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Kelchers Bakery, Buller Rd, Reefton, 1950s.
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DescriptionKelchers Bakery, Buller Rd, Reefton, 1950s. Now The Old Breadshop Backpackers.Date of Photo1950sMap[1] ContributorTony Fortune
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Location (city or town)ReeftonOrganisation (eg business)Kelchers Bakery
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Date Created26th June 2019CommentsKaye Mckay Can smell that yummie fresh bread
Anne Miller Mcmillan Remember it well. My kids nana dot reeve worked there.
Leanne Reeve Anne Miller Mcmillan i remember the big bread racks and the smell of bread and the melting moments lol
Anne Miller Mcmillan Leanne Reeve yes so do i.
Jennifer Griffin Walked past the shop every morning on my way to school oh the beautiful smells coming from there
Pauline Douglas
Pauline Douglas The best bread ever !!
Dorothy Wills Bought many a loaf from there
Tracey Ramsay I loved getting fresh bread and all the baked goodies here.
KevinandMargaret Mills Used to go down and get our bread.Sometimes the baker gave us a hot mince savoury in the cold mornings
KevinandMargaret Mills It would have been late 50’s every early 60’s
Don’t
Know who the baker was but was a male
Margaret Kaa KevinandMargaret Mills Mel Kelcher I think Marg
KevinandMargaret Mills Margaret Kaa wasn’t that the bakery where the head went through the window
KevinandMargaret Mills Yes it was Mel Kelcher
Margaret Kaa KevinandMargaret Mills I remember it well. My apologies after all these years. Did we ever have to pay??
KevinandMargaret Mills Don’t recall, no need to apology my friend
Margaret Kaa KevinandMargaret Mills I think we ran and hid up the driveway of the house next door!
Donna Flower Loved their bread
Judi Trompetter They used to come to Inangahua and we would buy the bread out of the van When they closed down I made our bread by haDorothy Wills
Used to buy bread there many years ago was lovely bread I got it as a special treat because it tasted so good
Myron Caldwell
And prior to Kelchers, it was operated by Vic Caldwell.
Ruth Naylor
Monday to Fridays pick up the mail at the Post Office and bike down to the bakery and get the bread home for dinner and back to school rain hail or snow and sunshine, picking the bread while it wad still warm arrive home with a hole in the middle,
Thomas Peter Mulligan
Mrs Reeves use to serve you good bread
Gavin Davy
Remember getting the fresh bread from there as a kid.
Theresa Gibson
Back in the 60’s the usual baker must have taken some of his holidays during school holidays and a temporary baker or the apprentice would bake. He must have not quite got the hang of the oven temperatures because we noticed the bread during these times was slightly ‘burnt’. The crust was wonderful, us kids loved it. We used to get 6 to a dozen loaves at a time, no freezers. The bread never got a chance to go stale. After the holidays it went back to the usual pale. Doug Reid would pick it up from Reefton then Lyell Foulsham would deliver to Hodgsons Store, Murchison. Later on Lyell went to Reefton for bread.
Colin J Wilson
Barry Moore, delivered the bread to Inangahua Junction.
Eleanor Williams
Colin J Wilson remember Bruce Chandler delivering bread to Junction when we lived over there. Was having trouble with lawn mower one day and I kicked it just as Bruce delivered the bread. . Have him a laugh.
Kaye Mckay
They made pies , Grace and Donald Blackadder dog used to get one in the middle of the night! They would return a small stack of tins
Barb Kennedy
Use to see who could get the crust first it was so yummy
Arthur Bass
Loved the boston buns too.
Daryl Aitken
I can remember Bill Caldwell, Ronnie Reeves in the bakery and Bruce Chandler driving the delivery van befor he became a policeman.
John Churchill
Didn't Merv play rugby for West coast, I think he played hooker. In the fifties.
KevinandMargaret Mills
Used to walk from Dick street early morning for bread occasionally we would get a hit savoury,1960’s. Marg Kaa pushed my head through the plate glass window no harm done. Never found out who paid for new one
Daryl Aitken
It was all great stuff they made
Kerry Wildermoth
I think our nana would send Garry Hawkes and myself up to the bakery as a treat, for two loaves of fresh bread only one ever made it home. Never got told off. Best Cornish Pasties I've ever tasted
Anne Bruce
Oh, I used to like the bread from Kelchers.
