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Lamplough Post Office
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DescriptionKia everyone, our home at Awatuna was the original post office serving the goldfields and known as The Lamplough P.O. It was sited at the western (sea end) of the road and was accessed from the Stafford Road intersection situated east of Piper's Flat. It was the last house on the north side of the road, served by the railway line. The current State Highway did not exist at this time as it turned right and up the Stafford/Goldsborough route to Kumara, Callaghans at Flowery Creek. The current state highway to the Serpentine corner from Kumara was known as "the Beach Road". The Gibb family were at the Hotel at Goldsborough. Cheers Hemi Te Rakau, Awatuna.Map[1] ContributorHemi Te Rakau
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Location (city or town)LamploughAwatunaLandmark (Place)Lamplough Post Office
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CommentsDon Hutton I think Bob Little lived in the house near the Awatuna railway station in the 1950s. Not sure what his job was.
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· Reply · 1w
Glenn Johnston
Glenn Johnston It was Bob's brother Pat and he worked on the railway. I remember them there in the 60's thru to 1971 after which they moved in to Hokitika. Pat's son Daniel Patrick Joseph Little was in my class at school and for some unknown reason I can still remember his full name.
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Don Hutton
Don Hutton Correct. I got his name wrong. I boarded with his mother in Beach St Hokitika in 1957 - 58.
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Lynnette BeirneActive Now
Lynnette Beirne Glenn Johnston he was unforgettable that’s why
I always called him Danny though
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· Reply · 6d
Don Hutton
Don Hutton Pat's mother was a salt of the earth person. Best landlady I ever had.
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· Reply · 6d
John Bennett
John Bennett Pat & Marie Little , my uncle & aunt - cousins Jill & Dan, used to live in the house backing onto the railway, Uncle Pat used ride the jigger inspecting & repairing the railway lines
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· Reply · 6d
Don Hutton
Don Hutton We knew Pat's mother as "Lou" but she was actually Nellie. She cooked us fabulous meals, particularly whitebait which she caught in the Hokitika River only 100m from her house.
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· Reply · 6d
Jean Wilson
Jean Wilson Glenn Johnston doesant surprize me was a nice person
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· Reply · 19h
Laura Mills Detlaff
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Wayne Cannan
Wayne Cannan Hello uncle hemi
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· Reply · 1w
Dorothy Andrews
Dorothy Andrews I think it’s Pat Little that lived near railway line at Awatuna!
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· Reply · 1w
Murray Thomas
Murray Thomas The original road to Stafford was straight up from the beach halfway between Flowery Creek and Awatuna. The old line can still be followed up onto the terrace above the railway line. The first time we looked at in the 70s someone had tried liberating Wallabies and we saw one in the forest and another in the creek up past Stafford.
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· Reply · 6d
Gordon McIntosh
Gordon McIntosh I think the road used to cross the railway just opposite Merryweather's house past Arahura coming from Hokitika... biked up there and walked through there as a kid in the 1960's
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Bev Kelly
Bev Kelly Gordon the road turned up to Stafford across the railway line opposite where I used to live north of the pa. I think now owned by someone from the Robinson family. Noel and Erin Robinson bought the farm off my family
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· Reply · 6d
Murray Thomas
Murray Thomas Further north where the access to the beach is
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Glenn Johnston
Glenn Johnston Murray Thomas Elcock's Beach presumably named after Bev's forbears?
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· Reply · 6d
Don Hutton
Don Hutton Bev Kelly The Robinson boys were at GTHS with me. Another brother Lyn was in the 1st XV with me. Perhaps you may be related to Tom Kelly a teacher at GTHS who lived at Awatuna?
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· Reply · 6d
Bev Kelly
Bev Kelly Yes, he was my husband's uncle...a lovely man!
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Bev Kelly
Bev Kelly Glenn yes apparently named after dad!
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Laura Mills Detlaff
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Gordon McIntosh
Gordon McIntosh Yes, it was Pat and Mairi Little... they were family friends and we visited them at Awatuna. Remember Danny Little well...
