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On top of Cobden Hill .1961.
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DescriptionPeta and Ian Jones taken by Lloyd Jones
Tim Mora.."The current cross is in fact the seventh or possibly 8th cross installed on the Hill. As far as I can determine this is what happened. On Feb 14th 1944 a first Presbyterian service was held in Cobden and then on 11th March 1945 the foundation stone was laid for St Andrews Presbyterian church in Fox Street by Mr T.C. Brash moderator for the Presbyterian General Assembly where the current Scenicland preschool is. Steve Crestani moved the Foundation Stone when he built the accessible access ramp into the Pre School in 2001. It would have been hidden underneath the ramp otherwise. He set it back up in concrete in the front garden to the right of the entrance path. Rev T.G. Campbell was the minister. At either the first service or foundation stone laying a group went up the hill and installed a cross. The poem by Ozzie Eastwood was written to commemorate that event. I am not sure who installed it. In 1957 when Sister Sylvia Jenkins arrived that cross was in disrepair either through time or vandalism. Inspired by Ozzie's poem she in 1959 when the Bible classes of Westland-Buller presbytery were in Greymouth for a District rally at Easter she mobilised them to go up the hill and re-erect the original cross. After 15 years of wear and tear and vandalism the original cross was in pretty poor condition and so they replaced it with a new one that they concreted in place. The following year 1960 the Dominion Bible Class conference led a pilgrimage up there (see photo below). This is the second cross. Then in 1965/66 the cross has appeared to have fallen into disrepair again and a small group of presbyterian youth including Jean Rodgers and from the left Len McGrane, Tony Rodgers, Andrew Tulloch, Michael Rodgers, Keith Baty and Murray Baty carried up a replacement and installed it. You'll notice this one is not rebated like the previous one. This is the third cross. The 1982 photo of the cross there is a lot of bush behind it and a very graffitted upright with a strip of something nailed to the front. This could be a different cross again potentially the fourth or potentially a worse for wear 1965 one. In the 1988 photo of current mayor Tania Gibson as a child at the cross it is a cleared site and a rebated cross again and not flush with the back, so assuming there was a fourth already, this then becomes the 5th cross put in after the 1982 version and before the 1990 one. The cross fell into disrepair again and was knocked over in a storm and in 1990 Peter Anderson, Peter Bezine, Phil Costigan and Fred Heine constructed a new cross and it was airlifted to the site by helicopter Chris Cowan and concreted in. Over the next couple of years (2013-5) Dr Ian Petersen looked after it before heading over to Australia. Towards the beginning of the year (2015) Ross Maryatt and Peter Andersen returned to the site and cleared it and installed a solar powered light that comes on at certain times some evenings. This is the sixth cross. In 2018 someone cut down the cross and then cut off the arms. No one knows who it was or why but on Easter Good Friday 30th March 2018 Hugh and Fainga Barrow, Tim Mora, Peter Anderson, Benji Roper, Daniel Lowe and Jess Lowe and her friend Willow went up and installed a new cross. It had been fabricated by E Quip and was galvanised steel painted white with a wooden cross piece protected on the edges with steel strips. It was helicoptered into place by Ahaura helicopters and the team went up and put it together and bolted it onto the wooden stump of the previous cross. On Easter Monday a team went back up and put some concrete reinforcing around it and there is a solar light installed on top. This is the seventh cross. In Oct 2021 some unknow vandals took to the cross with a battery powered angle grinder curring it half through and pushing it over. During the week on Thursday leading up to Sat the 18th of Dec 2021 Ahaura Helicopters placed the new upright for the cross along with some cement and water on the Cross hill top. Then on Saturday at 2pm Archdeacon Tim Mora, Stewart Nimmo, Henk Stengs, Peter Anderson Daniel Lowe, Juulian Grimmshaw and Graeme Vincent went up the hill taking with them a range of tools along with the solar panel and light. It took 2 and half hours to assemble the new cross, lift it into place and concrete the base. This is the seventh or eighth Cross to be installed on the hill replacing those that had fallen into disrepair because of age or materials and more recently vandalism. A huge thank you to Lee Swinburn at Equip, Simon at Ahaura Helicopters and Edie Gray at Brightwater Engineering and others who donated finances or discounted equipment. The solar light was also reinstated but tended to blow out the cross shape. About a year later Peter Anderson lifted the light higher and altered the angle and now it gives a cross shape at night.PhotographerLloyd JonesDate of Photo1961.Map[1] ContributorPeta Jones