Mawson N Kay Shaw
I remember after we were married living in Nana Sara`s house at the top or Broadway & walking our daughter Karyn in the buggy to playcenter on Buller Road, while she was there I would go over to see Francie Hunter & have a coffee & a chat & then going to get Karyn & calling into Kelchers on the way home for the bread.
Bronwen Skates
always me or my sisters job ev morning to bike there with the flour sack to bring home fresh loaves ( not sliced ) which we would eat some of the middle out while still warm then push the double loaf together and hope mum never saw it lol. bread and buns were beautiful
Daryl Aitken
I can remember when Mel Kelcher use to referee our games of rugby.
Thomas Peter Mulligan
Sorry to hear of Barbara loughnans passing Albiie and barb were a great couple
Noeline McCaughan
On payday Dad would collect the usual Vienna loaf of bread and then buy a Boston bun as well. We children loved the piece we were given after we had eaten dinner (including the greens.)
Verran Robertson
I was baptised in the house across the road
Daryl Aitken
Thats a few years ago in your grandparents house mate.
Ivan Murray Wilson
Loretta Reeve
Suzanne McGeady
Randall used to pick up the bread from Kelchers, for the Ikamatua store, drop it off on the way to the Rough Creek Mill to work.
Verran Robertson
Sure was
Mary Parker
My sister and I used to pick up the bread from here after school. Loved pulling the loaf apart and eating the Baker's Kiss, can still taste . Cheers.
Frances Hassan
My brother Lindsay worked for Mel Kelcher , Dael Bartlett , was working behind the counter to,
Maria Hoy
Remember getting the bread lovely and fresh we had to stop ourselves picking the inside out of it. My mum worked their at odd times. Mel’s sister lives here in Palmerston North we are good friends
John Griffin
Yes i remember it was a great bread shop
Barry Caldwell
My first home in Reefton ,when dad bought the buisness in 1943. I delivered bread to the local pubs,by bike with a big basket on the front a few years later.Brother Bill worked for Mel later on.Mel played for Marist in Grey, on Saturdays and Reefton in the lnangahua comp on Sunday's.He was hooker for the Coast at the time.
Caroline Crann
I stayed there once at the backpacker's and swear I smelt bread baking in the very early morning.....
Heather Newby
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Author
Caroline Crann you probably did..
Janaka Mary Bartlett
My sister Dael Scrivens nee Bartlett worked there for a few year's.
Remember going and picking up the bread, it was still warm from the oven, and their yummy raspberry iced buns.
Tracey Ramsay
The best bread ever. Especially the crispy tops that got eaten on the way home.
Bernadette Williams
Tracey Ramsay being best friends with Francis Kelcher at school I got to sample all the left over sugar buns rolls etc. And to lay on the flour sacks in the bakery on a frost day, heaven.
Michele Caldwell
I worked there during the school holidays with both Dale and Sharyn Haldane.
Elaine Bolitho
My husband tells stories of the Boston Bun competition between two Reefton bakeries - and how the children loved getting the biggest one!
Linda Skelton
Our bread came by NZR bus to the engineers camp 3 x a week wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. At times it was in a very sorry state after being squashed or the string being caught and cutting the bread in half. Still great bread Fridays bread still made good sandwiches in Mondays crib!Annette Rosanowski
Beautiful bread
Susan Archer
That brings back some wonderful memories! Mrs Kelcher was such a happy, cheerful woman
Brian McMahon
My father worked there delivering bread
Arthur Bass
The rails for the bikes to lean against aren't there.
Valerie Beavis
Gosh I remember this like yesterday.
Gloria Harrison
I remember those days!
Tony Fortune
You could smell the bread baking from my place a block away.
Bronwen Skates
Lovely bread. My job was biking to Bakery before going to School to pick up mums bread order every day and yes ! I'd pick warm bread from the 1/4 loaves
Barb Kennedy
Just loved the bread and the crusts on it
Anne Bruce
When my father eent to Reefton for coal he would bring back two other items. Bread from Kelchers and fish 'n chips (unsure of the place he got these from). I always looked forward to the time Reefton coal was all gone from the coal bin.
Margaret Kaa
Anne Bruce fish 'n chips probably from Snowy Campbells
Wendy Harding
Remember it well - often sent to buy a loaf of bread! loved the smell of the bakery shop!