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· Reply · 6d · Edited
Don Hutton
Don Hutton Small world Gordon?
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· Reply · 6d
Janet Webster
Janet Webster My Great Grandfather,the original Patrick Blanchfield, had a pub at Pipers Flat when he and his wife Mary, came to the goldfields. He moved from there to Maori Creek.
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· Reply · 6d
Sarah Veller Douglas Smales
Sarah Veller Douglas Smales Mail man.
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· Reply · 6d
Brent Tomlinson
Brent Tomlinson Does anybody know a Wendy (married surname unknown )who lived in the awatuna area in the 70s she lived nearby to Ada Bradley and her mother Mary Edith Campbell ( name when single) lived in the same are or out at kokathi (sp). Mary was my aunt and Wendy is my cousin)
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· Reply · 6d
Glenn Johnston
Glenn Johnston Hi Hemi Te Rakau. Are you saying your old home at Awatuna was once actually the Lamplough Post Office or that it was a Post Office that served the Lamplough. I think Lamplough had its own Post Office or agency in the early days inland from Chesterfie…See More
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· Reply · 6d
Alison Armstrong
Alison Armstrong I love this. We have been to the Stafford cemetery several times. The Sandle family (on my mother's side) lived at Stafford. They owned the General Store which covered everything anyone would ever want.. wonderful history..
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· Reply · 6d · Edited
Hemi Te Rakau
Hemi Te Rakau Glenn Johnston ki a ora. Thank you for writing. I agree with you that the P.O. was moved to Awatuna after the Lamplough declined. However, according to Anne Kelly, the wife of Mick Kelly, from whom we bought the property, she held the post of "Post Mistress" at that site. Her dog used to go to the Awatuna Station and bring back the mail bag from the train (later the railcar). Re Auckland beach Mick told me this was the area of the Beach (where the current Brackish B&B, Macinninies' bus, etc. now are sited. The area was on the north side of the Waimea, extending northwards towards the Kapitea. It was the Beach where a large sperm whale came ashore. There may be images of that event as it was in the papers and the "Weekly News" of the day. Teichelmann had a gold claim there and the remains of a footbridge which shoes on his gold licence can still be seen at low tide. During my 50 years at my old "Kelly" home I built my front driveway on the only remaining stretch of the coach road so that it would survive and also be functional. I would like to chat sometime. Pauline and I now live up on the terrace of the north side of the Waimea 200m from the Kelly house which we rebuilt to become Awatuna Homestead accommodation house. Kia ora mai na Hemi Te Rakau
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· Reply · 6d
Don Hutton
Don Hutton Hemi Te Rakau Fabulous history. I remember Tom Kelly, a teacher who lived in Awatuna, who had a late 1930s Chev coupe which he drove up to Greymouth every day (this was in the 1950s). I believe he had a small holding at Awatuna.
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· Reply · 6d · Edited
Glenn Johnston
Glenn Johnston Regarding Auckland Beach and Auckland lead. From what I've seen and heard the small settlement of Auckland Beach was near the mouth of Waimea Creek as you have said Hemi. The Auckland Lead that was mined was not on the north side of the creek where the Auckland Beach or some of the Auckland Beach settlement was but stretched from the south bank of Waimea Creek southward for over 2 km toward Elcock's Beach and the northern end of the Arahura lagoon. As well as there being a small settlement at the northern end of the Auckland Lead at Auckland Beach there was also one near the southern end where the track mentioned in earlier posts left the beach (Elcock's Beach) to head inland for Stafford.
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· Reply · 6d
Hemi Te Rakau
Hemi Te Rakau Don Hutton . Hello Don, yes Tom Kelly did have a smsll-holding. It was where the front entrance to Awatuna is now. If you stand at the driveway and look north, the land to your right and on the east side of the hedge is where Tom's property was. The actual site is now part of the Homestead and also My daughter, Eleanor Te Rakau's land at 17 Stafford Road. Cheers, Hemi
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· Reply · 5d
Don Hutton
Don Hutton Thanks for that Hemi. He taught social studies and geography at Grey HS in the 1950s when I was a pupil. Coached the 1st XV.
