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Rewanui State Coal Mine, Greymouth .1923 WITH MAP
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DescriptionRewanui State Coal Mine, Greymouth - 1923
Original advertisement or photo from 'New Zealand Illustrated Christmas Number 1923, Christchurch New Zealand'
Richard's New Zealand - Old, Nostalgic, History, Past
MAP:
Glenn Johnston:
Here is a sketch map which I've aligned roughly with the thread starter photo. I believe the photo corresponds to a section of the rope road above the last tunnel to Top Brake and takes in the tram (blue pen) heading off right toward the No 1 Section No 1 mine entrance. Near Top Brake you can see the last quite steep bit of the horse/service tram (red pen - it is mainly at quite a good grade) pinching in to meet the top of the rope road.
Date of Photo1923Map[1] External LinkMad On CollectionsContributor Richard Wooders
Original advertisement or photo from 'New Zealand Illustrated Christmas Number 1923, Christchurch New Zealand'
Richard's New Zealand - Old, Nostalgic, History, Past
MAP:
Glenn Johnston:
Here is a sketch map which I've aligned roughly with the thread starter photo. I believe the photo corresponds to a section of the rope road above the last tunnel to Top Brake and takes in the tram (blue pen) heading off right toward the No 1 Section No 1 mine entrance. Near Top Brake you can see the last quite steep bit of the horse/service tram (red pen - it is mainly at quite a good grade) pinching in to meet the top of the rope road.
Date of Photo1923Map[1] External LinkMad On CollectionsContributor Richard Wooders
Shown in this image
Location (city or town)RewanuiOrganisation (eg business)Rewanui State Coal Mine
Category Information
Category TagCoal Mining
From Facebook
Date Created16th September 2019CommentsBill Johnsen Old Rewanui mine site out of action for many years and no mining at all up there now. There were two walkable tracks up to the original Rewanui township( Siberia) and first mine site but work on tracks stopped when Alan Hunter died few years back. Maybe somebody has maintained but do not think so and be very overgrown now and with slips and windfall have to know where you were going to make progress on the old tracks.There is a road up via Strongman mine road from Coast Road and can access the old township etc from that end but also be overgrown now but not a long walk..but Strongman road have to get permission to be on it ..A shame these tracks were not keep open as were in good condition and a few signs with information on what was where re mine sites ,Middle Brake ,bathhouse, stables etc etc been a very popular walkway with exit out to coast road or vice versa out thru dunollie..a shame ..Myron Caldwell
Crow Bay The rope road in the foreground looks like the the road to the bins but I recall the upper viaduct to the mine crossing a gully. May be before it was full developed Ken Campbell what do you reckon?
Peter WilsonMy Uncle Jack Wilson too me down there around 57/8
Malcolm Howell
Malcolm HowellWas the hoist incline just below this ?? I remember going thru the tunnel on the long trolley with seats, on a steep incline up to the bathhouse.
Lenny Crowe Got that photo on my wall my mum flora Monk lived up there
Janenne Oates Lenny Crowe maybe a good walk in November .
Dorothy Wills That is a pretty sturdy looking line for the wagons to travel on
Yvonne Lawson My Dad worked up there for 40 years.
Garry Wick I painted the bath -house along with my boss T J Willis .Barrow bros built them back in the early 70s . Drove up there along where the old tracks were dug up then and was able too. Old mems
Ken Campbell Crow Bay I don’t know when this was but it must be very early days. Looking up to the covered area where the boxes were attached to the rope it goes to the right . From there the rope went towards the creek and across another viaduct ( not seen in this picture) to the no 2 mine. I always thought there was a line up the side of the creek to Siberia. The miners hoist passed under the viaduct seen in this picture where the men came through the tunnel from the station to the mine. I doubt that had been built at this stage. At the top of this picture there is no bathhouse lamp house weigh bridge or cabins that people lived in . I’m pretty sure there was another power house a little further down the hill later on . Also no rope bosses hut or rope boys hut so maybe the no 2 mine was not yet started.
Bill Johnsen Thanks Mary Moffitt an hour walk (slow) to base of all Rewanui mining from Dunollie where miners bathhouse was ,rail station ,last state mine ,workshops and this was like an abandoned town ..which it basically was...all on level ground but last few years all overgrown and big slip destroyed lot of buildings and took life of caretaker on site....but some buildings still standing and old work shops down past old bins ..so can walk about for a look around and do on a fine day so not walking thru wet waist high gorse in parts..it best to look on Coast History pages on here and lots photos of Rewanui from way back and lots 10 years back..lots photos on coast re-collect pages few showing buildings up above this area Rewanui no 1 and 2 mines..etc and effects of the big landslip. ..the 2 tracks were top track that was the access development rail and the bottom track for getting coal out etc ...people have put lots photos on...I think I might get back up for a look about if I can ..lol cheers BJ.
