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The Old Fire Station, Greymouth.1950`s.
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ContributorHistory House Museum Greymouth
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LinkPosted July 2014CommentsBrenda Barry Brown Hallihans and Willis'es lived next door remember Racer Nelson father of George was caretaker and Firefighter in his day.
11 July 2014 at 15:01 · Like · 3
Linda Sara Yes my aunt valma and her husband frank willis lived in the second house.
11 July 2014 at 15:44 · Like · 1
Brian McIntyre From my life story ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, OFF TO THE PUB
At about nine or ten years old Dad would take me with him to the pub on Saturday morning, sit me on a stool at the bar with a packet of Paddy Blanchfield’s “Champion” brand salted peanuts and a glass of sarsaparilla fizz. Paddy Blanchfield was the Mayor of Greymouth and a prominent baker in town and he had come up with the idea that, while his ovens were cooling down why not roast some peanuts at the same time. Potato chips with a little bag of salt were just coming on the market, so his peanuts should do well. Some were burned black, some were nice, some were hardly roasted, so by the time you picked them over you threw half of them away and at one shilling [10¢] a packet they were not cheap. I can remember beer going up to one penny an ounce, so an eight ounce beer cost eight pence or around 7cents. Dad told the barman that if it goes up a gain you can shove it up your arse. So 1 penny an ounce and one Pound was 240 pennies. One pound converted to $2.00 on decimal currency changeover day, 10th July 1967.
Dad used to take me to the Gilmour Hotel or the Richmond Hotel both down by the wharf.
One Saturday morning just before midday we left the Richmond Hotel and Dad took me over to the nearby fire station which was then situated in Boundary St next to Griffin and Smiths.
The fire engine was a “Dennis” with an open back and cab. On the bonnet, was a red light, with chrome housing and shaped like a football [i.e.] torpedo shaped. Every Saturday at mid day the Station Officer would test run the siren and this Saturday was no exception, “SHIT,” I got a fright and burst out crying and jumped off the cab area and I was off out the door. Dad and the firemen thought it was a huge joke and were buckled over with laughter, I wasn’t getting much sympathy, but my dear Mum gave me a cuddle when we got home to Puketahi St.
11 July 2014 at 16:33 · Like · 5
Alison Paulsen Great gathering spot for local kids was the grassy area opposite the fire station on practice nights. Summer evening were wonderful if you could go home covered in mud from helping roll up the hoses. Tommy Cameron, Harry and George Kirk , Doddie Hogarth and so many others .
Brenda Barry Brown Mcginley Park Cyril Mcginleyfrom Hannan and Seddon Lawyers Mother lived over the road in Boundary St think she was over 100 yrs old
Alison Paulsen Thanks Brenda you filled the gaps nicely for me
Barry Howard we use to live near the fire station
10 November 2014 at 03:28 · Like · 1
Johannes Debreuk Shame they pulled it down. When I was really little we were taken there on a school trip, I vividly remember the firemen pole.
\
John Brett There was another smaller Fire Station on High Street between Greymouth Motors and the hotel. It was used by the Pipe Band in the 1950's.
John Brett I remember that the lettering had been changed to 'FIFE STATION'
Barry Howard After the boundry street fire station got pull down it went up in the power board building why the new one got build
10 November 2014 at 11:09 · Like
Brenda Barry Brown Bricky Moore Coaliner lived in house on the right.
10 November 2014 at 11:11 · Like · 1
Peter Westwood Vic Coburn was last caretaker i recall living there, he also drove for Westland Laundry i think. I was at high school with Michael Coburn, Vics son
10 November 2014 at 15:07 · Like · 1
Graeme Mcenaney I remember it well was a fireman there
11 November 2014 at 10:48 · Like · 1
Brenda Barry Brown Your right Peter Racer Nelson Georges father was also caretaker for a long time i think all the Mcenaneys were firefighters great cotribution to this towm.
11 November 2014 at 12:58 · Like · 2
Ian Webber I remember helping to reduce the level of liquid in the keg at the back of the station for many Xmas (or New Year) eves.