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· Reply · 5d
Laura Mills Detlaff
Write a reply...
Judith Mccormick
Judith Mccormick Jacqui Holland
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Like
· Reply · 6d
Jan Sowman
Jan Sowman Very interesting reading Hemi. Thanks
1
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Like
· Reply · 1w
Glenn Johnston
Glenn Johnston It was Bob's brother Pat and he worked on the railway. I remember them there in the 60's thru to 1971 after which they moved in to Hokitika. Pat's son Daniel Patrick Joseph Little was in my class at school and for some unknown reason I can still remember his full name.
3
Manage
Like
· Reply · 1w
Don Hutton
Don Hutton Correct. I got his name wrong. I boarded with his mother in Beach St Hokitika in 1957 - 58.
3
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Lynnette BeirneActive Now
Lynnette Beirne Glenn Johnston he was unforgettable that’s why
I always called him Danny though
2
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Don Hutton
Don Hutton Pat's mother was a salt of the earth person. Best landlady I ever had.
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
John Bennett
John Bennett Pat & Marie Little , my uncle & aunt - cousins Jill & Dan, used to live in the house backing onto the railway, Uncle Pat used ride the jigger inspecting & repairing the railway lines
4
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Don Hutton
Don Hutton We knew Pat's mother as "Lou" but she was actually Nellie. She cooked us fabulous meals, particularly whitebait which she caught in the Hokitika River only 100m from her house.
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Jean Wilson
Jean Wilson Glenn Johnston doesant surprize me was a nice person
Manage
Like
· Reply · 19h
Laura Mills Detlaff
Write a reply...
Wayne Cannan
Wayne Cannan Hello uncle hemi
1
Manage
Like
· Reply · 1w
Dorothy Andrews
Dorothy Andrews I think it’s Pat Little that lived near railway line at Awatuna!
4
Manage
Like
· Reply · 1w
Murray Thomas
Murray Thomas The original road to Stafford was straight up from the beach halfway between Flowery Creek and Awatuna. The old line can still be followed up onto the terrace above the railway line. The first time we looked at in the 70s someone had tried liberating Wallabies and we saw one in the forest and another in the creek up past Stafford.
1
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Gordon McIntosh
Gordon McIntosh I think the road used to cross the railway just opposite Merryweather's house past Arahura coming from Hokitika... biked up there and walked through there as a kid in the 1960's
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Bev Kelly
Bev Kelly Gordon the road turned up to Stafford across the railway line opposite where I used to live north of the pa. I think now owned by someone from the Robinson family. Noel and Erin Robinson bought the farm off my family
1
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Murray Thomas
Murray Thomas Further north where the access to the beach is
1
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Glenn Johnston
Glenn Johnston Murray Thomas Elcock's Beach presumably named after Bev's forbears?
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Don Hutton
Don Hutton Bev Kelly The Robinson boys were at GTHS with me. Another brother Lyn was in the 1st XV with me. Perhaps you may be related to Tom Kelly a teacher at GTHS who lived at Awatuna?
1
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Bev Kelly
Bev Kelly Yes, he was my husband's uncle...a lovely man!
1
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Bev Kelly
Bev Kelly Glenn yes apparently named after dad!
1
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Laura Mills Detlaff
Write a reply...
Gordon McIntosh
Gordon McIntosh Yes, it was Pat and Mairi Little... they were family friends and we visited them at Awatuna. Remember Danny Little well...
3
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d · Edited
Don Hutton
Don Hutton Small world Gordon?
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Janet Webster
Janet Webster My Great Grandfather,the original Patrick Blanchfield, had a pub at Pipers Flat when he and his wife Mary, came to the goldfields. He moved from there to Maori Creek.
2
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Sarah Veller Douglas Smales
Sarah Veller Douglas Smales Mail man.
