Golden Fleece battery at the end of Franklyn Street, Blacks Point.

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DescriptionGolden Fleece battery at the end of Franklyn Street, Blacks Point. Printed as a postcard and sent with beautiful copper plate handwriting on the rear addressed to my Great Aunt Helen McGregor.

The postmark franking on the rear is indecipherable, but could read "Blacks Point". Was there a post office at Blacks Point in the late 1800s early 1900s? Most certainly a 1902 photograph of the buildings I have seen available on the West Coast SI History page clearly identifies the same buildings as seen here.

Helen McGregor's father, John McGregor Snr, was the battery manager here, with the family living in the battery manager's house across the street in Franklyn St. The Inangahua Times noted Anderson's battery commenced work on 21 October 1872, and in Latham's 1992 book "The Golden Reefs" it notes that at the grand opening John McGregor was noted as the engineer, as everyone held their breath as the first truck loaded with quartz came down the 10 in 12 gradient tramway to arrive safely at the battery.

Is it possible the the name of the battery changed at times (Anderson's to Golden Fleece) as the fortunes of each of the mines changed, or is Anderson's battery and the Golden Fleece battery physically something different?

The handwriting is quite beautiful, and everyone in Helen's family knew she was obsessed with collecting postcards, nagging all her family and friends to send her cards. So I have a hunch that maybe this card has been posted to Helen McGregor, from her father John McGregor Snr, sometime around 1902 when Helen would have been 7 years old. No proof I know, but it makes a nice story.Map^[1]ContributorKeith Funnell

Shown in this image

Location (city or town)Blacks PointLandmark (Place)Golden Fleece battery at the end of Franklyn Street, Blacks Point.Organisation (eg business)Golden Fleece battery

Category Information

Category TagGoldmining

From Facebook

Date Created16th January 2020CommentsKeith Funnell Actually, now I see the postcard was addressed to "B McGregor", being Helen's older sister Bess, however all postcards in the household clearly got collected, collated and mounted by Helen McGregor.

Keith Funnell Elizabeth Ann Hoani and Jessie Thompson, the battery that your great grandfather (or grandfather) managed, all squirreled away in Helen McGregor's album.

Admin Team - West Coast History and Recollect Cory Aitken, was there ever a Post Office at Blacks Point?

Arthur Bass Admin Team - West Coast History and Recollect Yes, behing the museum run by Mrs Ernie Black in the house where Ally Caddie now lives.

Heather Christensen that looks like the battery in crushington !

Arthur Bass Heather Christensen no sign of the big water wheel Heather.

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Golden Fleece battery at the end of Franklyn Street, Blacks Point.

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