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Overlooking the township of Stafford.1880.
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DescriptionOverlooking the gold mining town of Stafford, circa 1880s. A coffee house and a shop advertising the name Kirkpatrick are visible.
It is estimated that at that time the population exceeded 5000 people, amongst whom were a large proportion of Scandinavians. Stafford, in its palmiest days (which ended about 1875) was a payable field.There were four churches in the settlement; namely, Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Roman Catholic.There was a local Magistrate's Court and Police Station, and the business of the Post Office was conducted at one of the local stores. There were two hotels, a blacksmith's, a bootmaker's shop.
Stafford had a public library, a reading room, an Oddfellows' Lodge, and a local public school. At the census of 1901 the population numbered 116.
Photographer Photographer unidentifiedDate of Photo1880Map[1] External LinkTHE CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW ZEALAND - Stafford.ContributorHeather Newby
It is estimated that at that time the population exceeded 5000 people, amongst whom were a large proportion of Scandinavians. Stafford, in its palmiest days (which ended about 1875) was a payable field.There were four churches in the settlement; namely, Anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Roman Catholic.There was a local Magistrate's Court and Police Station, and the business of the Post Office was conducted at one of the local stores. There were two hotels, a blacksmith's, a bootmaker's shop.
Stafford had a public library, a reading room, an Oddfellows' Lodge, and a local public school. At the census of 1901 the population numbered 116.
Photographer Photographer unidentifiedDate of Photo1880Map[1] External LinkTHE CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW ZEALAND - Stafford.ContributorHeather Newby
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Location (city or town)StaffordPersonKirkpatrickOrganisation (eg business)KirkpatrickEventOverlooking the township of Stafford
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Date Created2nd May 2020CommentsTrevor Keith Scott Dad & I put in 1/2 barrows on a claim owned by Ron King, (Kings Hotel Greymouth). The idea was so Ron could take tourists down to Goldsboro, Dillmans Town & Stafford so they could Pan for gold using the 1/2 barrows to wash the earth away leaving a small amount of gold dust which they could keep. All those 3 area's way back then was very hit hard with miners after the Gold hidden there, Tailing everywhere and in some cases mine shafts, that was in the 60's when we did that for the Kings Hotel.
Glenn Johnston Regarding Stafford at its peak which would have been in the 1860's there were considerably more than two hotels. I would say without checking there were at least a dozen with more scattered nearby on the diggings. Stafford had a good sized brewery and a separate cordial factory as well.
Heather Newby 37 hotels
Jeremy Sutherland Houlahan's Waimea Brewery is somewhere down that main street
Theresa Gibson Churches were built sturdily using the best materials. Made to last. So often they were the last building left standing, after the ‘rush’......
Anne Honey I like potted histories of the towns that were just a name on a signpost poi ting to an overgrown track.
Sharon Kearns Where exactly was Stafford? Thanks
Sharon Burnett Sharon Kearns through the Goldsborough Road, turn off at Chesterfield on the way to Hokitika.
Glenn Johnston Sharon Burnett You mean Awatuna not Chesterfield. You can go that way or via Stafford Loop Road that turns off 1km north of the Arahura Pa if approaching from the west. From the opposite direction it would be via Goldsborough.
Arlene Hutcheon Just out of Kumara, 15 km direct south I think. Can anyone be more specific?
Heather Newby 12.8kms north of Hokitika
David Verrall
David Verrall A great posting, there's few places to find this kind of history nowadays.
Glenn Johnston More on the Houlahan brewery at Stafford. As well as brewing beer and making cordial and aerated waters it sold imported wines and spirits, ales, stouts cigars etc. Houlahan owned at least one pub in Stafford and a theatre which had a bar. Houlahan's Waimea brewery advertised its beer as being unsurpassed, best in NZ etc. as did just about every other West Coast brewery.
Heather Newby very interesting.. thanks for that.
Shona Reid John Honey had the Sluicers Arms Hotel in Stafford 1878
Anne Honey Hi Shona a hundred years later our John Honey was a publican. Glad to add yrs to my family notes. Thank you.
Heather Newby there was Honey family in Blaketown in the 1950`s and 60`s. Mrs Honey was soooo lovely!
Anne Honey Heather Newby they had to be related and all the Mrs Honeys were lovely.
Heather Newby Anne Honey she was the loveliest woman.. so sweet and kind.. I can see her in my minds eye right now
M
Anne Honey Heather Newby Had a customer afew yrs back who was a gardener for a Mrs Honey she told him she knew me. Couldn't place her.
Glenn Johnston Anne Honey - Shona Reid. Was the publican Honey who had the Sluicer's Arms at Stafford in 1878 related to the Honey's who mined at Callaghan's?