Tim Mora.."The current cross is in fact the seventh or possibly 8th cross installed on the Hill. As far as I can determine this is what happened. On Feb 14th 1944 a first Presbyterian service was held in Cobden and then on 11th March 1945 the foundation stone was laid for St Andrews Presbyterian church in Fox Street by Mr T.C. Brash moderator for the Presbyterian General Assembly where the current Scenicland preschool is. Steve Crestani moved the Foundation Stone when he built the accessible access ramp into the Pre School in 2001. It would have been hidden underneath the ramp otherwise. He set it back up in concrete in the front garden to the right of the entrance path. Rev T.G. Campbell was the minister. At either the first service or foundation stone laying a group went up the hill and installed a cross. The poem by Ozzie Eastwood was written to commemorate that event. I am not sure who installed it. In 1957 when Sister Sylvia Jenkins arrived that cross was in disrepair either through time or vandalism. Inspired by Ozzie's poem she in 1959 when the Bible classes of Westland-Buller presbytery were in Greymouth for a District rally at Easter she mobilised them to go up the hill and re-erect the original cross. After 15 years of wear and tear and vandalism the original cross was in pretty poor condition and so they replaced it with a new one that they concreted in place. The following year 1960 the Dominion Bible Class conference led a pilgrimage up there (see photo below). This is the second cross. Then in 1965/66 the cross has appeared to have fallen into disrepair again and a small group of presbyterian youth including Jean Rodgers and from the left Len McGrane, Tony Rodgers, Andrew Tulloch, Michael Rodgers, Keith Baty and Murray Baty carried up a replacement and installed it. You'll notice this one is not rebated like the previous one. This is the third cross. The 1982 photo of the cross there is a lot of bush behind it and a very graffitted upright with a strip of something nailed to the front. This could be a different cross again potentially the fourth or potentially a worse for wear 1965 one. In the 1988 photo of current mayor Tania Gibson as a child at the cross it is a cleared site and a rebated cross again and not flush with the back, so assuming there was a fourth already, this then becomes the 5th cross put in after the 1982 version and before the 1990 one. The cross fell into disrepair again and was knocked over in a storm and in 1990 Peter Anderson, Peter Bezine, Phil Costigan and Fred Heine constructed a new cross and it was airlifted to the site by helicopter Chris Cowan and concreted in. Over the next couple of years (2013-5) Dr Ian Petersen looked after it before heading over to Australia. Towards the beginning of the year (2015) Ross Maryatt and Peter Andersen returned to the site and cleared it and installed a solar powered light that comes on at certain times some evenings. This is the sixth cross. In 2018 someone cut down the cross and then cut off the arms. No one knows who it was or why but on Easter Good Friday 30th March 2018 Hugh and Fainga Barrow, Tim Mora, Peter Anderson, Benji Roper, Daniel Lowe and Jess Lowe and her friend Willow went up and installed a new cross. It had been fabricated by E Quip and was galvanised steel painted white with a wooden cross piece protected on the edges with steel strips. It was helicoptered into place by Ahaura helicopters and the team went up and put it together and bolted it onto the wooden stump of the previous cross. On Easter Monday a team went back up and put some concrete reinforcing around it and there is a solar light installed on top. This is the seventh cross. In Oct 2021 some unknow vandals took to the cross with a battery powered angle grinder curring it half through and pushing it over. During the week on Thursday leading up to Sat the 18th of Dec 2021 Ahaura Helicopters placed the new upright for the cross along with some cement and water on the Cross hill top. Then on Saturday at 2pm Archdeacon Tim Mora, Stewart Nimmo, Henk Stengs, Peter Anderson Daniel Lowe, Juulian Grimmshaw and Graeme Vincent went up the hill taking with them a range of tools along with the solar panel and light. It took 2 and half hours to assemble the new cross, lift it into place and concrete the base. This is the seventh or eighth Cross to be installed on the hill replacing those that had fallen into disrepair because of age or materials and more recently vandalism. A huge thank you to Lee Swinburn at Equip, Simon at Ahaura Helicopters and Edie Gray at Brightwater Engineering and others who donated finances or discounted equipment. The solar light was also reinstated but tended to blow out the cross shape. About a year later Peter Anderson lifted the light higher and altered the angle and now it gives a cross shape at night.PhotographerLloyd JonesDate of Photo1961.Map[1] ContributorPeta Jones
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Location (city or town)Cobden hillPersonPeta JonesIan JonesEventOn top of Cobden Hill .1961.
