal proportions, which works by the battery at the Keep-it-Dark claim. It is thirty-five feet in diameter and twelve feet wide. This is one of the most important mines in the district, and will well repay a visit. Its courteous manager, Mr Fitzmaurice, is always ready and willing to do the honors. On the opposite side of the river, a little higher up, there is another battery worked by turbins, at the Globe claim, to which the quartz is conveyed, by what is termed an aerial tramway, over a hill for a distance of about a mile from the mine. There is a legend that a pint of beer costs a shilling at Crushington, but I did not test the truth of it.” Lake County Press, 26 June 1884.
“… at Crushington, where the song of the battery stamp comes like the roar of the sea on a shingle beach, the river is surging along between black rocks. Here are the batteries of all the big mines save the Big River, which is further south across the hills. The Progress, the Wealth of Nations, the Energetic, the Keep-it-Dark, what memories they conjure up! “Granity-granity-granity!” the measure seems to be thundering out. Then another refrain, slower and heavier chimes in “Auriferous-auriferous-auriferous !” Away along the winding gorge the sound is carried while the river waters are strained with the spoil that is washed out from the grinding stamps. Like great birds poised and slowly moving, the tubs for the Progress battery come down on an aerial line from the mine in the hills. And everything, from the old miners houses and water wheels to the modern machinery --- of gold.” Greymouth Evening Star, 3 May 1919.Date of Photoca.1919.Map[1] ContributorNicola Sutton
“As we progressed down the river, the valley, previously wide and level, contracts between the hills, and the road, which now begins to be well metalled, is formed on the hill side, at no great height over the river. Soon we heard a deafening noise, and turning round a corner came in sight of the village of Crushington, where a great waterwheel was driving a battery of twenty head of stampers, the noise of which, at some distance, is like that of a great waterfall, and close by is almost distracting. The village is built along the roadside, under the slopes of the mountain, which contains in its bowels reefs of quartz and seams of coal almost side by side. Many reefs of quartz are worked on both sides of the valley, and coal is found in the gullies all round the neighborhood. Resuming our route, we travelled about four miles down the gorge, until suddenly we came to a large plain on which stands the town of Reefton in the midst of a clearing, and surrounded by forests of birch.” Press, 10 September 1883.
“Those interested in mining matters can have more satisfaction with less exertion by following the river from Black’s Point, for about half-a-mile, to another township called Crushington, and the beautiful scenery on the road will alone repay the trouble. At Crushington the first object that meets the eye is the gigantic waterwheel, fifty feet in diameter, attached to the Wealth of Nations mine. This claim is not being worked at present. The Wealth of Nations! Be calm, shade of Adam Smith! Close by there is another waterwheel, of even more colossal proportions, which works by the battery at the Keep-it-Dark claim. It is thirty-five feet in diameter and twelve feet wide. This is one of the most important mines in the district, and will well repay a visit. Its courteous manager, Mr Fitzmaurice, is always ready and willing to do the honors. On the opposite side of the river, a little higher up, there is another battery worked by turbins, at the Globe claim, to which the quartz is conveyed, by what is termed an aerial tramway, over a hill for a distance of about a mile from the mine. There is a legend that a pint of beer costs a shilling at Crushington, but I did not test the truth of it.” Lake County Press, 26 June 1884.
“… at Crushington, where the song of the battery stamp comes like the roar of the sea on a shingle beach, the river is surging along between black rocks. Here are the batteries of all the big mines save the Big River, which is further south across the hills. The Progress, the Wealth of Nations, the Energetic, the Keep-it-Dark, what memories they conjure up! “Granity-granity-granity!” the measure seems to be thundering out. Then another refrain, slower and heavier chimes in “Auriferous-auriferous-auriferous !” Away along the winding gorge the sound is carried while the river waters are strained with the spoil that is washed out from the grinding stamps. Like great birds poised and slowly moving, the tubs for the Progress battery come down on an aerial line from the mine in the hills. And everything, from the old miners houses and water wheels to the modern machinery --- of gold.” Greymouth Evening Star, 3 May 1919.Date of Photoca.1919.Map[1] ContributorNicola Sutton
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Location (city or town)CrushingtonEventmining
Category Information
Category TagGoldmining
From Facebook
LinkFacebookDate Created21st January 2018CommentsRobyn Spinks My grandparents shifted to Crushington from the Globe Hill.Edward and Jane Butcher with a family of 5. My father was Claude Butcher.