Shona Reid Glenn Johnston yes John was father to Stephen Redmond Honey who mined at Callaghan’s
Glenn Johnston I know some of the Honey's. I visited Bobby in the early 70's when he mined in the Shamrock across the ridge from Callaghan's. Bobby used to ask me to take messages to his sister Clara at Kaihinu. I remember Steve at Kaihinu and various others. Another generation Robert Honey who also did a stint gold mining in modern times lives a few blocks from me in Hoki.
Anne Honey Glenn Johnston remember when i was a child visiting family at Kaihinu.
Glenn Johnston I remember chatting with Kieran Read's (All Black Captain) brother almost two decades ago and he informed me he was a descendant of West Coast Honey's on his mothers side.
Wayne Thornton Wow that is amazing so enjoy hearing of history of the West Coast
Frances Adank My foremothers and fathers are buried in Stafford cemetery. Might be Stewarts.
Monica Harvey My grand parents on my mums side lived there and lost 4 children in a house fire there they were buried in Kumara cemetery my mums parents names were McNeil
Glenn Johnston Regarding Stafford at its peak which would have been in the 1860's there were considerably more than two hotels. I would say without checking there were at least a dozen with more scattered nearby on the diggings. Stafford had a good sized brewery and a separate cordial factory as well.
Heather Newby 37 hotels
Jeremy Sutherland Houlahan's Waimea Brewery is somewhere down that main street
Theresa Gibson Churches were built sturdily using the best materials. Made to last. So often they were the last building left standing, after the ‘rush’......
Anne Honey I like potted histories of the towns that were just a name on a signpost poi ting to an overgrown track.
Sharon Kearns Where exactly was Stafford? Thanks
Sharon Burnett Sharon Kearns through the Goldsborough Road, turn off at Chesterfield on the way to Hokitika.
Glenn Johnston Sharon Burnett You mean Awatuna not Chesterfield. You can go that way or via Stafford Loop Road that turns off 1km north of the Arahura Pa if approaching from the west. From the opposite direction it would be via Goldsborough.
Arlene Hutcheon Just out of Kumara, 15 km direct south I think. Can anyone be more specific?
Heather Newby 12.8kms north of Hokitika
David Verrall
David Verrall A great posting, there's few places to find this kind of history nowadays.
Glenn Johnston More on the Houlahan brewery at Stafford. As well as brewing beer and making cordial and aerated waters it sold imported wines and spirits, ales, stouts cigars etc. Houlahan owned at least one pub in Stafford and a theatre which had a bar. Houlahan's Waimea brewery advertised its beer as being unsurpassed, best in NZ etc. as did just about every other West Coast brewery.
Heather Newby very interesting.. thanks for that.
Shona Reid John Honey had the Sluicers Arms Hotel in Stafford 1878
Anne Honey Hi Shona a hundred years later our John Honey was a publican. Glad to add yrs to my family notes. Thank you.
Heather Newby there was Honey family in Blaketown in the 1950`s and 60`s. Mrs Honey was soooo lovely!
Anne Honey Heather Newby they had to be related and all the Mrs Honeys were lovely.
Heather Newby Anne Honey she was the loveliest woman.. so sweet and kind.. I can see her in my minds eye right now
M
Anne Honey Heather Newby Had a customer afew yrs back who was a gardener for a Mrs Honey she told him she knew me. Couldn't place her.
Glenn Johnston Anne Honey - Shona Reid. Was the publican Honey who had the Sluicer's Arms at Stafford in 1878 related to the Honey's who mined at Callaghan's?
Shona Reid Glenn Johnston yes John was father to Stephen Redmond Honey who mined at Callaghan’s
Glenn Johnston I know some of the Honey's. I visited Bobby in the early 70's when he mined in the Shamrock across the ridge from Callaghan's. Bobby used to ask me to take messages to his sister Clara at Kaihinu. I remember Steve at Kaihinu and various others. Another generation Robert Honey who also did a stint gold mining in modern times lives a few blocks from me in Hoki.
Anne Honey Glenn Johnston remember when i was a child visiting family at Kaihinu.
Glenn Johnston I remember chatting with Kieran Read's (All Black Captain) brother almost two decades ago and he informed me he was a descendant of West Coast Honey's on his mothers side.
Wayne Thornton Wow that is amazing so enjoy hearing of history of the West Coast
Frances Adank My foremothers and fathers are buried in Stafford cemetery. Might be Stewarts.
Monica Harvey My grand parents on my mums side lived there and lost 4 children in a house fire there they were buried in Kumara cemetery my mums parents names were McNeil
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West Coast New Zealand History (2nd May 2020). Overlooking the township of Stafford.1880.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 3rd Apr 2026 21:52, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/27805