RICHMOND QUAY HISTORY. PHOTO ALBUM

About this image

DescriptionRICHMOND QUAY HISTORY.
GREYMOUTH.1864--2026.
1st streets in Greymouth.(Mawhera and Richmond Quays).
3rd highest port trade in New Zealand.(1867).
22 hotels on Richmond Quay.(1867).
70 buildings swept out to sea.(1872).
Floodwall constructed.(1990).
160 years latter all buildings gone.(2024).
Construction of new Library.(2026).
In 1864 Mawhera and Richmond Quays were the hub of the Grey District servicing the booming gold, coal and timber industries for the next 100 years. The port of Greymouth which in 1867 had the 3rd highest trade in New Zealand fronted the bustling Quay. In February 1872 a huge flood swept 70 houses on Richmond Quay out to sea destroying all buildings and eroding 65% of its entire length west of Johnson Street. A 4 million dollar floodwall was constructed in 1990 which now protects Greymouth and Cobden from the frequent high river levels which burst the Grey river banks into the town. In 2026 there are no businesses remaining along Richmond Quay but a new Greymouth library is currently under construction at the corner of Boundary Street and Richmond Quay.
The Quay is named after James Richmond who was a politician and was renowned for his art work including several Greymouth paintings in 1862.Map^[1]ContributorTony Kokshoorn

Shown in this image

EventRICHMOND QUAY HISTORY.1872 flood

From Facebook

CommentsLynnette Beirne
After that 1872 flood Edmund Wickes and others petitioned Parliament to build a flood wall which eventually was completed in 1990

OCR Text Transcription Edit Edit +-Close