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ALBUM - Reefton Railway Station.ca. 2005.
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Location (city or town)ReeftonOrganisation (eg business)Reefton Railway StationEventReefton Railway Station, about 2005
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Category TagRailways
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Date Created25th October 2021CommentsDonald Hibbs
The station building is having an upgrade lately and has been repiled
Philip Guard
Cant the Railways afford a lawn mower and someone to use it, when it all burns down in summer they will blame Global Warming ,instead of bloody useless upkeep like keeping the grass mowed. They will need all that Railway plant again one day, and winge when they have to build a new one, simple look after what you got after all the NZ TAX PAYER HAD TO PAY FOR IT SO LOOK AFTER IT, what a short sighted useless lot we got in charge of our assets in NEW ZEALAND.
Donald Hibbs
This is not a manned station, we use the other one up by the crossing. Pretty sure this is either leased or owned by another party.
Dorothy Wills
Looks a bit deserted which is a shame really
Gavin Davy
I'd have thought that would be one of the most historic railway stations in the country. Maybe the historical trust should get involved?
Richard Howe
There was a murder committed at the station in1953, when an employee shot a girl in the office.
Colin Sandra Moss
Yes it was. Hadn't heard of it before
Susan Turland
Is it for sale?
Kaye Mckay
Think the station has been restored recently
Chinzy Sheehan
My grand dad was one of the last to work the Iv been told his name is (Harry read)
Arthur Bass
Chinzy Sheehan i understood noone worked for the railway ? Harry was there for a fair few years.
Trish Barry Andrews
Nineteen-year-old Dorothy Haldane guessed there was something a bit odd about Harold Whiteland when he suggested to her that her fiancé should be put to sleep for his own good. Dorothy was the booking clerk at Reefton railway station in New Zealand, and Pakistan-born Whiteland, 56, was a railway labourer who helped out at the station. In August 1953, he became argumentative when Dorothy told him to use newspaper, and not cleaning fluid, to get soot off the station windows. That same day Whitehead learned that the rent of his railway hut was being increased, and stormed off in a huff. An hour later he came back with a rifle, walked into the station and shot Dorothy dead. While another employee looked on dumbfounded, Whiteland shouted, “Allah be praised!” Then he lay down on the railway track and asked a train driver to run him over. At his trial in December 1953 at Greymouth court the issue was his mental state, but he was found guilty of murder and hanged on Monday, December 21st, 1953, at Auckland Prison. Worldwide Hangings from True Crime Library. https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/18415
Reefton Railway Station, 1950s - where Dorothy Haldane was murdered
WESTCOAST.RECOLLECT.CO.NZ
Reefton Railway Station, 1950s - where Dorothy Haldane was murdered
Reefton Railway Station, 1950s - where Dorothy Haldane was murdered
Trish Barry Andrews
It happened 27th August and he was hung 21st December which is just under 4 months. Things have certainly slowed down in NZ when it comes to justice. Baz.
Judy Davis
He was nicknamed Dusty-we kids marveled at the length of time he could hold his breath under water .Dorothy was a lovely person
Barry Caldwell
I well remember Bev..Coghlan running, home screaming"Darky shot Dorothy", she was the witness to the murder.
Barb Doelman
Kelvin Coghlan Mum told us this story. He walked past Mum I think, with the gun and shot Dorothy. Musy have been terrifying
Richard Howe
There is a railway house, restored to 1940s vintage for rent. Looks lovely. https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/VacationRentalReview...
Reefton Railway House - Tripadvisor - Holiday Home in Reefton
TRIPADVISOR.CO.NZ
Reefton Railway House - Tripadvisor - Holiday Home in Reefton
Reefton Railway House - Tripadvisor - Holiday Home in Reefton
Jeff Louwman
Richard Howe sorry, you're correct Railway House. I've stayed in it, it is beautifully done. A friend from Australia booked this out for 3 months
Jeff Louwman
the old Post Office house was relocated next door and refurbished. Plan was to do the Station sometime as well
Barry Butcher
After Darky shot Dorothy Len Mcquigan a train examiner bravely grabbed the rifle from him.
Richard Howe
Barry Butcher I knew Len Barry, and i'm sure i have known you too, from Christchurch days.