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From Facebook
Date Created12th February 2018CommentsRobert Mathewson We used to build huts over the back and run from top to bottom as fast as we could ,crashed heaps ,good times at the cross.
Robin Gibbens That’s a fabulous photo of years gone by
Warren Parkin Never been up there, but there's still time, one day.
Wayne Leckie Been up there heaps of times
Anna Hollings The author Lloyd Jones?
Peta Jones No, not that one :) My Dad was with the then Mines Department.
Deborah Wingfield Brings back memories
Kym Murdoch Colleen Buchanan remember we used to run up to the cross all the timeTania Gibson Lived at the bottom had lots of walks up thereTania Tones Lawrence Wow! The hill was pretty bare then!
Tania Tones Lawrence There used to be a narrow bush track. Great after rain to slide down on ya bum
Graham Ngatuere Those poor folk waiting up there...
t
Peter East Broke my leg coming down from the Cross. Attacked by local thugs throwing beer bottles at us. Carried by my brother through the bush to Uncle Eds place We lived at 132 Bright Street.
Sue Stewart Peter East Sounds horrific!
Lindsay Dowie I wasn’t aware you lived in Cobden
Peter East Hi Heather - what does that actually mean? Often wondered...
Te Ngarahau Mason The Gun
Kuan Tai Lucas Peta Jones was in my class at Cobden School she moved to Wellington in form 2
Steve Lucas
Gavin Liz Cochrane
Spent many a time walking up to the cross. Amazing to learn the history after all these years.
Rick Giles
Gavin Liz Cochrane Tried a couple of times but where's the track start?
Trish Briggs
Walked up there a few times as a Cobden kid. Linda Griffin Cushla Ellis Don't think you would have done it Cindy Briggs !
Linda Griffin
Trish Briggs wasn't open like that, that I can remember. It was quite overgrown
Cindy Briggs
Trish Briggs of course I have
Dianne Johnson
Had lots of fun as a kid in Cobden having races through the bush up to the cross.
Jason Mather
Geez what a story that is, I've been up there a few times as a kid/teenager, I never knew it had been replaced that many times, I know Phil Costigan too as I used to flat with him, is he still in Cobden?
Cherame Mossley
Jason sure he was my neighbour after Annie Bothwell.
Jason Mather
Would that be the house he had in Sturge St Cherame Mossley as that was the last known address I had, he was my flatmate when we lived in 40 Chapple St
Cherame Mossley
Possibly.. Philip and Sue?
Jan Wood
Cherame Mossley That would be right. Now in Nelson
Jason Mather
He was single when I last saw him, I left the coast not long after he moved to Sturge St, he was my teacher in woodcrafts too under the old Access schemes of the days
Lorraine O'Donoghue
Very interesting reading the history of the cross, thank you.
Jo-Anne Smith
As kids it was an adventure going up the hill to the Cross, as it was always overgrown and we had to cut our way through
The leader of the group was Michael Crampton my Cousin and would come back all nice and muddy
Stephen Lucas
I have climbed the hill many times when I lived in Sturge st
Cherame Mossley
I also lived in Sturge St, went up there frequently. my brother Gyan cleared the trees a few times over the years so people would still see it frm various places around cobbo..
Gonzo Mclean
I want to mention some dodgy history, but perhaps it's best left where it is. Let's just say, kids will be kids.
Phil Millar
Vern Pattinson,thought you might have been up there
Colleen Buchanan
Heaps us upper Ward Street kids spent lots of time climbing up to the Cross, late 60's early 70's. Great to know of the history. Rose Green IreneandRoger Devlin Linda Gray Kevin Williams John Williams
Pauline Healey
How wonderful that people have been determined to keep that cross there.
