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Last building standing at Big River.
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DescriptionLast building standing at Big River.
Andy Bone.."Please save me DOC!"PhotographerAndy BoneMap[1] ContributorAndy Bone
Andy Bone.."Please save me DOC!"PhotographerAndy BoneMap[1] ContributorAndy Bone
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Location (city or town)Big RiverEventLast building standing at Big River.
Category Information
Category TagOld HousesGoldmining
From Facebook
Date Created8th March 2022CommentsRae Rae
my grandparents moved from Tasmania to Big River to work in the 1920's
Denise Biddick
My grandparents lived in big river after getting married. I believe initially in a tent then this house. It's a very special place to our family.
Murray Williams
certinly gone backwards sinse my grandfather owned it --rip ron roony
Bruce Baxter
Murray Williams I have great memories of Ron and Vera . From our many trips into big river , many nights spent in that hut !
Andy Bone
Murray Williams rember them well first meeting at 12 years old in late year used to drop off fresh bread to Vera at Christmas latest time she had leeroy to get the water as her hips not good always remember with a smile
Pete Lusk
Yes, it should be saved, same with the smoko hut at Middle Brake, Denn Incline.
Don Pearce
Anywhere near little river?
Arthur Bass
Don Pearce no. West Coast.
Colin Harman
That's the worst part about DOC memories mean nothing to those pen pushers
Lois Iacoppi
A doer upper
Jill Mulholland
Wow
Michael Nottingham
Knocked, but no one home. Sad.....
Timothy Wakefield
What about the one on top of the hill?
Greg Hine
Timothy Wakefield kind of not original.....
Dennis Minehan
where is that near.
Wade Turner
Dennis Minehan waiuta
Dennis Minehan
I have not ever been there. Must visit.
Mike Wall
At least they are giving it a crack, I've see worse.
Pete Lusk
DOC is responsible for historic buildings like this, but let’s them rot.
Chris Ohms
I will buy it Dr C Ohms 021 052 4653
Stephen Laurenson
Our historic heritage
Malcolm Gollan
You can get hold of the book on Big River written by the late Les Wright from Friends of Waiuta. Great memories of going into Big River with Les for the book launch. https://waiuta.org.nz/shop/
Shop – Friends of Waiuta Inc.
WAIUTA.ORG.NZ
Shop – Friends of Waiuta Inc.
Shop – Friends of Waiuta Inc.
Ian Patterson
Been to Big River many times and even slept in the hut.
Mark Logan
Cool place spent alot off weekends in there on tracks to coast and refton alot off old relics there
Ray Deo
Ah Ha a fixer upper.
Peter Lintern
I think these huts my wife's grandparents use to stay in in late 60s and early 70s Ron and Vera Rooney they would go and stay for couple of weeks at a time Ron likes deer shooting they went in there in their series' 1 landrover had to rebuild road in places to get in there
Reply2d
Brendon Wilshire
Peter Lintern Knew Ron and Vera well. They were a lovely couple. Remember on one trip before they bought the Series 1, (actually it was the earlier 80 inch LR) they had a Gnat. It was similar to a farm bike but lower to the ground and chain drive to th… See more
Peter Lintern
Brendon Wilshire wow that film would be so good to watch grandpa was very hands on fixing things yes he passed in 1988 Vera a few years later
Brendon Wilshire
Peter Lintern hi, I live in Christchurch, where are you. Be keen to meet you and show the film. It's not brilliant quality.
I have so many stories of Ron and Vera. In my teenage years a friend Hank and myself used to travel over to the Coast and into Big River almost every weekend. First time we met the Rooneys, we were walking in and they gave us a rather hair raising ride in the tray of Ron's red Ford V8 truck. We became really good friends with them.
Peter Lintern
Brendon Wilshire Margeret (Ron's granddaughter) and I live in Upper Hutt a bit far away it would be good to meet you too Margeret grew up in reefton Grandpa was a amazing person she has so many good memories of doing stuff with him
Brendon Wilshire
Peter Lintern My email address is brendon.wilshire@xtra.co.nz. Suggest you drop me an email so we can correspond. I will hunt out the film. It will be a bit sad watching it as Hank and I were young fit teenages in the film. I'm now 71 and recovering from open heart surgery. I do occasionally get up to Wellington as I have a couple of good Peugeot Car Club friends there. Look forward to your email. Please include your phone number.