Dorothy Wills
Yes I remember
Ron Parish
Days before sliced bread don't forget custard squares
Margaret Kaa
Good memories. Thanks Tony
KevinandMargaret Mills
Margaret Kaa so do I head first through window, no cuts lol
Ron Collis
Remember that lovely fresh bread.Lucky if it arrived home untouched.Mel Kelcher was a more than useful Rugby player too.Played a lot of games for West Coast
Arthur Bass
Mels boston buns were good as well.
Dave Morris
Arthur Bass was that necessary Arthur?
Arthur Bass
Dave Morris certainly !
Wendy Thomas
I remember walking to get our bread the day after the Inangahua Earthquake and while inside we had a good aftershock. The owners were lovely people.
Donna Moore
Bede Kelcher
Susan Hajek
I remember picking up fresh bread for mum,but it never got home the same,inside was gone,mmm wonder who ate that,lol
Richard Butcher
I remember my brother and I taking a retired pit pony to rail it to CHCH and the horse would not go past the Bakery because of the smell of the bread. We had to make a long bypass in order to get to the railway station.
Mari Walsh
I remember mum sending us to get a loaf of bread, then telling us off for eating the crust on the way home. And every xmas they would give us lids a paper bag full of Macintosh lollies.
Janette Schroeder
Oh great memory…..
Did Mrs Reeves work there late 60’s/early 70’s?
Don’t forget the Madeira Cake too!
Lillian Hutchins
Gosh I remember that place to.loved the appleturn overs and buns.good memories.
Janaka Mary Bartlett
My sister Dael Scrivens (Bartlett) worked there.
Sue Hampton
I remember mum always got the thick n thin loaves. Half toast bread half for sandwiches. Iced buns were good too.
Ellen Te Aho
Great memory picking the middle out of the square loaf on the way home
Arthur Bass
Ellen Te Aho arse kicked when you got home for the troubles as well.
Elizabeth Mehrtens
The best bread but when it was Lynette Avenell turn to pick up a half baracota turned into a 1/4
Lynette Campbell
Mum sent us to get the bread by the time we got home we'd eaten bread out of the middle
Rhonda Jackson
Not far from our place?
Kevin O'Regan
Loved the fresh breadll when walking past to the convent
Wendy Thomas
I remember having to walk there to get the bread the day or day after the earthquake. Scary as! Quakes were constantly coming but Mr Kelcher still had the bread out.
Lorraine Brian
Great memories.
Collene Anderson
Smile Yes Sticker, GIF may contain transparent, yeah and agreed
Theresa Gibson
Lyall Foulsham used to truck the bread from here to Murchison. Us kids loved the bread during the holidays as it seemed the baker took his break then and the baker that filled in wasn’t used to the ovens and the breads crust was cooked more than usual, it was delicious!
Bill Garth
Mel played a few games for the Coast as a hooker!!!!!
AnnePat Gallagher
As kids, we used to break the barracudas in half and tuck into the warm centre on the way home, then stick them back together and hand the loaf to Mum. As if she didn't know! ?
Amos Collins
Stayed there years ago, great place!
Janaka Mary Bartlett
My sister Dael Scrivens (nee Bartlett) worked there for a few years.
Dorothy Wills
Kelchers Bakery had the best bread, used to get some whenever we were in Reefton
15h
Noeline Pinn
Knew Mel and Margaret. They later came to Christchurch but were true Coasters.
Barb Kennedy
It was yummy bread
Elizabeth Mehrtens
The best bread but when it was Lynette Avenell turn to pick up a half baracota turned into a 1/4
17h
Reply
Rhonda Jackson
Not far from our place?
18h
Reply
Lynette Campbell
Mum sent us to get the bread by the time we got home we'd eaten bread out of the middle
19h
Reply
Sam Win
Lynette Campbell yes the bakers kiss
19h
Reply
Lynette Campbell
Sam Win yes very tasty ?
18h
Reply
Kevin O'Regan
Loved the fresh breadll when walking past to the convent
Wendy Thomas
I remember having to walk there to get the bread the day or day after the earthquake. Scary as! Quakes were constantly coming but Mr Kelcher still had the bread out.
Lorraine Brian
Great memories.