11 November 2014 at 13:33 · Like · 2
Peter Westwood Graeme there werent that many McEnanys not fireman and thank you all for that. when Geo Nelson had the Dominon, cnr Tainui/Mackey. he was in the briagade,may have been the Chief, when the siren would go he would run to Trumans taxi stand jump in front cab to the Fire Station. In those days the taxi office was notified where the fire was and some fireman would ring in and then go straight to the address.
11 November 2014 at 15:20 · Like · 1
Brian McIntyre I used to ring on the manual exchange and they told me where the fire was
Brenda Barry Brown Jim and Nancy Grant were also at Fire Station in Boundary St
Brian McIntyre And the fire station had the address of the fire written on the blackboard just inside the door
Brenda Barry Brown Think Jim was Chief Fire Officer then Brian or Scorch will correct me if i'm wrong, thank you the Mcenaneys you Loyalty has been great.
Geoffrey King
I wonder why the front is kind of fenced off in the 1950's, perhaps this picture was taken after 1968 Inangahua Earthquake.
Bruce Anderson
Remember it well
Vern Pattinson
Bruce Anderson i do as well worked beside the fire station at G a Smiths
Geoffrey King
I also read somewhere in a previous comments (2014) that Paddy Blanchfield was Mayor of Greymouth. I never knew that, knew he was the MP for the area but was unaware of him being the Mayor.
Bill Garth
Dont think Paddy was Mayor. Fred Turley, Boustridge, Ozzie Jackson, Barry Dallas
Trevor Molloy
I remember when I was a member of the Cobden unit of the Greymouth Fire Brigade , we were training on McGinley green opposite this station when the siren sounded , as we were already in fire fighting gear we ran across the road and manned the first appliance to leave the station .
Lyn N Moe
Trevor Molloy Would that be in George Nelsons time Trev.
Laurie Anisy
Thanks Anne can remember a lot of those days.Great times.
Lynda Buckley
I lived in Fire Station in the late 60s
Brian McIntyre
Got it Laurie
Laurie Anisy
Yes I can remember that station.It was beside Griffin and Smith
CommentsBrenda Barry Brown Hallihans and Willis'es lived next door remember Racer Nelson father of George was caretaker and Firefighter in his day.11 July 2014 at 15:01 · Like · 3
Linda Sara Yes my aunt valma and her husband frank willis lived in the second house.
11 July 2014 at 15:44 · Like · 1
Brian McIntyre From my life story ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, OFF TO THE PUB
At about nine or ten years old Dad would take me with him to the pub on Saturday morning, sit me on a stool at the bar with a packet of Paddy Blanchfield’s “Champion” brand salted peanuts and a glass of sarsaparilla fizz. Paddy Blanchfield was the Mayor of Greymouth and a prominent baker in town and he had come up with the idea that, while his ovens were cooling down why not roast some peanuts at the same time. Potato chips with a little bag of salt were just coming on the market, so his peanuts should do well. Some were burned black, some were nice, some were hardly roasted, so by the time you picked them over you threw half of them away and at one shilling [10¢] a packet they were not cheap. I can remember beer going up to one penny an ounce, so an eight ounce beer cost eight pence or around 7cents. Dad told the barman that if it goes up a gain you can shove it up your arse. So 1 penny an ounce and one Pound was 240 pennies. One pound converted to $2.00 on decimal currency changeover day, 10th July 1967.
Dad used to take me to the Gilmour Hotel or the Richmond Hotel both down by the wharf.
One Saturday morning just before midday we left the Richmond Hotel and Dad took me over to the nearby fire station which was then situated in Boundary St next to Griffin and Smiths.
The fire engine was a “Dennis” with an open back and cab. On the bonnet, was a red light, with chrome housing and shaped like a football [i.e.] torpedo shaped. Every Saturday at mid day the Station Officer would test run the siren and this Saturday was no exception, “SHIT,” I got a fright and burst out crying and jumped off the cab area and I was off out the door. Dad and the firemen thought it was a huge joke and were buckled over with laughter, I wasn’t getting much sympathy, but my dear Mum gave me a cuddle when we got home to Puketahi St.
