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Shantytown - opening day.1971.
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DescriptionA large crowd gathered in the main street of Shanytown near Paroa, for the opening in January 1971.
Simon Nathan Collection, Alexander Turnbull LibraryPhotographerSimon NathanDate of Photo1971Map[1] External LinkNational Library
Simon Nathan Collection, Alexander Turnbull LibraryPhotographerSimon NathanDate of Photo1971Map[1] External LinkNational Library
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Location (city or town)ParoaLandmark (Place)ShantytownOrganisation (eg business)ShantytownEventShantytown - opening day.1971.
From Facebook
Date Created24th July 2021CommentsBob Jamieson
Yes.
Bob Jamieson
I designed Shantytown.
Murray Brown
Bob Jamieson
You did a great job.
I was there the day it opened, 14 yrs old.
Ive been back heaps of times since
Bob Jamieson
Murray Brown Thanks.
Carolyn Graham
It was a wonderful day. We were invited to the wedding dressed in period costume.
Graeme John Hill
my uncle drove the stage coach
Brian McIntyre
Hell, 50 years ago
Carolyn Luck
I was there and wore my great grandmother’s Going Away Outfit.
She was married 14th January 1875.
I still have her Going Away Outfit and it is still in perfect condition- 147 years old in January!!
Murray Brown
I was there.
And so was L&P
I was 14yrs old
Brian Hope
Simon Nathan with the beard .
Vicki Molloy
Wow looks fantastic
Edwin Lord
Was there helped clearing all the gorse and scub on the land prior to the first building being built the Hotel if my memory is correct did a bit of Labour to help build it
Bob Jamieson
Edwin Lord Yep. the pub was a Jaycee project.
Sheryl O'Leary
I was there too. My father Alan Holmes built the Bank of New Zealand building and helped with other projects.
Dave Lyes
We were there. I would have been nuisance value at 12 years old. Dad and a friend helped a little with the moving of the church which I think came from Ngahere? That day cemented a love for heritage and buildings in particular.
Garry Woods
I was there too even the pub poured beer
Andrea Forrest
And still does!
Christine Farrell
My Auntie was a Can Can dancer in Salon
Elaine Mcgill
Does any1 have a photo of the piebald horse he had lovely nature and wad in all the early advertising
Annemarie Harris
My mum has placemats which shows a opening day street scene. Someone in an orange shirt I remember in that photo. It is from a different angle.
Lisa Coppersmith
It was an amazing day.
Dyan Hansen
A fabulous day.
Lynda Dishington
We were. There Grandad Baillie had something to do with the opening. Remember the lovely scones cream and raspberry jam with a cup of tea it was a pretty amazing day'
Jackie Buchanan
My Dad (Robin Mckee) was there with the Jaycees and was in the beard shaving contestStephen Lee
It was a great day
· Reply · 11h
Margaret Jacobs
Amazing day I was a can can girl
· Reply · 10h
Jonesy Liss'a
Jayden Cross-Pirini tag Peter in this
Peter Foulds
Shona Lauson
Gayle Wright
I was there!!
Kath Wood
I was at the opening my stepfather was in kokatahi band
Linda Maika
My dad, Jock Leighton, was a postie for a long time & worked on the postal counter in the old post office building. He worked in the Shantytown post office on that day & sent me a postcard with the first day postal stamp
May be an image of outdoors and text that says 'SHANTYTOWN Rutherglen-near Greymouth, N.Z. PRUTING s GRIFFEN& SMITH LTD. BEEHIVE STORE COLDEN NUGAET HOTSK A replica of an old gold- mining town of the 1860s. Set in bush-clad hills in an area once inhabited by 4000 Chinese dig- gers. PRINTING WORKS'
Linda Maika
Loretta Donnelly
I was there. I particularly remember the Can Can Girls.
Steven Shrives
I was still swimming.
Jennifer Gaskell
I was there, remember the wedding it was lovely.
Sandra Arnott
Jennifer Gaskell me too took the kids!
Karen McWha
Enjoyed the opening day very much.
Collene Neander
my uncle was one of the founder of shantytown Jack Becker
Lyza Richardson
Paul Francis Richardson were you there?
Lesley Oakley
I attended the opening day dressed in my Grandmothers clothes. Henrietta Hayden. My father Seddon Mayne worked on the Railway and Gold claim for a very long time. Albert Cooper was driving the stage coach. Shantytown is on the land my family once owned.
Iri Sinclair
Took my Aunty Betsy And Uncle
Aubrey Brent Boulter there on their visit. Aunty and zi most loved the wee Anglican church xx
Elaine Lawson Stone
We were there on opening day and also for the first wedding to be held there in the little church.
Daphne Smithers
Do I remember correctly that the band Hogsnort Rupert played?
