Old Bins at Burkes Creek Mine, Reefton.

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DescriptionThe Burkes Creek coal mine is about two kilometres north-east of Reefton, wedged between the Terrace coal mine to the south, and Pyramid coal mine to the north.

Early history shows the mine owned by J. McLiver, Robert Cairn, and possibly Lockington (1908), and later just the first two (1914). A court case at this time has McLiver stating he was forced to hand over his share of the mine to J. Harris, while he was unwell, and drugged. He states Cairn was keen to sell, but had no authority to do so, and McLiver was carried to a house in a state of fog, and mental instability. Cairn, McLiver claims held his hand, directing a motion to sign . McLiver was attempting to regain his share of the mine.

The Reefton Coal Company was established in 1919, later with a name change to Burkes Creek Collieries, to develop the mine. Albert Ambrose Wells was killed in a fall of coal at the mine in 1923. The mine was purchased by New Zealand government owned State Coal in 1946.

It is a small open cut, and underground sub-bituminous coal mine. It is owned and operated by a small family concern as R.J. Banks, or the Burkes Creek Coal Party (Sourcewatch), or in a 2017 source, Moore Mining Ltd from Solid Energy (Newshub). Other sources state Moore Mining took over the Burkes Creek Coal Washery.

The mine produces about 5000 tonnes of coal per annum for local district consumption. It has an estimated resource of 18 Mt.

In a park in Reefton, is the restored Fairlie R28 locomotive, the only survivor of its type in the world. Built at Bristol England in 1878, it operated across the South Island until 1934, and ended up at the Burkes Creek coal mine from 1944 to 1948. It was then abandoned at the coal mine's railway siding, before being rescued by the local station master. A community restoration project took place. For railway enthusiasts, another rare type of locomotive from the district is on display along the main highway between Greymouth and Reefton.Paul Maciulaitis
This replaced the Farilie locomotive. The Barclay locomotive Burkes creek owned number 1753 .It had air brakes fitted in reefton the air tanks were made by Dispatch foundry .In 1955 it was overhauled by Dispatch. It was scrapped in Reefton in 1963

I think it was towed to Greymouth and the air brakes fitted by Dispatch. I recall seeing a picture in a NZ Model Railway Journal describing it.Map^[1]External LinkMindat.orgContributorBlacks Point Museum

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Location (city or town)Burkes CreekOrganisation (eg business)Burkes Creek Mine

Category Information

Category TagCoal Mining

From Facebook

Date Created25th January 2020CommentsRobin Hughes
Wow, that's an old one. It looks like the Fairlie locomotive in the siding. It ran on a dedicated branch line from Reefton to the mine. Uncertain when it finished but would guess the early 50's. That engine (assuming it's the same one) is on display in Reefton.

Ray Deo
A Fairlie? Teeny tinny boiler.Paul Maciulaitis
This replaced the Farilie locomotive. The Barclay locomotive Burkes creek owned number 1753 .It had air brakes fitted in reefton the air tanks were made by Dispatch foundry .In 1955 it was overhauled by Dispatch. It was scrapped in Reefton in 1963

David Maciulaitis
Paul Maciulaitis I think it was towed to Greymouth and the air brakes fitted by Dispatch. I recall seeing a picture in a NZ Model Railway Journal describing it.

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Old Bins at Burkes Creek Mine, Reefton.

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