11 July 2014 at 16:33 · Like · 5
Alison Paulsen Great gathering spot for local kids was the grassy area opposite the fire station on practice nights. Summer evening were wonderful if you could go home covered in mud from helping roll up the hoses. Tommy Cameron, Harry and George Kirk , Doddie Hogarth and so many others .
Brenda Barry Brown Mcginley Park Cyril Mcginleyfrom Hannan and Seddon Lawyers Mother lived over the road in Boundary St think she was over 100 yrs old
Alison Paulsen Thanks Brenda you filled the gaps nicely for me
Barry Howard we use to live near the fire station
10 November 2014 at 03:28 · Like · 1
Johannes Debreuk Shame they pulled it down. When I was really little we were taken there on a school trip, I vividly remember the firemen pole.
\
John Brett There was another smaller Fire Station on High Street between Greymouth Motors and the hotel. It was used by the Pipe Band in the 1950's.
John Brett I remember that the lettering had been changed to 'FIFE STATION'
Barry Howard After the boundry street fire station got pull down it went up in the power board building why the new one got build
10 November 2014 at 11:09 · Like
Brenda Barry Brown Bricky Moore Coaliner lived in house on the right.
10 November 2014 at 11:11 · Like · 1
Peter Westwood Vic Coburn was last caretaker i recall living there, he also drove for Westland Laundry i think. I was at high school with Michael Coburn, Vics son
10 November 2014 at 15:07 · Like · 1
Graeme Mcenaney I remember it well was a fireman there
11 November 2014 at 10:48 · Like · 1
Brenda Barry Brown Your right Peter Racer Nelson Georges father was also caretaker for a long time i think all the Mcenaneys were firefighters great cotribution to this towm.
11 November 2014 at 12:58 · Like · 2
Ian Webber I remember helping to reduce the level of liquid in the keg at the back of the station for many Xmas (or New Year) eves.
11 November 2014 at 13:33 · Like · 2
Peter Westwood Graeme there werent that many McEnanys not fireman and thank you all for that. when Geo Nelson had the Dominon, cnr Tainui/Mackey. he was in the briagade,may have been the Chief, when the siren would go he would run to Trumans taxi stand jump in front cab to the Fire Station. In those days the taxi office was notified where the fire was and some fireman would ring in and then go straight to the address.
11 November 2014 at 15:20 · Like · 1
Brian McIntyre I used to ring on the manual exchange and they told me where the fire was
Brenda Barry Brown Jim and Nancy Grant were also at Fire Station in Boundary St
Brian McIntyre And the fire station had the address of the fire written on the blackboard just inside the door
Brenda Barry Brown Think Jim was Chief Fire Officer then Brian or Scorch will correct me if i'm wrong, thank you the Mcenaneys you Loyalty has been great.
Geoffrey King
I wonder why the front is kind of fenced off in the 1950's, perhaps this picture was taken after 1968 Inangahua Earthquake.
Bruce Anderson
Remember it well
Vern Pattinson
Bruce Anderson i do as well worked beside the fire station at G a Smiths
Geoffrey King
I also read somewhere in a previous comments (2014) that Paddy Blanchfield was Mayor of Greymouth. I never knew that, knew he was the MP for the area but was unaware of him being the Mayor.
Bill Garth
Dont think Paddy was Mayor. Fred Turley, Boustridge, Ozzie Jackson, Barry Dallas
Trevor Molloy
I remember when I was a member of the Cobden unit of the Greymouth Fire Brigade , we were training on McGinley green opposite this station when the siren sounded , as we were already in fire fighting gear we ran across the road and manned the first appliance to leave the station .
Lyn N Moe
Trevor Molloy Would that be in George Nelsons time Trev.
Laurie Anisy
Thanks Anne can remember a lot of those days.Great times.
Lynda Buckley
I lived in Fire Station in the late 60s
Brian McIntyre
Got it Laurie
Laurie Anisy
Yes I can remember that station.It was beside Griffin and Smith
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West Coast New Zealand History (7th Dec 2025). The Old Fire Station, Greymouth.1950`s.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 29th Mar 2026 05:46, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/28