Women Alluvial Gold Miners, Blackwater Early 1930’s.

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DescriptionWomen Alluvial Gold Miners, c. Early 1930’s
Near Reefton, West Coast, N.Z.

Henry Gardner's claim with daughter Maudy (mother of Bill Hunt), Nelly (Fellows) and Marge Armstrong.

Nelly mined into her 80s. She kept the post office there into the 70s. She took it over when he died.

“Mining was almost wholly a male occupation. Women were not allowed underground, but they could work in alluvial claims…Harry Gardiner called his claim the ‘Sons of Freedom’, but enlisted his daughters Maud and Nellie to work there, assisted by Madge Armstrong (at right). Many years later Nellie recalled that it had been cold, back-breaking work – but at least they kept what gold they won, unlike the miners at the nearby Blackwater mine [at Waiuta], who toiled underground for the mining company”

Photo and script from, “Through the Eyes of a Miner: The Photography of Joseph Divis,” Simon Nathan (Steele Roberts Publishers, Wellington), 2010. Photographer Joseph Divis, photo now archived at the Alexander Turnbull Library, ATL ½-233331-G. (Joseph Divis [1885-1967] was an immigrant from Central Europe who worked in the gold mining industry in New Zealand between 1909 and 1935).PhotographerJos DivisDate of Photo1930sMap^[1]ContributorTony Brunt

Shown in this image

Location (city or town)ReeftonPersonMadge ArmstrongMaud GardenerNellie GardenerEventWomen Alluvial Gold Miners,Reefton. ca. Early 1930’s.

Category Information

Category TagGoldmining

From Facebook

Date Created24th November 2019CommentsChrissy Thompson Harry Gardiner my great-grandfather and some of my great aunts, great pic

Fran Cohen Is the lady on the right wearing ballet shoes?

Rose Green Fran Cohen I was thinking the same thing or something similar

Craig Smith Fran Cohen maybe moccasins?

Michelle Gaulter They look like white Scottish Dancing shoes

Jackie Breach Maud and Nellie were my Godmothers Aunts. Nellie was Post Mistress at Blackwater. Loved visiting her as a kid with Mum and Grandma in the 60's

Karen Davidson These are my great Aunts and my Mum Jean Bannan .

Glenn Johnston Madge Armstrong became Madge Leach on marriage (her given first name was Marjorie) Madge & husband Harry (Henry) lived and worked then retired in Hokitika for the latter part of their lives. I remember her as a good person. She bequeathed some curios to my father which were passed on to me.

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Women Alluvial Gold Miners, Blackwater Early 1930’s.

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