Collene Anderson
Smile Yes Sticker, GIF may contain transparent, yeah and agreed
Theresa Gibson
Lyell Foulsham used to truck the bread from here to Murchison. Us kids loved the bread during the holidays as it seemed the baker took his break then and the baker that filled in wasn’t used to the ovens and the breads crust was cooked more than usual, it was delicious!
Bill Garth
Mel played a few games for the Coast as a hooker!!!!!
Amos Collins
Stayed there years ago, great place!
AnnePat Gallagher
As kids, we used to break the barracudas in half and tuck into the warm centre on the way home, then stick them back together and hand the loaf to Mum. As if she didn't know! ?
Janaka Mary Bartlett
My sister Dael Scrivens (nee Bartlett) worked there for a few years.
Dorothy Wills
Kelchers Bakery had the best bread, used to get some whenever we were in Reefton
Noeline Pinn
Knew Mel and Margaret. They later came to Christchurch but were true Coasters.
Barb Kennedy
It was yummy bread
Arthur Bass
Boston buns with the pink icing.
Margeret Lintern
Mrs Reeves worked there the smell of fresh bread was so good the cake cabinet was filled with nice treats my brother used to get the bread on the way home for lunch from school bread would get taken to farms on the mail run back in the day.
Arthur Bass
Boston buns with the pink icing.
Elaine Bolitho
My girls loved gong to the bakery to collect the bread for their Gran when on holiday - made them feel so grown up and important as 4-6 year olds?
AnnePat Gallagher
As kids, we used to break the barracudas in half and tuck into the warm centre on the way home, then stick them back together and hand the loaf to Mum. As if she didn't know! ?
David Howe
The sally lunn, boston bun argument could go on forever. Some parts of the north island called them boston buns, and some parts called them sally lunns. My dad learned his trade in Napier, and they were sally lunns. He used to make them at his bakery, and they stayed sally lunns.
Susan Hajek
I use to go get fresh loaf of uncut bread,by the time it got home,there was not bread left in the center lolDavid Howe
The sally lunn, boston bun argument could go on forever. Some parts of the north island called them boston buns, and some parts called them sally lunns. My dad learned his trade in Napier, and they were sally lunns. He used to make them at his bakery, and they stayed sally lunns.
=
Susan Hajek
I use to go get fresh loaf of uncut bread,by the time it got home,there was not bread left in the center lol
Elaine Bolitho
My girls loved gong to the bakery to collect the bread for their Gran when on holiday - made them feel so grown up and important as 4-6 year olds?
Naireen Bass
Just by looking at the shop photo I can smell those delicious aromas again.
=
Arthur Bass
Boston buns with the pink icing.
Margeret Lintern
Mrs Reeves worked there the smell of fresh bread was so good the cake cabinet was filled with nice treats my brother used to get the bread on the way home for lunch from school bread would get taken to farms on the mail run back in the day
Elizabeth Mehrtens
The best bread but when it was Lynette Avenell turn to pick up a half baracota turned into a 1/4
Rhonda Jackson
Not far from our place?
Lynette Campbell
Mum sent us to get the bread by the time we got home we'd eaten bread out of the middle
Sam Win
Lynette Campbell yes the bakers kiss
Lynette Campbell
Sam Win yes very tasty ?
Kevin O'Regan
Loved the fresh breadll when walking past to the convent
Wendy Thomas
I remember having to walk there to get the bread the day or day after the earthquake. Scary as! Quakes were constantly coming but Mr Kelcher still had the bread out.
Lorraine Brian
Great memories.
Collene Anderson
Smile Yes Sticker, GIF may contain transparent, yeah and agreed
Theresa Gibson
Lyell Foulsham used to truck the bread from here to Murchison. Us kids loved the bread during the holidays as it seemed the baker took his break then and the baker that filled in wasn’t used to the ovens and the breads crust was cooked more than usual, it was delicious!
Bill Garth
Mel played a few games for the Coast as a hooker!!!!!
Amos Collins
Stayed there years ago, great place!
AnnePat Gallagher
As kids, we used to break the barracudas in half and tuck into the warm centre on the way home, then stick them back together and hand the loaf to Mum. As if she didn't know! ?
Janaka Mary Bartlett
My sister Dael Scrivens (nee Bartlett) worked there for a few years.
Dorothy Wills
Kelchers Bakery had the best bread, used to get some whenever we were in Reefton
Noeline Pinn
Knew Mel and Margaret. They later came to Christchurch but were true Coasters.