Mary Hopkins
Our playground
Graeme Dumelow
It was a big adventure for my friends and I as a youngsters ,pack up a lunch and head up the cross.
Steve Crestani
I removed the Foundation Stone mentioned for the Church in Fox St when I built the accessible access ramp into Pre School in 2001. It would have been hidden underneath the ramp. I set it back up in concrete in the front garden to the right of the entrance path.
Reply6h
Ian Petersen
It was an amazing site to see from our home in Ashmore Ave and took my wife, Chris, daughter in law and grandchildren to visit it when we lived there. Miss the bush a lot.
Anne Conaghan
What an interesting story!!There are names for people who take pleasure in vandalizing something beautiful but sadly would not be printable on face book.
Colleen Yee
Thanks for sharing this ineresting story of the Cobden Cross. Pray there will still be a Cross standing there still in a hundred years from now.
Beverley Hooper
My family lived in Richmond Street. The boys had great fun going to the cross.
Terry MJ
Spent a lot of time up there in the early 1950's, wasnt far to go for me from Nelson Quay, but I cant remember a cross being up there. We used to enjoy using the swing someone had made on a large tree further into the bush, got quite a thrill out of that swing but would think twice about doing the same today. lol.
Christina Taylor
I’ve been there as a child. We lived In Fitzgerald street Cobden. Marshall was my surname , brought back happy memories
Tania Tones Lawrence
Lots of muddy backsides got coming down that hill
George Gardner
Terry MJ, there was a Trig Station on that site in our day. Was used by the ships picking up the lead for their entry into the river.
Jan Edwina Ward
My family, Longley’s , lived in Richmond Str. All 7 of us kids spent many a time up there enjoying a picnic. Loved the trek.
Jane Molloy
I remember always go there even I little
Reply1d
Jacqueline Dishington
Had lots of fun climbing up to it as a kid from new castle st
Judi Trompetter
Such an interesting story Marg Knudsen
Margaret Milne
Many a day spent climbing up to the cross with friends in Cobden. Great memories
Marie Soland
My Grandmother lived in Cobden as a child .I remember her telling me about climbing up a hill with her brother…
Lynn Rickard
I think that mum (Sylvie) and Aunty Kath used to take their cow up there to graze and pick it up on the way home.
Bruce Briene
Ventured up there last year with my wife Hayley, and her brother
Christian Stoop. Spent a bit of time on our arses and had a lot of laughs.
Robin Gibbens That’s a fabulous photo of years gone by
Warren Parkin Never been up there, but there's still time, one day.
Wayne Leckie Been up there heaps of times
Anna Hollings The author Lloyd Jones?
Peta Jones No, not that one :) My Dad was with the then Mines Department.
Deborah Wingfield Brings back memories
Kym Murdoch Colleen Buchanan remember we used to run up to the cross all the timeTania Gibson Lived at the bottom had lots of walks up thereTania Tones Lawrence Wow! The hill was pretty bare then!
Tania Tones Lawrence There used to be a narrow bush track. Great after rain to slide down on ya bum
Graham Ngatuere Those poor folk waiting up there...
t
Peter East Broke my leg coming down from the Cross. Attacked by local thugs throwing beer bottles at us. Carried by my brother through the bush to Uncle Eds place We lived at 132 Bright Street.
Sue Stewart Peter East Sounds horrific!
Lindsay Dowie I wasn’t aware you lived in Cobden
Peter East Hi Heather - what does that actually mean? Often wondered...
Te Ngarahau Mason The Gun
Kuan Tai Lucas Peta Jones was in my class at Cobden School she moved to Wellington in form 2
Steve Lucas
Gavin Liz Cochrane
Spent many a time walking up to the cross. Amazing to learn the history after all these years.
Rick Giles
Gavin Liz Cochrane Tried a couple of times but where's the track start?
Trish Briggs
Walked up there a few times as a Cobden kid. Linda Griffin Cushla Ellis Don't think you would have done it Cindy Briggs !
Linda Griffin
Trish Briggs wasn't open like that, that I can remember. It was quite overgrown
Cindy Briggs
Trish Briggs of course I have
Dianne Johnson
Had lots of fun as a kid in Cobden having races through the bush up to the cross.
