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The Australian invasion - the 1867 population. - ALBUM -
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DescriptionThe Australian Invasion.1860's. The Gothenburg, Alhambra and Claud Hamilton carried thousands from Australia to the West Coast ports in search of gold. During 1866 and 1867, 17,320 immigrants landed in Hokitika and Greymouth. 6,478 also returned to Australia over the same time.Map[1] ContributorTony Kokshoorn
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Location (city or town)GreymouthEventThe Australian invasion
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Date Created1st October 2021CommentsBruce Lightfoot
At least they had a bit of steam to help with the bar crossings
David Meech
I read that Hokitika was the 2nd town in the world to have electric street lighting, after San Francisco.
Wjohn Sweney
David Meech Reefton was first?
Dave Lyes
Wjohn Sweney Street lighting? You sure? Lighting yes, but streets?
· Reply ·
· 1d
Chris Harvey
David Meech that was reefton
David Meech
wasn't aware of that - it just shows there was a fair bit of wealth and technology swilling around during that era.
David Meech
1888 wow.
Geoffrey King
An aside from the topic above. Hokitika had the first power station was at McKays Creek for the Ross United gold mines at Ross, The mines ceased to work because of flooding. Langfords took the power station over and supplied the district with power. … See More
Kerry Wildermoth
Geoffrey King I find that comment a little strange, Reefton had the first electricity but not the first power station?. The remains of the hydro power house/Station is being restored as we write.
Phyllis Aberhart
Geoffrey King I think you may find it was Reefton
John Rosanowski
Kerry Wildermoth Reefton's claim to fame is to have had the first public supply of electricity. That is, it was available for people to have in their homes and businesses. There were various private electric power schemes throughout NZ during the 1880s… See More
David Meech
John Rosanowski okay that makes sense and the thing I read was about lighting the main street. So I am guessing Reefton had electricity first but then Hokitika lit up the main street for the general public.
Allan Archer
David Meech Wellington followed Reefton, And as John Roso said various others had private plants including a Wellington church. I think you will find Hokitika didnt install electric street lighting untill 1920.
Geoffrey King
Kerry Wildermoth Kerry the McKays creek station was only established for Ross United Gold mining it was private Reefton was established for the town public
David Meech
Gold, coal and fishing - these industries brought with them technlogy (and a lot of public bars) and there was definitely a connection between San Francisco, Melbourne and the West Coast. My old man was a Coaster and he had a myriad of Aussie-isms such… See More
Owen Winstanley
David Meech I think hoover is more likely to be an Americanism. Ohio being the birthplace of the Hoover vacuum cleaner.
Wjohn Sweney
The Hokitika and Greymouth bars not to be trifled with.
Richard Poole
One who sailed back to Australia. Henry Lucas writing to his nephew George Gillingham
May be an image of text
Richard Poole
I’m attempting to post the remainder of the letter but admin are blocking it. Papers Past has the remainder. Mary Trayes noted that a Henry Lucas, formerly of Cobden, died at Union Reef, Port Darwin of dysentery 27 Oct 1875. Palmer River goldfields are inland from Cooktown, Nth Queensland.
John Rosanowski
Richard Poole The now-famous Stewart Monteith went to the Palmer rush. Seems to have done well there. However it was a dangerous place and many diggers died from yellow fever.
Kyle Webster
...our convict ancestors
David Meech
Hmm I don't think so. Over 50% of Australian ANZACs were born in the U.K. My grandfather who was British, served in the Boer War then sailed over to this side of the globe looking for a new life. He passed through Wonthaggi, Victoria. I think emigrants… See More
Kyle Webster
A lot of them were...having gained their 'ticket of leave' (as in my case)
David Meech
Kyle Webster in any case there were no passports and no real travel records apart from the ship logs.
Roger O'Regan
Does anybody know the number who came to the West Coast through Charleston ?
Keith Funnell
Tony Kokshoorn are there ship log book records of passengers arriving in Hokitika from this time?