Don Hutton Great history and photos Nicola Sutton
Ken Meadowcroft Hi Nicola was matey bray a single man who worked in at the blackball mine related to you by any chance lived in the miners huts for years nobody seems to know much about him it is said he just turned up one day.
Nicola Sutton Yes. His name was William Alexander Bray (know to his family as Alex) was the son of Harry and Louisa Annie Bray (nee Sherlock). He was born in Crushington on 13 May 1904. His sister Elizabeth May Watson (nee Bray) was my grandmother. I never met him...See More
Geoffrey Bell Ken Meadowcroft. Nicola Sutton.
Nicola Sutton Thank you so much Geoffrey. This is really appreciated and opens up further avenues for some research.
Nicola Sutton His father, Harry Bray, was a confectioner. His parents before him, in Cornwall, were also confectioners so it was a family skill passed on through generations.
Michelle Cross My grandmother Rena Bolitho (nee McHenry) was born in Crushington 7 January 1916. She did show me where her home was between the road and the river but nowadays it is the riverbed. Hard to believe all those houses were there. Thank you for sharing this. My great grandmother was Ellen Hannah Bray and she married James Bolitho so there is another connection I have with Crushington.
Elaine Bolitho Michelle Cross Nice to see your post - I interviewed your Grandmother for the Reefton School of Mines Book - such a lovely lady and we kept in touch for the rest of her life. Good to see that you are interested in the family history.
Michelle Cross Thank you Elaine. I knew you interviewed Gran. I have a copy of your book. It is so interesting.
Pauline Healey I think we might be related. My granddad's sister Gladys married Leslie McHenry and two of their daughters married Bolithos.
Elaine Bolitho Pauline Healey Melva married Reg Bolitho - moved to Temuka to raise their family, and Rena (Michelle Cross's Gran) married Wilfred Gordon, known as Mick.
Pauline Healey Elaine Bolitho Our mums must have been first cousins. My mum ('Billie' McEwin) grew up in Hukarere - her dad ('Bill') worked in a sawmill. She had a brother 'Boxer', and a sister Avis.
Elaine Bolitho Pauline Healey I'm sorry I'm not the Elaine Bolitho you think I am! I am Elaine Elizabeth, married to Ian Bolitho (son of Jim and Inez Bolitho of Blacks Point) not Elaine M Bolitho, the retired primary school principal living in Timaru and the daughter...See More
Pauline Healey Elaine Bolitho Thank you for putting me straight on that one. How easy it is to head off down the wrong track. What a coincidence you having the same name since it is not a common one.
Janaka Mary Bartlett My Grandparents (Jack and Reta Lewis) lived at Crushington, my Mum grew up there until their house got flooded by the river (Irene Bartlett née Lewis).
Ken Meadowcroft Geoffrey Bell, yes he did make boiled lollies, he called the black onedays with red stripes blackballs I often had a chat with him when I was a boy
Ken Meadowcroft Nicola, I don't know much about matey all I can say he was a nice bloke always had time for a chat with us blackball boys my great uncle frank meadowcroft also lived in the mine huts they were great days for us kids in them days many memories hope you find more out about him.
Nicola Sutton Thank you.
Lexie Aynsley he loved that dog of his called jack .and jack always went down the mine with him my dad told us the story of matey putting savaloys in his flask then poured hot water on them whenit was time to eat he had to smash the flask so jack could get his dinner .he would rather go hungrey himself than no let the dog go hungrey
Kathryn Cox He passed away at a 21st birthday party we were at..a beer in his hand....the story went and he didn't spill a drop.i remember him sitting on the centennial seat opposite the post office with his dog Jack when I worked at the post office
Ken Meadowcroft There were a few who lived at the mine huts as well matey bray I can remember reg Regan, stonewall jackson and frank meadowcroft.so he was amongst friends and not alone nicola
Nicola Sutton That's good.
John Paget I remember Matey Bray and Stonewall Jackson, Their was another guy who lived up there i am not i think his nickname was Boof. They used to drink at the working mens club in the early 1970/s.
