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Aerial shot of Arney Street, Greymouth.
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DescriptionFrom History House Museum.."This photo is labelled Arney Street but I can't pick any landmarks to be sure of the location or the age. Any one help?"Map[1] External LinkHistory House Museum FBContributorHistory House Museum Greymouth
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Location (city or town)GreymouthLandmark (Place)Arney StreetEventAerial shot of Arney Street, Greymouth
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Category Tagaerial
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Date Created28th April 2019CommentsVincent Knapp - I agree, Arney st Railway siding Timber company Paddock on other side of street ---Positively Arney St.
Wayne Morris - Three Fell (Brake) vans and four Ug (Bogie) horse wagons on siding beside wood storage.
Geoffrey King - In the mid 50's first house on the left own Joe and Doss Schist..Joe was a builder and came from Mananui. 3 children, Ronnie, Alison and Joy. Next house set back from the street was the Johns house. Tommy and cant recall her name. Tommy worked for Griffen and Smiths and use to go round the hotels collecting orders and of course was quite sozzled by the time the day eneded. She regularly berated him and with just cause. He always wore a white silk scarf and a gabadine coat and a dress hat and polished black shoes and suit with cigarette in mouth, immaculate would best describe him, no children that I can recall but did have them grown up i guess.The next house belonged to the Farmers, his name John, cant recall her name Phylis rings a bell. John was a milkman from memory, had two children Julie, married Les Brown and Graham. Then there was an empty section and the next house to the right of the section (first of 3) belonged to Pop Blake and his daughter Nellie who use to take care of Pop. Nelly was an ace on the Piano at the Gilmer, my god she could rattle the keys along with other members of the band Dick Marley on the comb, Kevin Brown on the tea chest and others from the Brown household as well, the Saturday night sing alongs were quite something and added to the biggest bar trade on the Coast according to Jack O'Donnel the CEO of Westland Breweries. Nelly Blakes daughter Mascot use to be lead violin for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and her son was a leading actor in Australia for television dramas / soaps. Famous name in OZ. The next two buildings were derelict half demolished. The building next along was eventually the Pand T workshops and associated offices and following along Southerans all not in picture. Opposite those buildings but not in the picture was the Browns household or commonly known as the Arney Steet Gang that basically made up the Kings Warriors Softball team in the Mid 50's. The empty section opposite the houses was where the circus used to come to. My father use to pick up the elephant and horse dung for his garden at the Gilmer Hotel. The next building along Gresson Street but not in the picture, street side of the railway wagons was where Hamilton and Rennie builders (Paul Rennie) were located in the late 60's. Greymouth Timber yards foreground...1950's ...this picture was taken well before then me thinks.
Geoffrey King - I omitted to say and this has stuck in my mind for over 60 years now. Nellie Blake called me in one day as I was passing to show me a rat that she and Foster Johnston had caught and without a word of a lie it was as big as a cat...frightening the size was. I just mentioned Foster Johnson...Foster was a fisherman had his own small fishing boat...a lovely guy...He was Nellies other half shall we say....without delving into personal matters.... I was pushing Ronnie Schist round the corner of the Gilmer into Arney street in my cart, we confronted Foster Johnson he landed on top and the apple case we used as a seat was demolished...funny now when u look back but serious at the time. Cookie, Gavin Cooks Grandfather, use to exchange fish with my mother for a cut lunch when he took his fishing boat out for a catch....another wonderful old timer in those days.
Heather Newby - very good.. thanks.
Anne Boddy - Geoffrey King Nellie Blake was my Dads half sister. Nellie grand daughter lives in Picton and she always mention Foster Johnson from Dianne tells me he was a character.
Geoffrey King - A lovely man Anne.
Anne Boddy - Geoffrey King Get to be friend request as Diane and I have a lot of Question about Aunty Nellie. I use to pick up her from the hotel Kings Hotel after seeing your mum and dad.
AnneErrol Blocksage - Geoffrey, thanks for sharing your memories from times past of the families & characters of Arney St, also nearby.
Thoroughly enjoyed your post.
Errol
Wayne Morris - Three Fell (Brake) vans and four Ug (Bogie) horse wagons on siding beside wood storage.
Geoffrey King - In the mid 50's first house on the left own Joe and Doss Schist..Joe was a builder and came from Mananui. 3 children, Ronnie, Alison and Joy. Next house set back from the street was the Johns house. Tommy and cant recall her name. Tommy worked for Griffen and Smiths and use to go round the hotels collecting orders and of course was quite sozzled by the time the day eneded. She regularly berated him and with just cause. He always wore a white silk scarf and a gabadine coat and a dress hat and polished black shoes and suit with cigarette in mouth, immaculate would best describe him, no children that I can recall but did have them grown up i guess.The next house belonged to the Farmers, his name John, cant recall her name Phylis rings a bell. John was a milkman from memory, had two children Julie, married Les Brown and Graham. Then there was an empty section and the next house to the right of the section (first of 3) belonged to Pop Blake and his daughter Nellie who use to take care of Pop. Nelly was an ace on the Piano at the Gilmer, my god she could rattle the keys along with other members of the band Dick Marley on the comb, Kevin Brown on the tea chest and others from the Brown household as well, the Saturday night sing alongs were quite something and added to the biggest bar trade on the Coast according to Jack O'Donnel the CEO of Westland Breweries. Nelly Blakes daughter Mascot use to be lead violin for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and her son was a leading actor in Australia for television dramas / soaps. Famous name in OZ. The next two buildings were derelict half demolished. The building next along was eventually the Pand T workshops and associated offices and following along Southerans all not in picture. Opposite those buildings but not in the picture was the Browns household or commonly known as the Arney Steet Gang that basically made up the Kings Warriors Softball team in the Mid 50's. The empty section opposite the houses was where the circus used to come to. My father use to pick up the elephant and horse dung for his garden at the Gilmer Hotel. The next building along Gresson Street but not in the picture, street side of the railway wagons was where Hamilton and Rennie builders (Paul Rennie) were located in the late 60's. Greymouth Timber yards foreground...1950's ...this picture was taken well before then me thinks.
Geoffrey King - I omitted to say and this has stuck in my mind for over 60 years now. Nellie Blake called me in one day as I was passing to show me a rat that she and Foster Johnston had caught and without a word of a lie it was as big as a cat...frightening the size was. I just mentioned Foster Johnson...Foster was a fisherman had his own small fishing boat...a lovely guy...He was Nellies other half shall we say....without delving into personal matters.... I was pushing Ronnie Schist round the corner of the Gilmer into Arney street in my cart, we confronted Foster Johnson he landed on top and the apple case we used as a seat was demolished...funny now when u look back but serious at the time. Cookie, Gavin Cooks Grandfather, use to exchange fish with my mother for a cut lunch when he took his fishing boat out for a catch....another wonderful old timer in those days.
Heather Newby - very good.. thanks.
Anne Boddy - Geoffrey King Nellie Blake was my Dads half sister. Nellie grand daughter lives in Picton and she always mention Foster Johnson from Dianne tells me he was a character.
Geoffrey King - A lovely man Anne.
Anne Boddy - Geoffrey King Get to be friend request as Diane and I have a lot of Question about Aunty Nellie. I use to pick up her from the hotel Kings Hotel after seeing your mum and dad.
AnneErrol Blocksage - Geoffrey, thanks for sharing your memories from times past of the families & characters of Arney St, also nearby.
Thoroughly enjoyed your post.
Errol
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West Coast New Zealand History (30th Apr 2019). Aerial shot of Arney Street, Greymouth.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 2nd Apr 2026 18:59, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/25253