Ray Chandler
It was about 1952_53.i
Barry Butcher
1953 Ray.
Ray Chandler
Darky father was English his Mother was Chinese IndianAndrew Mckenzie
I am the vice chairperson for the Reefton Historic Trust Board. We own the Reefton railway station and the land around it for some time now. We have started to restore the 1892 built station. We have totally repiled it. The north end wall has been tota… See More
Ina Lineham
Andrew Lineham
Graeme John Hill
yes one of the last people to be hung in NZ
Thomas Peter Mulligan
I remember it’s busy days
Col Mere
Wow. Never knew that story. I was there on Friday taking photos
Arthur Bass
Used to meet the railcars to drop off and pick up mailbags when Sam was off back in the 60's. Very busy then.
Trevor Alty
When the springboks played in westport they took the railcar to greymouth after their stay up there. A few of us snuck out to the saddle and put pennies on the line. How cool our pennies squashed by the rail car carrying the springboks. Kids souveniers. Was early 1950s. No trains were derailed in the process.
Noelene Smith
I miss my beautiful home town.
Peter Robertson
Noelene Smith I was there last Sunday meeting friends.You are right. It is a beautiful little town.So is Black's Point. Trees and shrubs flowering everywhere.
Paul Huffam
It was a real tragedy. The lovely girl was Dorothy Haldane.
Trevor Alty
I can remember another tragic incident at the railway station. It was early 1950s. On anzac day . During the service. At the cenotaph Sgt Ben was there plus his constables. Suddenly they had to rush away. Later we found out what had happened. Older kid… See More
Arthur Bass
You are wrong Trevor. It was Ron Parish got tied up in the turntable. A lad that lived local knew where the key to unlock it was kept.
Rex was a completely different incident.
Not sure of dates when either happened.
Trevor Alty
Ah yes Arthur you are right. The Fatorini incident i now think was an accidental shooting. And yes it was Ron Parish involved in the turntable accident. A few of my brain cells got mixed up there.
Arthur Bass
Trevor Alty correct.
Pauline Barrow
Its a shame the station hasn't been looked after . I am sorry to see it in such a mess after all the years we lived across the road from it . I hope someone will take pity on it and restore it
The station building is having an upgrade lately and has been repiled
Philip Guard
Cant the Railways afford a lawn mower and someone to use it, when it all burns down in summer they will blame Global Warming ,instead of bloody useless upkeep like keeping the grass mowed. They will need all that Railway plant again one day, and winge when they have to build a new one, simple look after what you got after all the NZ TAX PAYER HAD TO PAY FOR IT SO LOOK AFTER IT, what a short sighted useless lot we got in charge of our assets in NEW ZEALAND.
Donald Hibbs
This is not a manned station, we use the other one up by the crossing. Pretty sure this is either leased or owned by another party.
Dorothy Wills
Looks a bit deserted which is a shame really
Gavin Davy
I'd have thought that would be one of the most historic railway stations in the country. Maybe the historical trust should get involved?
Richard Howe
There was a murder committed at the station in1953, when an employee shot a girl in the office.
Colin Sandra Moss
Yes it was. Hadn't heard of it before
Susan Turland
Is it for sale?
Kaye Mckay
Think the station has been restored recently
Chinzy Sheehan
My grand dad was one of the last to work the Iv been told his name is (Harry read)
Arthur Bass
Chinzy Sheehan i understood noone worked for the railway ? Harry was there for a fair few years.
Trish Barry Andrews
Nineteen-year-old Dorothy Haldane guessed there was something a bit odd about Harold Whiteland when he suggested to her that her fiancé should be put to sleep for his own good. Dorothy was the booking clerk at Reefton railway station in New Zealand, and Pakistan-born Whiteland, 56, was a railway labourer who helped out at the station. In August 1953, he became argumentative when Dorothy told him to use newspaper, and not cleaning fluid, to get soot off the station windows. That same day Whitehead learned that the rent of his railway hut was being increased, and stormed off in a huff. An hour later he came back with a rifle, walked into the station and shot Dorothy dead. While another employee looked on dumbfounded, Whiteland shouted, “Allah be praised!” Then he lay down on the railway track and asked a train driver to run him over. At his trial in December 1953 at Greymouth court the issue was his mental state, but he was found guilty of murder and hanged on Monday, December 21st, 1953, at Auckland Prison. Worldwide Hangings from True Crime Library. https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/18415
Reefton Railway Station, 1950s - where Dorothy Haldane was murdered
WESTCOAST.RECOLLECT.CO.NZ
Reefton Railway Station, 1950s - where Dorothy Haldane was murdered
Reefton Railway Station, 1950s - where Dorothy Haldane was murdered
Trish Barry Andrews
It happened 27th August and he was hung 21st December which is just under 4 months. Things have certainly slowed down in NZ when it comes to justice. Baz.