Barb Kennedy
It was yummy bread
Anne Miller Mcmillan Remember it well. My kids nana dot reeve worked there.
Leanne Reeve Anne Miller Mcmillan i remember the big bread racks and the smell of bread and the melting moments lol
Anne Miller Mcmillan Leanne Reeve yes so do i.
Jennifer Griffin Walked past the shop every morning on my way to school oh the beautiful smells coming from there
Pauline Douglas
Pauline Douglas The best bread ever !!
Dorothy Wills Bought many a loaf from there
Tracey Ramsay I loved getting fresh bread and all the baked goodies here.
KevinandMargaret Mills Used to go down and get our bread.Sometimes the baker gave us a hot mince savoury in the cold mornings
KevinandMargaret Mills It would have been late 50’s every early 60’s
Don’t
Know who the baker was but was a male
Margaret Kaa KevinandMargaret Mills Mel Kelcher I think Marg
KevinandMargaret Mills Margaret Kaa wasn’t that the bakery where the head went through the window
KevinandMargaret Mills Yes it was Mel Kelcher
Margaret Kaa KevinandMargaret Mills I remember it well. My apologies after all these years. Did we ever have to pay??
KevinandMargaret Mills Don’t recall, no need to apology my friend
Margaret Kaa KevinandMargaret Mills I think we ran and hid up the driveway of the house next door!
Donna Flower Loved their bread
Judi Trompetter They used to come to Inangahua and we would buy the bread out of the van When they closed down I made our bread by haDorothy Wills
Used to buy bread there many years ago was lovely bread I got it as a special treat because it tasted so good
Myron Caldwell
And prior to Kelchers, it was operated by Vic Caldwell.
Ruth Naylor
Monday to Fridays pick up the mail at the Post Office and bike down to the bakery and get the bread home for dinner and back to school rain hail or snow and sunshine, picking the bread while it wad still warm arrive home with a hole in the middle,
Thomas Peter Mulligan
Mrs Reeves use to serve you good bread
Gavin Davy
Remember getting the fresh bread from there as a kid.
Theresa Gibson
Back in the 60’s the usual baker must have taken some of his holidays during school holidays and a temporary baker or the apprentice would bake. He must have not quite got the hang of the oven temperatures because we noticed the bread during these times was slightly ‘burnt’. The crust was wonderful, us kids loved it. We used to get 6 to a dozen loaves at a time, no freezers. The bread never got a chance to go stale. After the holidays it went back to the usual pale. Doug Reid would pick it up from Reefton then Lyell Foulsham would deliver to Hodgsons Store, Murchison. Later on Lyell went to Reefton for bread.
Colin J Wilson
Barry Moore, delivered the bread to Inangahua Junction.
Eleanor Williams
Colin J Wilson remember Bruce Chandler delivering bread to Junction when we lived over there. Was having trouble with lawn mower one day and I kicked it just as Bruce delivered the bread. . Have him a laugh.
Kaye Mckay
They made pies , Grace and Donald Blackadder dog used to get one in the middle of the night! They would return a small stack of tins
Barb Kennedy
Use to see who could get the crust first it was so yummy
Arthur Bass
Loved the boston buns too.
Daryl Aitken
I can remember Bill Caldwell, Ronnie Reeves in the bakery and Bruce Chandler driving the delivery van befor he became a policeman.
John Churchill
Didn't Merv play rugby for West coast, I think he played hooker. In the fifties.
KevinandMargaret Mills
Used to walk from Dick street early morning for bread occasionally we would get a hit savoury,1960’s. Marg Kaa pushed my head through the plate glass window no harm done. Never found out who paid for new one
Daryl Aitken
It was all great stuff they made
Kerry Wildermoth
I think our nana would send Garry Hawkes and myself up to the bakery as a treat, for two loaves of fresh bread only one ever made it home. Never got told off. Best Cornish Pasties I've ever tasted
Anne Bruce
Oh, I used to like the bread from Kelchers.
Mawson N Kay Shaw
I remember after we were married living in Nana Sara`s house at the top or Broadway & walking our daughter Karyn in the buggy to playcenter on Buller Road, while she was there I would go over to see Francie Hunter & have a coffee & a chat & then going to get Karyn & calling into Kelchers on the way home for the bread.