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Brent Tomlinson
Brent Tomlinson Does anybody know a Wendy (married surname unknown )who lived in the awatuna area in the 70s she lived nearby to Ada Bradley and her mother Mary Edith Campbell ( name when single) lived in the same are or out at kokathi (sp). Mary was my aunt and Wendy is my cousin)
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Glenn Johnston
Glenn Johnston Hi Hemi Te Rakau. Are you saying your old home at Awatuna was once actually the Lamplough Post Office or that it was a Post Office that served the Lamplough. I think Lamplough had its own Post Office or agency in the early days inland from Chesterfie…See More
2
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Alison Armstrong
Alison Armstrong I love this. We have been to the Stafford cemetery several times. The Sandle family (on my mother's side) lived at Stafford. They owned the General Store which covered everything anyone would ever want.. wonderful history..
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d · Edited
Hemi Te Rakau
Hemi Te Rakau Glenn Johnston ki a ora. Thank you for writing. I agree with you that the P.O. was moved to Awatuna after the Lamplough declined. However, according to Anne Kelly, the wife of Mick Kelly, from whom we bought the property, she held the post of "Post Mistress" at that site. Her dog used to go to the Awatuna Station and bring back the mail bag from the train (later the railcar). Re Auckland beach Mick told me this was the area of the Beach (where the current Brackish B&B, Macinninies' bus, etc. now are sited. The area was on the north side of the Waimea, extending northwards towards the Kapitea. It was the Beach where a large sperm whale came ashore. There may be images of that event as it was in the papers and the "Weekly News" of the day. Teichelmann had a gold claim there and the remains of a footbridge which shoes on his gold licence can still be seen at low tide. During my 50 years at my old "Kelly" home I built my front driveway on the only remaining stretch of the coach road so that it would survive and also be functional. I would like to chat sometime. Pauline and I now live up on the terrace of the north side of the Waimea 200m from the Kelly house which we rebuilt to become Awatuna Homestead accommodation house. Kia ora mai na Hemi Te Rakau
2
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Don Hutton
Don Hutton Hemi Te Rakau Fabulous history. I remember Tom Kelly, a teacher who lived in Awatuna, who had a late 1930s Chev coupe which he drove up to Greymouth every day (this was in the 1950s). I believe he had a small holding at Awatuna.
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d · Edited
Glenn Johnston
Glenn Johnston Regarding Auckland Beach and Auckland lead. From what I've seen and heard the small settlement of Auckland Beach was near the mouth of Waimea Creek as you have said Hemi. The Auckland Lead that was mined was not on the north side of the creek where the Auckland Beach or some of the Auckland Beach settlement was but stretched from the south bank of Waimea Creek southward for over 2 km toward Elcock's Beach and the northern end of the Arahura lagoon. As well as there being a small settlement at the northern end of the Auckland Lead at Auckland Beach there was also one near the southern end where the track mentioned in earlier posts left the beach (Elcock's Beach) to head inland for Stafford.
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Hemi Te Rakau
Hemi Te Rakau Don Hutton . Hello Don, yes Tom Kelly did have a smsll-holding. It was where the front entrance to Awatuna is now. If you stand at the driveway and look north, the land to your right and on the east side of the hedge is where Tom's property was. The actual site is now part of the Homestead and also My daughter, Eleanor Te Rakau's land at 17 Stafford Road. Cheers, Hemi
1
Manage
Like
· Reply · 5d
Don Hutton
Don Hutton Thanks for that Hemi. He taught social studies and geography at Grey HS in the 1950s when I was a pupil. Coached the 1st XV.
Manage
Like
· Reply · 5d
Laura Mills Detlaff
Write a reply...
Judith Mccormick
Judith Mccormick Jacqui Holland
Manage
Like
· Reply · 6d
Jan Sowman
Jan Sowman Very interesting reading Hemi. Thanks
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West Coast New Zealand History (12th May 2019). Lamplough Post Office. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 30th Apr 2026 04:05, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/25298