Jackie Buchanan
Daphne Smithers not sure if it was the same time but Mum has a photo of the band standing at the front of our shop (Kaiata Dairy)
June Griggs
I was there.Linda Cairny and I decorated the church and did the flowers for the wedding.My parents were guests at the wedding.
Alex McDougall
Dad and John Burford worked on the Chinese den.
Alf Haswell
I was there sum were
Yes.
Bob Jamieson
I designed Shantytown.
Murray Brown
Bob Jamieson
You did a great job.
I was there the day it opened, 14 yrs old.
Ive been back heaps of times since
Bob Jamieson
Murray Brown Thanks.
Carolyn Graham
It was a wonderful day. We were invited to the wedding dressed in period costume.
Graeme John Hill
my uncle drove the stage coach
Brian McIntyre
Hell, 50 years ago
Carolyn Luck
I was there and wore my great grandmother’s Going Away Outfit.
She was married 14th January 1875.
I still have her Going Away Outfit and it is still in perfect condition- 147 years old in January!!
Murray Brown
I was there.
And so was L&P
I was 14yrs old
Brian Hope
Simon Nathan with the beard .
Vicki Molloy
Wow looks fantastic
Edwin Lord
Was there helped clearing all the gorse and scub on the land prior to the first building being built the Hotel if my memory is correct did a bit of Labour to help build it
Bob Jamieson
Edwin Lord Yep. the pub was a Jaycee project.
Sheryl O'Leary
I was there too. My father Alan Holmes built the Bank of New Zealand building and helped with other projects.
Dave Lyes
We were there. I would have been nuisance value at 12 years old. Dad and a friend helped a little with the moving of the church which I think came from Ngahere? That day cemented a love for heritage and buildings in particular.
Garry Woods
I was there too even the pub poured beer
Andrea Forrest
And still does!
Christine Farrell
My Auntie was a Can Can dancer in Salon
Elaine Mcgill
Does any1 have a photo of the piebald horse he had lovely nature and wad in all the early advertising
Annemarie Harris
My mum has placemats which shows a opening day street scene. Someone in an orange shirt I remember in that photo. It is from a different angle.
Lisa Coppersmith
It was an amazing day.
Dyan Hansen
A fabulous day.
Lynda Dishington
We were. There Grandad Baillie had something to do with the opening. Remember the lovely scones cream and raspberry jam with a cup of tea it was a pretty amazing day'
Jackie Buchanan
My Dad (Robin Mckee) was there with the Jaycees and was in the beard shaving contestStephen Lee
It was a great day
· Reply · 11h
Margaret Jacobs
Amazing day I was a can can girl
· Reply · 10h
Jonesy Liss'a
Jayden Cross-Pirini tag Peter in this
Peter Foulds
Shona Lauson
Gayle Wright
I was there!!
Kath Wood
I was at the opening my stepfather was in kokatahi band
Linda Maika
My dad, Jock Leighton, was a postie for a long time & worked on the postal counter in the old post office building. He worked in the Shantytown post office on that day & sent me a postcard with the first day postal stamp
May be an image of outdoors and text that says 'SHANTYTOWN Rutherglen-near Greymouth, N.Z. PRUTING s GRIFFEN& SMITH LTD. BEEHIVE STORE COLDEN NUGAET HOTSK A replica of an old gold- mining town of the 1860s. Set in bush-clad hills in an area once inhabited by 4000 Chinese dig- gers. PRINTING WORKS'
Linda Maika
Loretta Donnelly
I was there. I particularly remember the Can Can Girls.
Steven Shrives
I was still swimming.
Jennifer Gaskell
I was there, remember the wedding it was lovely.
Sandra Arnott
Jennifer Gaskell me too took the kids!
Karen McWha
Enjoyed the opening day very much.
Collene Neander
my uncle was one of the founder of shantytown Jack Becker
Lyza Richardson
Paul Francis Richardson were you there?
Lesley Oakley
I attended the opening day dressed in my Grandmothers clothes. Henrietta Hayden. My father Seddon Mayne worked on the Railway and Gold claim for a very long time. Albert Cooper was driving the stage coach. Shantytown is on the land my family once owned.
Iri Sinclair
Took my Aunty Betsy And Uncle
Aubrey Brent Boulter there on their visit. Aunty and zi most loved the wee Anglican church xx
Elaine Lawson Stone
We were there on opening day and also for the first wedding to be held there in the little church.
Daphne Smithers
Do I remember correctly that the band Hogsnort Rupert played?
Jackie Buchanan
Daphne Smithers not sure if it was the same time but Mum has a photo of the band standing at the front of our shop (Kaiata Dairy)
June Griggs
I was there.Linda Cairny and I decorated the church and did the flowers for the wedding.My parents were guests at the wedding.
Alex McDougall
Dad and John Burford worked on the Chinese den.
Alf Haswell
I was there sum were
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West Coast New Zealand History (26th Jul 2021). Shantytown - opening day.1971.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 9th Apr 2026 19:39, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/29696