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Phil Ross May, historian
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DescriptionGregory Ross:
I could not find any photos of the late Phil Ross May online, but did find this plague sited in Ross, where he was born. I was very fortunate to have Phil Ross May as both my lecturer and my tutor in New Zealand History at Canterbury University in 1973. Goldfields history, fossicking, and gold panning were among my keenest interests since my early teens in the 1960s, and my parents had bought me a copy of 'The West Coast Gold Rushes, by Phil May, long before I met Phil May in person. So, when I found out he was my tutor and my lecturer in NZ History in 1973 I was in heaven. Phil and I that year had many long personal chats about Goldsborough and the west coast gold rushes generally, and he always had to shake me off, as he was always so busy in his studies and his accomplished marathon running, and I was always so keen to pick his brains about the goldfields. It was a sad shock for me when he passed away suddenly in 1977 at an early age of just 48 years old. He left behind the most-thoroughly researched books about Westland's goldfields that will probably ever be published. His books truly capture the fantastic excitement and crazed travel that brought people flooding from around the world into Hokitika to seek the gold which could make them rich overnight. Westland's is a dramatic and colourful history which will always make the west coast an exciting place to live in and to visit.Map[1] ContributorGregory Ross
I could not find any photos of the late Phil Ross May online, but did find this plague sited in Ross, where he was born. I was very fortunate to have Phil Ross May as both my lecturer and my tutor in New Zealand History at Canterbury University in 1973. Goldfields history, fossicking, and gold panning were among my keenest interests since my early teens in the 1960s, and my parents had bought me a copy of 'The West Coast Gold Rushes, by Phil May, long before I met Phil May in person. So, when I found out he was my tutor and my lecturer in NZ History in 1973 I was in heaven. Phil and I that year had many long personal chats about Goldsborough and the west coast gold rushes generally, and he always had to shake me off, as he was always so busy in his studies and his accomplished marathon running, and I was always so keen to pick his brains about the goldfields. It was a sad shock for me when he passed away suddenly in 1977 at an early age of just 48 years old. He left behind the most-thoroughly researched books about Westland's goldfields that will probably ever be published. His books truly capture the fantastic excitement and crazed travel that brought people flooding from around the world into Hokitika to seek the gold which could make them rich overnight. Westland's is a dramatic and colourful history which will always make the west coast an exciting place to live in and to visit.Map[1] ContributorGregory Ross
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PersonPhilip Ross MayEventPhil Ross May, historian
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Date Created24th February 2022CommentsNancy Phil
I remember growing up in Ross we were very proud of Philip Ross May having come from Ross & being a 'famous author' & lecturer
Colman Creagh
I was lucky enough to have had many long yarns with Phil we shared the same passions, running and the history of the Coast
Glenyss Muddle
Is book is an absolute treasure
Simon Hugh Rae
There is a nice photo on the dust cover of 2nd (revised) edition of his 'The West Coast Gold Rushes', Christchurch: Pegasus, 1967.
Rick Giles
Back when UC had a worthy history department (most of their silibus is from other departments) and amazing people who published valuable books.
Kae Lewis
Rick Giles I totally agree with your observation.
Dave Millar
A good friend of my father. I think they did some running together in post war years, maybe the University Athletics team that went to Australia.. We have a personally autographed copy of his book.
Douglas Dunn
Well said. Phillip Ross May was the most erudite NZ historian writing about untamed Westland in the 1860s. He is sorely missed. He got me reading his classic at age 15, and my affinity for Westland and gold seeking history and geology grew immeasurably.
Chrissie Ross
It’s a fascinating and important book … the work Philip Ross May did to write it is astounding…. with no computers to assist. It is true and real scholarship.
Mary Griffith's
I lived in Alymer St Ross at the same time & remember him running
Jill Kramer
He was my NZ history professor in 1975 at the University of Canterbury. I think I still have his book.
Catherine Dengate
This is my favourite photo of (my uncle) Phil May. It is on the cover of his book Gold Town (printed around 1970) I don't know if there still is an enlarged version of the photo still on display but it used to be on the wall inside the building at the entrance to the Walkway in Ross.
May be an image of 1 person and text that says 'Philip Ross May native of Ross, where his father was severa times mayor and for nearly twenty-five years manager Stuart Chapman's was Primary School and Greymouth High School, graduated M.A. with first class History the University Canterbury, where he now senior lecturer History. book The West Coast Gold Rushes, was first published 1962 spent 1967 the University California, Berkeley, studying Californian rushes, 969- the Australian Nationa University, Canberra, working on comparative survey Californian, Australian and Zealand gold rushes. The photograph shows the author washing "colour" near the old New South Wales mining town of Captains Flat.'