Ross Fowler
It would be orsome to see this old hut reserected
my grandparents moved from Tasmania to Big River to work in the 1920's
Denise Biddick
My grandparents lived in big river after getting married. I believe initially in a tent then this house. It's a very special place to our family.
Murray Williams
certinly gone backwards sinse my grandfather owned it --rip ron roony
Bruce Baxter
Murray Williams I have great memories of Ron and Vera . From our many trips into big river , many nights spent in that hut !
Andy Bone
Murray Williams rember them well first meeting at 12 years old in late year used to drop off fresh bread to Vera at Christmas latest time she had leeroy to get the water as her hips not good always remember with a smile
Pete Lusk
Yes, it should be saved, same with the smoko hut at Middle Brake, Denn Incline.
Don Pearce
Anywhere near little river?
Arthur Bass
Don Pearce no. West Coast.
Colin Harman
That's the worst part about DOC memories mean nothing to those pen pushers
Lois Iacoppi
A doer upper
Jill Mulholland
Wow
Michael Nottingham
Knocked, but no one home. Sad.....
Timothy Wakefield
What about the one on top of the hill?
Greg Hine
Timothy Wakefield kind of not original.....
Dennis Minehan
where is that near.
Wade Turner
Dennis Minehan waiuta
Dennis Minehan
I have not ever been there. Must visit.
Mike Wall
At least they are giving it a crack, I've see worse.
Pete Lusk
DOC is responsible for historic buildings like this, but let’s them rot.
Chris Ohms
I will buy it Dr C Ohms 021 052 4653
Stephen Laurenson
Our historic heritage
Malcolm Gollan
You can get hold of the book on Big River written by the late Les Wright from Friends of Waiuta. Great memories of going into Big River with Les for the book launch. https://waiuta.org.nz/shop/
Shop – Friends of Waiuta Inc.
WAIUTA.ORG.NZ
Shop – Friends of Waiuta Inc.
Shop – Friends of Waiuta Inc.
Ian Patterson
Been to Big River many times and even slept in the hut.
Mark Logan
Cool place spent alot off weekends in there on tracks to coast and refton alot off old relics there
Ray Deo
Ah Ha a fixer upper.
Peter Lintern
I think these huts my wife's grandparents use to stay in in late 60s and early 70s Ron and Vera Rooney they would go and stay for couple of weeks at a time Ron likes deer shooting they went in there in their series' 1 landrover had to rebuild road in places to get in there
Reply2d
Brendon Wilshire
Peter Lintern Knew Ron and Vera well. They were a lovely couple. Remember on one trip before they bought the Series 1, (actually it was the earlier 80 inch LR) they had a Gnat. It was similar to a farm bike but lower to the ground and chain drive to th… See more
Peter Lintern
Brendon Wilshire wow that film would be so good to watch grandpa was very hands on fixing things yes he passed in 1988 Vera a few years later
Brendon Wilshire
Peter Lintern hi, I live in Christchurch, where are you. Be keen to meet you and show the film. It's not brilliant quality.
I have so many stories of Ron and Vera. In my teenage years a friend Hank and myself used to travel over to the Coast and into Big River almost every weekend. First time we met the Rooneys, we were walking in and they gave us a rather hair raising ride in the tray of Ron's red Ford V8 truck. We became really good friends with them.
Peter Lintern
Brendon Wilshire Margeret (Ron's granddaughter) and I live in Upper Hutt a bit far away it would be good to meet you too Margeret grew up in reefton Grandpa was a amazing person she has so many good memories of doing stuff with him
Brendon Wilshire
Peter Lintern My email address is brendon.wilshire@xtra.co.nz. Suggest you drop me an email so we can correspond. I will hunt out the film. It will be a bit sad watching it as Hank and I were young fit teenages in the film. I'm now 71 and recovering from open heart surgery. I do occasionally get up to Wellington as I have a couple of good Peugeot Car Club friends there. Look forward to your email. Please include your phone number.
Ross Fowler
It would be orsome to see this old hut reserected
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West Coast New Zealand History (15th Mar 2022). Last building standing at Big River.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 6th Apr 2026 12:28, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/30749