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AddBy: Graham L Schaef5th Mar 2025 7:33PMThis building is/was the "Midland Chambers". Built for the Midland Railway Coy. as their main office.
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Very early Greymouth building, now Red Books
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DescriptionWendy Barrow:
The Red Books shop is around 150 years old..one of the few remaining wooden buildings still standing. At some point early in its life it was the Newman's depot and has a walk in safe in back room. It has been a lending library in the 1940s and a bookshop in the 60s and 70s..I would like to fill the gaps in if anyone has more information. The Taxi side of building was the old press office and paper bundling room out back.Map[1]
The Red Books shop is around 150 years old..one of the few remaining wooden buildings still standing. At some point early in its life it was the Newman's depot and has a walk in safe in back room. It has been a lending library in the 1940s and a bookshop in the 60s and 70s..I would like to fill the gaps in if anyone has more information. The Taxi side of building was the old press office and paper bundling room out back.Map[1]
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Landmark (Place)Very early Greymouth building, now Red Books
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CommentsSarah Blanchfield
Alisonandchris Blanchfield 1892
Geoffrey King
In the right hand side of the building (in the picture) use to be the Press Office run by Les Guiney and then Pat Taylor, the two reporters, and by 6pm they were sozzled Pat staggering home to Murray Street and Les via taxi to Cowper Street. Them were the days when the Press was not a left wing advertising daily (Harvey Normans) as it is today! In latter years, maybe the 80's, Pat had a stamp collectors shop next to, or near the ABC / Road Services / McGlashen's bus stop.
Bazza Morland
Pat had a penchant for 'The Famous Grouse' and had his own bottle at 'Barbs Bar' for a quiet tipple Geoffrey.
Geoffrey King
Bazza Morland At Kings the liquor traveller was All Black Maurie Dixon. He visited once every 2 months with a complimentary bottle for Les Guiney. Naturally we had to have McLeay Duff on the bowser for the school, which consisted of Pat Tayor, Les Guiney, Bert Smith (Petroleum?), Harold Jeffcoat (High School), and a couple of other hangers on. The 4 would go through a bottle maybe more each night and definitely Friday night and stagger home or like Bert drive home, but he managed
Geoffrey King Liked HOJ. Believe his son was killed in War.
Chris Tones
Geoffrey King did Pat have comic books and other magazines/books as well as stamps?
Gary Hopkinson
Harbour board building??
Laura Mills Detlaff
Author
Admin
1884 I think so def later than some of the others ...
Geoffrey King
Gary Hopkinson Harbour Board Building Really, way up by the railway Station
Gary Hopkinson
No
Down by the VINZ building
Wade Turner
Gary Hopkinson nah. That's beside vtnz
Sarah Murray
During the 90s it was Tradewinds. That's where we all went to purchase birthday gifts for our friends and a shop you always went to when in town. I will never forget the smell of the shop, karma perfume!
Sasha Webster
Sarah Murray loved Tradewinds was my favorite shop on the coast.
Maree Lawlor
Sarah Murray the late Mary Howe had Tradewinds
Leanne Ward
Sarah Murray my fav shop forever and the little pot belly stove inside with the cat
Peter Kerr
Built by Arneet and Seabrook in 1887 as New Zealand Midland Railway Chambers. It was the engineering headquarters of the Company. History House have a photo showing name and date across the front in big wooden block letters.
Trish Rennie
Where was Ian Hamilton the dentist…was it in this building?
John Greaney
What about old Pop Kare's place. Corner of Alexander Terrace & Chapel Street.
Dinelle Gerrard
Loved trade winds
Graham Schaef
This building is/was the "Midland Chambers". Built for the Midland Railway Coy. as their main office.
Alan Beck
Caroline Hewlett, Roger Ewer were there in the 70's.