Vincent Knapp
Before my time Richard this is Siberia the number 1 mine i started at number 2 ,,,,,boilers and hoist man then when that closed, down to number 3. I am an antiquie but not ancient.
Helen Green
Arnold travelled every week morning on train to Rewanui mine when we were first married. Miners played West Coast card game 'Fortyfives!' Damn difficult game. One West Coast identity whom we all loved and who became a champion of the game was Maudie Knapp.
Vincent Knapp
Thanks Helen Yes Maude loved her cards we all learnt off her --- cards netball badminton and of course the league were favourites of hers
Herb Hart
A great photo of Siberia Where the top mine was located.Herb Hart
A great photo of Siberia Where the top mine was located.
Elizabeth Shaw
Taken before when coal and peoples lives and jobs were important
Beverley Bourke
Pretty rugged in those days, hard life.
Crow Bay The rope road in the foreground looks like the the road to the bins but I recall the upper viaduct to the mine crossing a gully. May be before it was full developed Ken Campbell what do you reckon?
Peter WilsonMy Uncle Jack Wilson too me down there around 57/8
Malcolm Howell
Malcolm HowellWas the hoist incline just below this ?? I remember going thru the tunnel on the long trolley with seats, on a steep incline up to the bathhouse.
Lenny Crowe Got that photo on my wall my mum flora Monk lived up there
Janenne Oates Lenny Crowe maybe a good walk in November .
Dorothy Wills That is a pretty sturdy looking line for the wagons to travel on
Yvonne Lawson My Dad worked up there for 40 years.
Garry Wick I painted the bath -house along with my boss T J Willis .Barrow bros built them back in the early 70s . Drove up there along where the old tracks were dug up then and was able too. Old mems
Ken Campbell Crow Bay I don’t know when this was but it must be very early days. Looking up to the covered area where the boxes were attached to the rope it goes to the right . From there the rope went towards the creek and across another viaduct ( not seen in this picture) to the no 2 mine. I always thought there was a line up the side of the creek to Siberia. The miners hoist passed under the viaduct seen in this picture where the men came through the tunnel from the station to the mine. I doubt that had been built at this stage. At the top of this picture there is no bathhouse lamp house weigh bridge or cabins that people lived in . I’m pretty sure there was another power house a little further down the hill later on . Also no rope bosses hut or rope boys hut so maybe the no 2 mine was not yet started.
Bill Johnsen Thanks Mary Moffitt an hour walk (slow) to base of all Rewanui mining from Dunollie where miners bathhouse was ,rail station ,last state mine ,workshops and this was like an abandoned town ..which it basically was...all on level ground but last few years all overgrown and big slip destroyed lot of buildings and took life of caretaker on site....but some buildings still standing and old work shops down past old bins ..so can walk about for a look around and do on a fine day so not walking thru wet waist high gorse in parts..it best to look on Coast History pages on here and lots photos of Rewanui from way back and lots 10 years back..lots photos on coast re-collect pages few showing buildings up above this area Rewanui no 1 and 2 mines..etc and effects of the big landslip. ..the 2 tracks were top track that was the access development rail and the bottom track for getting coal out etc ...people have put lots photos on...I think I might get back up for a look about if I can ..lol cheers BJ.
Vincent Knapp
Before my time Richard this is Siberia the number 1 mine i started at number 2 ,,,,,boilers and hoist man then when that closed, down to number 3. I am an antiquie but not ancient.
Helen Green
Arnold travelled every week morning on train to Rewanui mine when we were first married. Miners played West Coast card game 'Fortyfives!' Damn difficult game. One West Coast identity whom we all loved and who became a champion of the game was Maudie Knapp.
Vincent Knapp
Thanks Helen Yes Maude loved her cards we all learnt off her --- cards netball badminton and of course the league were favourites of hers
Herb Hart
A great photo of Siberia Where the top mine was located.Herb Hart
A great photo of Siberia Where the top mine was located.
Elizabeth Shaw
Taken before when coal and peoples lives and jobs were important
Beverley Bourke
Pretty rugged in those days, hard life.
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West Coast New Zealand History (10th Feb 2022). Rewanui State Coal Mine, Greymouth .1923 WITH MAP. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 28th Apr 2026 03:42, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/26085