Jason Mather
Geez what a story that is, I've been up there a few times as a kid/teenager, I never knew it had been replaced that many times, I know Phil Costigan too as I used to flat with him, is he still in Cobden?
Cherame Mossley
Jason sure he was my neighbour after Annie Bothwell.
Jason Mather
Would that be the house he had in Sturge St Cherame Mossley as that was the last known address I had, he was my flatmate when we lived in 40 Chapple St
Cherame Mossley
Possibly.. Philip and Sue?
Jan Wood
Cherame Mossley That would be right. Now in Nelson
Jason Mather
He was single when I last saw him, I left the coast not long after he moved to Sturge St, he was my teacher in woodcrafts too under the old Access schemes of the days
Lorraine O'Donoghue
Very interesting reading the history of the cross, thank you.
Jo-Anne Smith
As kids it was an adventure going up the hill to the Cross, as it was always overgrown and we had to cut our way through
The leader of the group was Michael Crampton my Cousin and would come back all nice and muddy
Stephen Lucas
I have climbed the hill many times when I lived in Sturge st
Cherame Mossley
I also lived in Sturge St, went up there frequently. my brother Gyan cleared the trees a few times over the years so people would still see it frm various places around cobbo..
Gonzo Mclean
I want to mention some dodgy history, but perhaps it's best left where it is. Let's just say, kids will be kids.
Phil Millar
Vern Pattinson,thought you might have been up there
Colleen Buchanan
Heaps us upper Ward Street kids spent lots of time climbing up to the Cross, late 60's early 70's. Great to know of the history. Rose Green IreneandRoger Devlin Linda Gray Kevin Williams John Williams
Pauline Healey
How wonderful that people have been determined to keep that cross there.
Mary Hopkins
Our playground
Graeme Dumelow
It was a big adventure for my friends and I as a youngsters ,pack up a lunch and head up the cross.
Steve Crestani
I removed the Foundation Stone mentioned for the Church in Fox St when I built the accessible access ramp into Pre School in 2001. It would have been hidden underneath the ramp. I set it back up in concrete in the front garden to the right of the entrance path.
Reply6h
Ian Petersen
It was an amazing site to see from our home in Ashmore Ave and took my wife, Chris, daughter in law and grandchildren to visit it when we lived there. Miss the bush a lot.
Anne Conaghan
What an interesting story!!There are names for people who take pleasure in vandalizing something beautiful but sadly would not be printable on face book.
Colleen Yee
Thanks for sharing this ineresting story of the Cobden Cross. Pray there will still be a Cross standing there still in a hundred years from now.
Beverley Hooper
My family lived in Richmond Street. The boys had great fun going to the cross.
Terry MJ
Spent a lot of time up there in the early 1950's, wasnt far to go for me from Nelson Quay, but I cant remember a cross being up there. We used to enjoy using the swing someone had made on a large tree further into the bush, got quite a thrill out of that swing but would think twice about doing the same today. lol.
Christina Taylor
I’ve been there as a child. We lived In Fitzgerald street Cobden. Marshall was my surname , brought back happy memories
Tania Tones Lawrence
Lots of muddy backsides got coming down that hill
George Gardner
Terry MJ, there was a Trig Station on that site in our day. Was used by the ships picking up the lead for their entry into the river.
Jan Edwina Ward
My family, Longley’s , lived in Richmond Str. All 7 of us kids spent many a time up there enjoying a picnic. Loved the trek.
Jane Molloy
I remember always go there even I little
Reply1d
Jacqueline Dishington
Had lots of fun climbing up to it as a kid from new castle st
Judi Trompetter
Such an interesting story Marg Knudsen
Margaret Milne
Many a day spent climbing up to the cross with friends in Cobden. Great memories
Marie Soland
My Grandmother lived in Cobden as a child .I remember her telling me about climbing up a hill with her brother…
Lynn Rickard
I think that mum (Sylvie) and Aunty Kath used to take their cow up there to graze and pick it up on the way home.
Bruce Briene
Ventured up there last year with my wife Hayley, and her brother
Christian Stoop. Spent a bit of time on our arses and had a lot of laughs.
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West Coast New Zealand History (16th Jun 2023). On top of Cobden Hill .1961.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 26th Apr 2026 03:21, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/22928