Eric Martini
Laura Mills Detlaff circa 1900
May be an image of floor plan, map and text that says 'Hansen salls is ٨۸ 4 Nationel パトーe 한파다다 Sompl.Nancarro Store RoomAuctionesr Room Hanne office Union Un, Bank skoglpnd skogl ffice WERITA STREET Sweetman Sweat Furniture Porfilt hdustatientted office Grocer Band 9 Dwql Dwg Keltle Bros Grocer Webber Tailor Mackay Draper Mekay soors Dw Luty Bu Butcher rch Stable Shed Owg sousaqe House STREET WAITE DWa'
Laura Mills Detlaff
Author
Admin
Eric Martini thank you so much. Which ones you reckon it is? Sample room??
Eric Martini
Possibly the Nancarrow building on the map above.
May be an image of 3 people and text that says 'AUCTIONEERS.'
Graham Hay
Eric Martini Many years ago I read an autobiography Mr Bowls By Pete Skoglund.
If I remember correctly the book starts off about his father being one of the founding members of the Greymouth Bowling club.
Pete's brother Philip was born in Greymouth in 1899, sometime between then and 1905 when Pete was born the family moved to Stratford.
If only I still had the book I'd be able to provide information on Mr Skoglund who's office it was.
Graham Hay
Eric Martini
May be an image of 1 person and text that says '22:13 X 79% 79 biblio.co.nz/bo MR BOWLS' THE PETESKOGLUND PETE SKOGLUND STORY BY HIMSELF < 구'
Kyle Webster
There is a large(-ish) hall at the back of the building on the taxi office side.
Rachel Beech
Taxi side isn't there now it is now a hair dresser for men
Carolyn Luck
Werita Street, Greymouth
May be an image of 5 people and text that says 'GL C.PARFITT&CO CO-OPE CO-OPERATIVE GOLD COLD BOUGHT STORE'
Marie Tucker
My father Jim Tucker brought the book shop off Claude Mason back in the 60s. He would open up at 6am to catch the Miners on their way to work by train. He also had a library back of the shop. When Dad sold it to Caroline it was renamed the Taipo bookshop.
Murray Saunders
when Wendy Barrow and I where at Grey high this building would have been the Taipo as Marie pointed out. Was a craft, perfumed oils and gifts type shop too.
Suzanne Hall
Yes I thought that was the one too, my sister is good friends with Wendy
Brian McIntyre
Claude Mason had his book shop there the my sister Mary Howe and Marie Forsythe had West Winds shop there too
Graham Hay
Most probably correct with being the oldest, other possible ones Alf Harrisons and the one next to it where the new SPCA shop is.
Alisonandchris Blanchfield 1892
Geoffrey King
In the right hand side of the building (in the picture) use to be the Press Office run by Les Guiney and then Pat Taylor, the two reporters, and by 6pm they were sozzled Pat staggering home to Murray Street and Les via taxi to Cowper Street. Them were the days when the Press was not a left wing advertising daily (Harvey Normans) as it is today! In latter years, maybe the 80's, Pat had a stamp collectors shop next to, or near the ABC / Road Services / McGlashen's bus stop.
Bazza Morland
Pat had a penchant for 'The Famous Grouse' and had his own bottle at 'Barbs Bar' for a quiet tipple Geoffrey.
Geoffrey King
Bazza Morland At Kings the liquor traveller was All Black Maurie Dixon. He visited once every 2 months with a complimentary bottle for Les Guiney. Naturally we had to have McLeay Duff on the bowser for the school, which consisted of Pat Tayor, Les Guiney, Bert Smith (Petroleum?), Harold Jeffcoat (High School), and a couple of other hangers on. The 4 would go through a bottle maybe more each night and definitely Friday night and stagger home or like Bert drive home, but he managed
Geoffrey King Liked HOJ. Believe his son was killed in War.
Chris Tones
Geoffrey King did Pat have comic books and other magazines/books as well as stamps?
Gary Hopkinson
Harbour board building??