Jennifer Griffin My brother Tony Win had a small lifestyle block we nicknamed pig shit pastures was not far from the mine
Don Hutton Great history and photos Nicola Sutton
Ken Meadowcroft Hi Nicola was matey bray a single man who worked in at the blackball mine related to you by any chance lived in the miners huts for years nobody seems to know much about him it is said he just turned up one day.
Nicola Sutton Yes. His name was William Alexander Bray (know to his family as Alex) was the son of Harry and Louisa Annie Bray (nee Sherlock). He was born in Crushington on 13 May 1904. His sister Elizabeth May Watson (nee Bray) was my grandmother. I never met him...See More
Geoffrey Bell Ken Meadowcroft. Nicola Sutton.
Nicola Sutton Thank you so much Geoffrey. This is really appreciated and opens up further avenues for some research.
Nicola Sutton His father, Harry Bray, was a confectioner. His parents before him, in Cornwall, were also confectioners so it was a family skill passed on through generations.
Michelle Cross My grandmother Rena Bolitho (nee McHenry) was born in Crushington 7 January 1916. She did show me where her home was between the road and the river but nowadays it is the riverbed. Hard to believe all those houses were there. Thank you for sharing this. My great grandmother was Ellen Hannah Bray and she married James Bolitho so there is another connection I have with Crushington.
Elaine Bolitho Michelle Cross Nice to see your post - I interviewed your Grandmother for the Reefton School of Mines Book - such a lovely lady and we kept in touch for the rest of her life. Good to see that you are interested in the family history.
Michelle Cross Thank you Elaine. I knew you interviewed Gran. I have a copy of your book. It is so interesting.
Pauline Healey I think we might be related. My granddad's sister Gladys married Leslie McHenry and two of their daughters married Bolithos.
Elaine Bolitho Pauline Healey Melva married Reg Bolitho - moved to Temuka to raise their family, and Rena (Michelle Cross's Gran) married Wilfred Gordon, known as Mick.
Pauline Healey Elaine Bolitho Our mums must have been first cousins. My mum ('Billie' McEwin) grew up in Hukarere - her dad ('Bill') worked in a sawmill. She had a brother 'Boxer', and a sister Avis.
Elaine Bolitho Pauline Healey I'm sorry I'm not the Elaine Bolitho you think I am! I am Elaine Elizabeth, married to Ian Bolitho (son of Jim and Inez Bolitho of Blacks Point) not Elaine M Bolitho, the retired primary school principal living in Timaru and the daughter...See More
Pauline Healey Elaine Bolitho Thank you for putting me straight on that one. How easy it is to head off down the wrong track. What a coincidence you having the same name since it is not a common one.
Janaka Mary Bartlett My Grandparents (Jack and Reta Lewis) lived at Crushington, my Mum grew up there until their house got flooded by the river (Irene Bartlett née Lewis).
Ken Meadowcroft Geoffrey Bell, yes he did make boiled lollies, he called the black onedays with red stripes blackballs I often had a chat with him when I was a boy
Ken Meadowcroft Nicola, I don't know much about matey all I can say he was a nice bloke always had time for a chat with us blackball boys my great uncle frank meadowcroft also lived in the mine huts they were great days for us kids in them days many memories hope you find more out about him.
Nicola Sutton Thank you.
Lexie Aynsley he loved that dog of his called jack .and jack always went down the mine with him my dad told us the story of matey putting savaloys in his flask then poured hot water on them whenit was time to eat he had to smash the flask so jack could get his dinner .he would rather go hungrey himself than no let the dog go hungrey
Kathryn Cox He passed away at a 21st birthday party we were at..a beer in his hand....the story went and he didn't spill a drop.i remember him sitting on the centennial seat opposite the post office with his dog Jack when I worked at the post office
Ken Meadowcroft There were a few who lived at the mine huts as well matey bray I can remember reg Regan, stonewall jackson and frank meadowcroft.so he was amongst friends and not alone nicola
Nicola Sutton That's good.
John Paget I remember Matey Bray and Stonewall Jackson, Their was another guy who lived up there i am not i think his nickname was Boof. They used to drink at the working mens club in the early 1970/s.
Jennifer Griffin My brother Tony Win had a small lifestyle block we nicknamed pig shit pastures was not far from the mine
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West Coast New Zealand History (18th Dec 2021). Crushington.ca.1919.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 31st May 2026 05:01, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/22830