Bronwen Skates
always me or my sisters job ev morning to bike there with the flour sack to bring home fresh loaves ( not sliced ) which we would eat some of the middle out while still warm then push the double loaf together and hope mum never saw it lol. bread and buns were beautiful
Daryl Aitken
I can remember when Mel Kelcher use to referee our games of rugby.
Thomas Peter Mulligan
Sorry to hear of Barbara loughnans passing Albiie and barb were a great couple
Noeline McCaughan
On payday Dad would collect the usual Vienna loaf of bread and then buy a Boston bun as well. We children loved the piece we were given after we had eaten dinner (including the greens.)
Verran Robertson
I was baptised in the house across the road
Daryl Aitken
Thats a few years ago in your grandparents house mate.
Ivan Murray Wilson
Loretta Reeve
Suzanne McGeady
Randall used to pick up the bread from Kelchers, for the Ikamatua store, drop it off on the way to the Rough Creek Mill to work.
Verran Robertson
Sure was
Mary Parker
My sister and I used to pick up the bread from here after school. Loved pulling the loaf apart and eating the Baker's Kiss, can still taste . Cheers.
Frances Hassan
My brother Lindsay worked for Mel Kelcher , Dael Bartlett , was working behind the counter to,
Maria Hoy
Remember getting the bread lovely and fresh we had to stop ourselves picking the inside out of it. My mum worked their at odd times. Mel’s sister lives here in Palmerston North we are good friends
John Griffin
Yes i remember it was a great bread shop
Barry Caldwell
My first home in Reefton ,when dad bought the buisness in 1943. I delivered bread to the local pubs,by bike with a big basket on the front a few years later.Brother Bill worked for Mel later on.Mel played for Marist in Grey, on Saturdays and Reefton in the lnangahua comp on Sunday's.He was hooker for the Coast at the time.
Caroline Crann
I stayed there once at the backpacker's and swear I smelt bread baking in the very early morning.....
Heather Newby
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Author
Caroline Crann you probably did..
Janaka Mary Bartlett
My sister Dael Scrivens nee Bartlett worked there for a few year's.
Remember going and picking up the bread, it was still warm from the oven, and their yummy raspberry iced buns.
Tracey Ramsay
The best bread ever. Especially the crispy tops that got eaten on the way home.
Bernadette Williams
Tracey Ramsay being best friends with Francis Kelcher at school I got to sample all the left over sugar buns rolls etc. And to lay on the flour sacks in the bakery on a frost day, heaven.
Michele Caldwell
I worked there during the school holidays with both Dale and Sharyn Haldane.
Elaine Bolitho
My husband tells stories of the Boston Bun competition between two Reefton bakeries - and how the children loved getting the biggest one!
Linda Skelton
Our bread came by NZR bus to the engineers camp 3 x a week wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. At times it was in a very sorry state after being squashed or the string being caught and cutting the bread in half. Still great bread Fridays bread still made good sandwiches in Mondays crib!Annette Rosanowski
Beautiful bread
Susan Archer
That brings back some wonderful memories! Mrs Kelcher was such a happy, cheerful woman
Brian McMahon
My father worked there delivering bread
Arthur Bass
The rails for the bikes to lean against aren't there.
Valerie Beavis
Gosh I remember this like yesterday.
Gloria Harrison
I remember those days!
Tony Fortune
You could smell the bread baking from my place a block away.
Bronwen Skates
Lovely bread. My job was biking to Bakery before going to School to pick up mums bread order every day and yes ! I'd pick warm bread from the 1/4 loaves
Barb Kennedy
Just loved the bread and the crusts on it
Anne Bruce
When my father eent to Reefton for coal he would bring back two other items. Bread from Kelchers and fish 'n chips (unsure of the place he got these from). I always looked forward to the time Reefton coal was all gone from the coal bin.
Margaret Kaa
Anne Bruce fish 'n chips probably from Snowy Campbells
Wendy Harding
Remember it well - often sent to buy a loaf of bread! loved the smell of the bakery shop!
Dorothy Wills
Yes I remember
Ron Parish
Days before sliced bread don't forget custard squares
Margaret Kaa
Good memories. Thanks Tony
KevinandMargaret Mills
Margaret Kaa so do I head first through window, no cuts lol
Ron Collis
Remember that lovely fresh bread.Lucky if it arrived home untouched.Mel Kelcher was a more than useful Rugby player too.Played a lot of games for West Coast
Arthur Bass
Mels boston buns were good as well.