Catherine Dengate
I was fortunate enough to learn a great deal about referencing and how to make good history research notes (in the old fashioned way using index cards in boxes) when Phil and his family were in Canberra while he did some research at the Australian National University in the late 1960s - following on from the time he spent in California researching at Berkeley.... I treasure my copies of the books he authored. He gave a copy of Gold Town to my family ..... Phil's wife (Doris) was my father (Douglas Perrin)'s youngest sister.
No photo description available.
Michael Crighton
sad he died so young
Joy Barrow
He was a great teacher at Chch west high school many years agoMike Waghorne
I remember him as a really good lecturer in the 1960s in the stuffy old rooms on the town site.
Suzie Breeze
Not to take away Phil’s huge contribution, I would like to acknowledge Anne Hutchison who did a lot of research for him
Sue Vaughan
I can remember visiting Mrs May, who live across from my grandmother (Emily Detlaff) in Aylmer St. Phil was home staying with her on holiday. He was so interesting to listen to when he talked about the goldfields.
I remember growing up in Ross we were very proud of Philip Ross May having come from Ross & being a 'famous author' & lecturer
Colman Creagh
I was lucky enough to have had many long yarns with Phil we shared the same passions, running and the history of the Coast
Glenyss Muddle
Is book is an absolute treasure
Simon Hugh Rae
There is a nice photo on the dust cover of 2nd (revised) edition of his 'The West Coast Gold Rushes', Christchurch: Pegasus, 1967.
Rick Giles
Back when UC had a worthy history department (most of their silibus is from other departments) and amazing people who published valuable books.
Kae Lewis
Rick Giles I totally agree with your observation.
Dave Millar
A good friend of my father. I think they did some running together in post war years, maybe the University Athletics team that went to Australia.. We have a personally autographed copy of his book.
Douglas Dunn
Well said. Phillip Ross May was the most erudite NZ historian writing about untamed Westland in the 1860s. He is sorely missed. He got me reading his classic at age 15, and my affinity for Westland and gold seeking history and geology grew immeasurably.
Chrissie Ross
It’s a fascinating and important book … the work Philip Ross May did to write it is astounding…. with no computers to assist. It is true and real scholarship.
Mary Griffith's
I lived in Alymer St Ross at the same time & remember him running
Jill Kramer
He was my NZ history professor in 1975 at the University of Canterbury. I think I still have his book.
Catherine Dengate
This is my favourite photo of (my uncle) Phil May. It is on the cover of his book Gold Town (printed around 1970) I don't know if there still is an enlarged version of the photo still on display but it used to be on the wall inside the building at the entrance to the Walkway in Ross.
May be an image of 1 person and text that says 'Philip Ross May native of Ross, where his father was severa times mayor and for nearly twenty-five years manager Stuart Chapman's was Primary School and Greymouth High School, graduated M.A. with first class History the University Canterbury, where he now senior lecturer History. book The West Coast Gold Rushes, was first published 1962 spent 1967 the University California, Berkeley, studying Californian rushes, 969- the Australian Nationa University, Canberra, working on comparative survey Californian, Australian and Zealand gold rushes. The photograph shows the author washing "colour" near the old New South Wales mining town of Captains Flat.'
Catherine Dengate
I was fortunate enough to learn a great deal about referencing and how to make good history research notes (in the old fashioned way using index cards in boxes) when Phil and his family were in Canberra while he did some research at the Australian National University in the late 1960s - following on from the time he spent in California researching at Berkeley.... I treasure my copies of the books he authored. He gave a copy of Gold Town to my family ..... Phil's wife (Doris) was my father (Douglas Perrin)'s youngest sister.
No photo description available.
Michael Crighton
sad he died so young
Joy Barrow
He was a great teacher at Chch west high school many years agoMike Waghorne
I remember him as a really good lecturer in the 1960s in the stuffy old rooms on the town site.
Suzie Breeze
Not to take away Phil’s huge contribution, I would like to acknowledge Anne Hutchison who did a lot of research for him
Sue Vaughan
I can remember visiting Mrs May, who live across from my grandmother (Emily Detlaff) in Aylmer St. Phil was home staying with her on holiday. He was so interesting to listen to when he talked about the goldfields.
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West Coast New Zealand History (26th Feb 2022). Phil Ross May, historian. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 6th Apr 2026 18:14, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/30687