Judy Davis
He was nicknamed Dusty-we kids marveled at the length of time he could hold his breath under water .Dorothy was a lovely person
Barry Caldwell
I well remember Bev..Coghlan running, home screaming"Darky shot Dorothy", she was the witness to the murder.
Barb Doelman
Kelvin Coghlan Mum told us this story. He walked past Mum I think, with the gun and shot Dorothy. Musy have been terrifying
Richard Howe
There is a railway house, restored to 1940s vintage for rent. Looks lovely. https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/VacationRentalReview...
Reefton Railway House - Tripadvisor - Holiday Home in Reefton
TRIPADVISOR.CO.NZ
Reefton Railway House - Tripadvisor - Holiday Home in Reefton
Reefton Railway House - Tripadvisor - Holiday Home in Reefton
Jeff Louwman
Richard Howe sorry, you're correct Railway House. I've stayed in it, it is beautifully done. A friend from Australia booked this out for 3 months
Jeff Louwman
the old Post Office house was relocated next door and refurbished. Plan was to do the Station sometime as well
Barry Butcher
After Darky shot Dorothy Len Mcquigan a train examiner bravely grabbed the rifle from him.
Richard Howe
Barry Butcher I knew Len Barry, and i'm sure i have known you too, from Christchurch days.
Ray Chandler
It was about 1952_53.i
Barry Butcher
1953 Ray.
Ray Chandler
Darky father was English his Mother was Chinese IndianAndrew Mckenzie
I am the vice chairperson for the Reefton Historic Trust Board. We own the Reefton railway station and the land around it for some time now. We have started to restore the 1892 built station. We have totally repiled it. The north end wall has been tota… See More
Ina Lineham
Andrew Lineham
Graeme John Hill
yes one of the last people to be hung in NZ
Thomas Peter Mulligan
I remember it’s busy days
Col Mere
Wow. Never knew that story. I was there on Friday taking photos
Arthur Bass
Used to meet the railcars to drop off and pick up mailbags when Sam was off back in the 60's. Very busy then.
Trevor Alty
When the springboks played in westport they took the railcar to greymouth after their stay up there. A few of us snuck out to the saddle and put pennies on the line. How cool our pennies squashed by the rail car carrying the springboks. Kids souveniers. Was early 1950s. No trains were derailed in the process.
Noelene Smith
I miss my beautiful home town.
Peter Robertson
Noelene Smith I was there last Sunday meeting friends.You are right. It is a beautiful little town.So is Black's Point. Trees and shrubs flowering everywhere.
Paul Huffam
It was a real tragedy. The lovely girl was Dorothy Haldane.
Trevor Alty
I can remember another tragic incident at the railway station. It was early 1950s. On anzac day . During the service. At the cenotaph Sgt Ben was there plus his constables. Suddenly they had to rush away. Later we found out what had happened. Older kid… See More
Arthur Bass
You are wrong Trevor. It was Ron Parish got tied up in the turntable. A lad that lived local knew where the key to unlock it was kept.
Rex was a completely different incident.
Not sure of dates when either happened.
Trevor Alty
Ah yes Arthur you are right. The Fatorini incident i now think was an accidental shooting. And yes it was Ron Parish involved in the turntable accident. A few of my brain cells got mixed up there.
Arthur Bass
Trevor Alty correct.
Pauline Barrow
Its a shame the station hasn't been looked after . I am sorry to see it in such a mess after all the years we lived across the road from it . I hope someone will take pity on it and restore it
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West Coast New Zealand History (22nd Jun 2023). ALBUM - Reefton Railway Station.ca. 2005.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 8th Apr 2026 00:00, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/30260