Dave Morris
Arthur Bass was that necessary Arthur?
Arthur Bass
Dave Morris certainly !
Wendy Thomas
I remember walking to get our bread the day after the Inangahua Earthquake and while inside we had a good aftershock. The owners were lovely people.
Donna Moore
Bede Kelcher
Susan Hajek
I remember picking up fresh bread for mum,but it never got home the same,inside was gone,mmm wonder who ate that,lol
Richard Butcher
I remember my brother and I taking a retired pit pony to rail it to CHCH and the horse would not go past the Bakery because of the smell of the bread. We had to make a long bypass in order to get to the railway station.
Mari Walsh
I remember mum sending us to get a loaf of bread, then telling us off for eating the crust on the way home. And every xmas they would give us lids a paper bag full of Macintosh lollies.
Janette Schroeder
Oh great memory…..
Did Mrs Reeves work there late 60’s/early 70’s?
Don’t forget the Madeira Cake too!
Lillian Hutchins
Gosh I remember that place to.loved the appleturn overs and buns.good memories.
Janaka Mary Bartlett
My sister Dael Scrivens (Bartlett) worked there.
Sue Hampton
I remember mum always got the thick n thin loaves. Half toast bread half for sandwiches. Iced buns were good too.
Ellen Te Aho
Great memory picking the middle out of the square loaf on the way home
Arthur Bass
Ellen Te Aho arse kicked when you got home for the troubles as well.
Elizabeth Mehrtens
The best bread but when it was Lynette Avenell turn to pick up a half baracota turned into a 1/4
Lynette Campbell
Mum sent us to get the bread by the time we got home we'd eaten bread out of the middle
Rhonda Jackson
Not far from our place?
Kevin O'Regan
Loved the fresh breadll when walking past to the convent
Wendy Thomas
I remember having to walk there to get the bread the day or day after the earthquake. Scary as! Quakes were constantly coming but Mr Kelcher still had the bread out.
Lorraine Brian
Great memories.
Collene Anderson
Smile Yes Sticker, GIF may contain transparent, yeah and agreed
Theresa Gibson
Lyall Foulsham used to truck the bread from here to Murchison. Us kids loved the bread during the holidays as it seemed the baker took his break then and the baker that filled in wasn’t used to the ovens and the breads crust was cooked more than usual, it was delicious!
Bill Garth
Mel played a few games for the Coast as a hooker!!!!!
AnnePat Gallagher
As kids, we used to break the barracudas in half and tuck into the warm centre on the way home, then stick them back together and hand the loaf to Mum. As if she didn't know! ?
Amos Collins
Stayed there years ago, great place!
Janaka Mary Bartlett
My sister Dael Scrivens (nee Bartlett) worked there for a few years.
Dorothy Wills
Kelchers Bakery had the best bread, used to get some whenever we were in Reefton
15h
Noeline Pinn
Knew Mel and Margaret. They later came to Christchurch but were true Coasters.
Barb Kennedy
It was yummy bread
Elizabeth Mehrtens
The best bread but when it was Lynette Avenell turn to pick up a half baracota turned into a 1/4
17h
Reply
Rhonda Jackson
Not far from our place?
18h
Reply
Lynette Campbell
Mum sent us to get the bread by the time we got home we'd eaten bread out of the middle
19h
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Sam Win
Lynette Campbell yes the bakers kiss
19h
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Lynette Campbell
Sam Win yes very tasty ?
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Reply
Kevin O'Regan
Loved the fresh breadll when walking past to the convent
Wendy Thomas
I remember having to walk there to get the bread the day or day after the earthquake. Scary as! Quakes were constantly coming but Mr Kelcher still had the bread out.
Lorraine Brian
Great memories.
Collene Anderson
Smile Yes Sticker, GIF may contain transparent, yeah and agreed
Theresa Gibson
Lyell Foulsham used to truck the bread from here to Murchison. Us kids loved the bread during the holidays as it seemed the baker took his break then and the baker that filled in wasn’t used to the ovens and the breads crust was cooked more than usual, it was delicious!
Bill Garth
Mel played a few games for the Coast as a hooker!!!!!