The timing you note in your posting coincides nicely with some of my family’s arrival from Melbourne to work the gold fields at Kaniere, etc.
Tony Kokshoorn
Author
Keith Funnell Type the name of the ship into Google .Often they have a list.
At least they had a bit of steam to help with the bar crossings
David Meech
I read that Hokitika was the 2nd town in the world to have electric street lighting, after San Francisco.
Wjohn Sweney
David Meech Reefton was first?
Dave Lyes
Wjohn Sweney Street lighting? You sure? Lighting yes, but streets?
· Reply ·
· 1d
Chris Harvey
David Meech that was reefton
David Meech
wasn't aware of that - it just shows there was a fair bit of wealth and technology swilling around during that era.
David Meech
1888 wow.
Geoffrey King
An aside from the topic above. Hokitika had the first power station was at McKays Creek for the Ross United gold mines at Ross, The mines ceased to work because of flooding. Langfords took the power station over and supplied the district with power. … See More
Kerry Wildermoth
Geoffrey King I find that comment a little strange, Reefton had the first electricity but not the first power station?. The remains of the hydro power house/Station is being restored as we write.
Phyllis Aberhart
Geoffrey King I think you may find it was Reefton
John Rosanowski
Kerry Wildermoth Reefton's claim to fame is to have had the first public supply of electricity. That is, it was available for people to have in their homes and businesses. There were various private electric power schemes throughout NZ during the 1880s… See More
David Meech
John Rosanowski okay that makes sense and the thing I read was about lighting the main street. So I am guessing Reefton had electricity first but then Hokitika lit up the main street for the general public.
Allan Archer
David Meech Wellington followed Reefton, And as John Roso said various others had private plants including a Wellington church. I think you will find Hokitika didnt install electric street lighting untill 1920.
Geoffrey King
Kerry Wildermoth Kerry the McKays creek station was only established for Ross United Gold mining it was private Reefton was established for the town public
David Meech
Gold, coal and fishing - these industries brought with them technlogy (and a lot of public bars) and there was definitely a connection between San Francisco, Melbourne and the West Coast. My old man was a Coaster and he had a myriad of Aussie-isms such… See More
Owen Winstanley
David Meech I think hoover is more likely to be an Americanism. Ohio being the birthplace of the Hoover vacuum cleaner.
Wjohn Sweney
The Hokitika and Greymouth bars not to be trifled with.
Richard Poole
One who sailed back to Australia. Henry Lucas writing to his nephew George Gillingham
May be an image of text
Richard Poole
I’m attempting to post the remainder of the letter but admin are blocking it. Papers Past has the remainder. Mary Trayes noted that a Henry Lucas, formerly of Cobden, died at Union Reef, Port Darwin of dysentery 27 Oct 1875. Palmer River goldfields are inland from Cooktown, Nth Queensland.
John Rosanowski
Richard Poole The now-famous Stewart Monteith went to the Palmer rush. Seems to have done well there. However it was a dangerous place and many diggers died from yellow fever.
Kyle Webster
...our convict ancestors
David Meech
Hmm I don't think so. Over 50% of Australian ANZACs were born in the U.K. My grandfather who was British, served in the Boer War then sailed over to this side of the globe looking for a new life. He passed through Wonthaggi, Victoria. I think emigrants… See More
Kyle Webster
A lot of them were...having gained their 'ticket of leave' (as in my case)
David Meech
Kyle Webster in any case there were no passports and no real travel records apart from the ship logs.
Roger O'Regan
Does anybody know the number who came to the West Coast through Charleston ?
Keith Funnell
Tony Kokshoorn are there ship log book records of passengers arriving in Hokitika from this time?
The timing you note in your posting coincides nicely with some of my family’s arrival from Melbourne to work the gold fields at Kaniere, etc.
Tony Kokshoorn
Author
Keith Funnell Type the name of the ship into Google .Often they have a list.
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West Coast New Zealand History (2nd Oct 2021). The Australian invasion - the 1867 population. - ALBUM -. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 8th Apr 2026 08:56, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/30131