Laura Mills Detlaff
Author
Admin
1884 I think so def later than some of the others ...
Geoffrey King
Gary Hopkinson Harbour Board Building Really, way up by the railway Station
Gary Hopkinson
No
Down by the VINZ building
Wade Turner
Gary Hopkinson nah. That's beside vtnz
Sarah Murray
During the 90s it was Tradewinds. That's where we all went to purchase birthday gifts for our friends and a shop you always went to when in town. I will never forget the smell of the shop, karma perfume!
Sasha Webster
Sarah Murray loved Tradewinds was my favorite shop on the coast.
Maree Lawlor
Sarah Murray the late Mary Howe had Tradewinds
Leanne Ward
Sarah Murray my fav shop forever and the little pot belly stove inside with the cat
Peter Kerr
Built by Arneet and Seabrook in 1887 as New Zealand Midland Railway Chambers. It was the engineering headquarters of the Company. History House have a photo showing name and date across the front in big wooden block letters.
Trish Rennie
Where was Ian Hamilton the dentist…was it in this building?
John Greaney
What about old Pop Kare's place. Corner of Alexander Terrace & Chapel Street.
Dinelle Gerrard
Loved trade winds
Graham Schaef
This building is/was the "Midland Chambers". Built for the Midland Railway Coy. as their main office.
Alan Beck
Caroline Hewlett, Roger Ewer were there in the 70's.
Eric Martini
Laura Mills Detlaff circa 1900
May be an image of floor plan, map and text that says 'Hansen salls is ٨۸ 4 Nationel パトーe 한파다다 Sompl.Nancarro Store RoomAuctionesr Room Hanne office Union Un, Bank skoglpnd skogl ffice WERITA STREET Sweetman Sweat Furniture Porfilt hdustatientted office Grocer Band 9 Dwql Dwg Keltle Bros Grocer Webber Tailor Mackay Draper Mekay soors Dw Luty Bu Butcher rch Stable Shed Owg sousaqe House STREET WAITE DWa'
Laura Mills Detlaff
Author
Admin
Eric Martini thank you so much. Which ones you reckon it is? Sample room??
Eric Martini
Possibly the Nancarrow building on the map above.
May be an image of 3 people and text that says 'AUCTIONEERS.'
Graham Hay
Eric Martini Many years ago I read an autobiography Mr Bowls By Pete Skoglund.
If I remember correctly the book starts off about his father being one of the founding members of the Greymouth Bowling club.
Pete's brother Philip was born in Greymouth in 1899, sometime between then and 1905 when Pete was born the family moved to Stratford.
If only I still had the book I'd be able to provide information on Mr Skoglund who's office it was.
Graham Hay
Eric Martini
May be an image of 1 person and text that says '22:13 X 79% 79 biblio.co.nz/bo MR BOWLS' THE PETESKOGLUND PETE SKOGLUND STORY BY HIMSELF < 구'
Kyle Webster
There is a large(-ish) hall at the back of the building on the taxi office side.
Rachel Beech
Taxi side isn't there now it is now a hair dresser for men
Carolyn Luck
Werita Street, Greymouth
May be an image of 5 people and text that says 'GL C.PARFITT&CO CO-OPE CO-OPERATIVE GOLD COLD BOUGHT STORE'
Marie Tucker
My father Jim Tucker brought the book shop off Claude Mason back in the 60s. He would open up at 6am to catch the Miners on their way to work by train. He also had a library back of the shop. When Dad sold it to Caroline it was renamed the Taipo bookshop.
Murray Saunders
when Wendy Barrow and I where at Grey high this building would have been the Taipo as Marie pointed out. Was a craft, perfumed oils and gifts type shop too.
Suzanne Hall
Yes I thought that was the one too, my sister is good friends with Wendy
Brian McIntyre
Claude Mason had his book shop there the my sister Mary Howe and Marie Forsythe had West Winds shop there too
Graham Hay
Most probably correct with being the oldest, other possible ones Alf Harrisons and the one next to it where the new SPCA shop is.
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West Coast New Zealand History (7th Mar 2025). Very early Greymouth building, now Red Books. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 22nd Mar 2026 15:56, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/34564