Amos Collins
Stayed there years ago, great place!
AnnePat Gallagher
As kids, we used to break the barracudas in half and tuck into the warm centre on the way home, then stick them back together and hand the loaf to Mum. As if she didn't know! ?
Janaka Mary Bartlett
My sister Dael Scrivens (nee Bartlett) worked there for a few years.
Dorothy Wills
Kelchers Bakery had the best bread, used to get some whenever we were in Reefton
Noeline Pinn
Knew Mel and Margaret. They later came to Christchurch but were true Coasters.
Barb Kennedy
It was yummy bread
Arthur Bass
Boston buns with the pink icing.
Margeret Lintern
Mrs Reeves worked there the smell of fresh bread was so good the cake cabinet was filled with nice treats my brother used to get the bread on the way home for lunch from school bread would get taken to farms on the mail run back in the day.
Arthur Bass
Boston buns with the pink icing.
Elaine Bolitho
My girls loved gong to the bakery to collect the bread for their Gran when on holiday - made them feel so grown up and important as 4-6 year olds?
AnnePat Gallagher
As kids, we used to break the barracudas in half and tuck into the warm centre on the way home, then stick them back together and hand the loaf to Mum. As if she didn't know! ?
David Howe
The sally lunn, boston bun argument could go on forever. Some parts of the north island called them boston buns, and some parts called them sally lunns. My dad learned his trade in Napier, and they were sally lunns. He used to make them at his bakery, and they stayed sally lunns.
Susan Hajek
I use to go get fresh loaf of uncut bread,by the time it got home,there was not bread left in the center lolDavid Howe
The sally lunn, boston bun argument could go on forever. Some parts of the north island called them boston buns, and some parts called them sally lunns. My dad learned his trade in Napier, and they were sally lunns. He used to make them at his bakery, and they stayed sally lunns.
=
Susan Hajek
I use to go get fresh loaf of uncut bread,by the time it got home,there was not bread left in the center lol
Elaine Bolitho
My girls loved gong to the bakery to collect the bread for their Gran when on holiday - made them feel so grown up and important as 4-6 year olds?
Naireen Bass
Just by looking at the shop photo I can smell those delicious aromas again.
=
Arthur Bass
Boston buns with the pink icing.
Margeret Lintern
Mrs Reeves worked there the smell of fresh bread was so good the cake cabinet was filled with nice treats my brother used to get the bread on the way home for lunch from school bread would get taken to farms on the mail run back in the day
Elizabeth Mehrtens
The best bread but when it was Lynette Avenell turn to pick up a half baracota turned into a 1/4
Rhonda Jackson
Not far from our place?
Lynette Campbell
Mum sent us to get the bread by the time we got home we'd eaten bread out of the middle
Sam Win
Lynette Campbell yes the bakers kiss
Lynette Campbell
Sam Win yes very tasty ?
Kevin O'Regan
Loved the fresh breadll when walking past to the convent
Wendy Thomas
I remember having to walk there to get the bread the day or day after the earthquake. Scary as! Quakes were constantly coming but Mr Kelcher still had the bread out.
Lorraine Brian
Great memories.
Collene Anderson
Smile Yes Sticker, GIF may contain transparent, yeah and agreed
Theresa Gibson
Lyell Foulsham used to truck the bread from here to Murchison. Us kids loved the bread during the holidays as it seemed the baker took his break then and the baker that filled in wasn’t used to the ovens and the breads crust was cooked more than usual, it was delicious!
Bill Garth
Mel played a few games for the Coast as a hooker!!!!!
Amos Collins
Stayed there years ago, great place!
AnnePat Gallagher
As kids, we used to break the barracudas in half and tuck into the warm centre on the way home, then stick them back together and hand the loaf to Mum. As if she didn't know! ?
Janaka Mary Bartlett
My sister Dael Scrivens (nee Bartlett) worked there for a few years.
Dorothy Wills
Kelchers Bakery had the best bread, used to get some whenever we were in Reefton
Noeline Pinn
Knew Mel and Margaret. They later came to Christchurch but were true Coasters.
Barb Kennedy
It was yummy bread
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West Coast New Zealand History (30th Jul 2025). Kelchers Bakery, Buller Rd, Reefton, 1950s. . In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 29th Apr 2026 10:52, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/25560