Open/Close Toolbox
Copyright is retained by the photographer and/or contributor. Please do not reuse without permission.
Format: Photograph
Copyright
Copyright is retained by the photographer and/or contributor. Please do not reuse without permission.
Menu
October 1891 surveyor's drawing shows the Moana Railway Station and Line format.
Expand/collapse
About this image
DescriptionThis surveyor’s drawing looks insignificant, but by delving into it further some interesting points can be taken from it.
It was drawn in October 1891 and shows the Moana Railway Station and Line format.
Earlier, the Railway had been constructed from Stillwater, following the Arnold River, to Stoney Creek (now Mallinson’s Creek). Work had stopped there for a lengthy period of time because of discussions on which direction the Line would go from Stoney Creek. Option ‘A’, which the Government preferred, would go straight through from Stoney Creek and follow the West side of Lake Brunner around past Mitchells to Inchbonnie. Option ‘B’, which the Midland Railway Coy preferred, would go left from Stoney Creek, cross the Arnold River and go around the East side of Lake Brunner to Inchbonnie.
Option ‘B’ was selected in mid-1891, which meant work could be started immediately and drawings like this were produced. The drawing shows Lake Brunner at the bottom, Stillwater to the left and Inchbonnie to the right. The Platform was to be 100 ft by 12 ft. It shows a Station building, 18 ft by 12 ft, Privy and Urinal at the left, a Rail Siding and Platelayers Cottage at the right.
The work was split into Sections. The Kotuku Section was from Stoney Creek to Lake Brunner near where the Arnold River leaves the Lake and Messrs Jay and McLean won the contract to build this Section.
Note that the drawing shows the Station and future Township at the Lake was to be named “Kotuku”. This name was to stay until December 1892, when it was renamed “Moana”.
This was born out by several articles in the Newspapers.
Grey River Argus 7 November 1891
A FISH EXCURSION.
ACCLIMATISATION. (Greymouth Acclimatisation Society)
About the time that the last consignment of brown trout ova was placed in the ponds of the Acclimatisation Society, Mr Wilson, general manager of the Midland Railway, showed his appreciation of the good work being done by the society by kindly promising the use of a special train to facilitate the transfer of the fish when hatched out to their future homes in the streams running into and out of Lake Brunner.
(Excerpt from the Article, while on the Steamer Tay on the Lake. The group had to walk from Stoney Creek to Molloy’s Landing where the Steamer Tay would take them to the Lake). Passing onto our next objective point we notice the site of Kotuku station, all cleared ready for the next little township of formation hands and others. It is a very pretty site and commands a fine view of the lake, taking all between the Hohonu and Cashmere Bay.
Inangahua Times 1892-11-05.
In this morning's issue the Midland Railway Company advertise their cheap excursion fares for the Prince of Wales’s Birthday. The general manager of the Company, Mr Wallace, certainly spares no effort to make his Company popular with the Reefton public. For the ridiculously low charge of 6s (2s 6d extra for cushioned seats) holiday makers will have an opportunity of visiting Lake Brunner on Wednesday next, than which there are few more beautiful spots in the South Island. For the followers of Isaac Walton, it is said there is any amount of sport on the Lake, and for the accommodation of ordinary excursionists there are the steadier Tay and a small fleet of row-boats, which for a small, fixed charge will take parties to all parts of the Lake. The train leaves Reefton at 8 a.m. and arrives at Kotuku (the Lake station) at about 11 o'clock, returning again at 7.45 p.m., thus giving picnickers ample time for a thoroughly good day's enjoyment. We hear that there are several parties forming already for this outing, so that given fine weather a large crowd should leave town on the 9th for this, the first excursion to Lake Brunner.
(It’s interesting to note that was the first public excursion to Lake Brunner by train).
By the date below “Kotuku” had been renamed “Moana”.
Grey River Argus 1892-12-08.
A meeting of the Lake Brunner Regatta committee was held at the Empire Hotel, Moana, Lake Brunner, on Saturday evening last, Mr. Joseph Butler in the chair, and a strong muster of the committee present. A large amount of business in connection with the forthcoming regatta was got through, and the programme for a two-days' regatta, viz, on the 28th and 29th December, was drawn up and settled, particulars of which will be found in our advertising columns. About £80 will be paid away in prize money, besides special prizes. Lake Brunner offers every facility for holding a first-class regatta on its waters. The train now runs close to its northern shore, and the Moana railway station is located right in the centre of the regatta movements. The Midland Railway Company will run special trains at cheap fares to the lake on both days, and the steam launch will convey passengers from the Orangapuka river, Mitchell's, and Irishmans track to Moana, where the regatta will be held. To lovers of the water and boating two splendid days outing may be looked forward to.
(Note that it didn’t take long for a hotel to be built at Moana.)
By November 1893 the name “Kotuku” was shifted down the Arnold River to the district which included Molloy’s Clonmore Farm, where a Station was built, as Sawmilling had moved into the area and there was a need for a Station. Previously all mail and other Government dealings were directed to “Molloy’s House, Clonmore”. After this date dealings were directed to “Molloy’s House, Kotuku”.
Date of Photo1891ContributorGeoffrey Bell
It was drawn in October 1891 and shows the Moana Railway Station and Line format.
Earlier, the Railway had been constructed from Stillwater, following the Arnold River, to Stoney Creek (now Mallinson’s Creek). Work had stopped there for a lengthy period of time because of discussions on which direction the Line would go from Stoney Creek. Option ‘A’, which the Government preferred, would go straight through from Stoney Creek and follow the West side of Lake Brunner around past Mitchells to Inchbonnie. Option ‘B’, which the Midland Railway Coy preferred, would go left from Stoney Creek, cross the Arnold River and go around the East side of Lake Brunner to Inchbonnie.
Option ‘B’ was selected in mid-1891, which meant work could be started immediately and drawings like this were produced. The drawing shows Lake Brunner at the bottom, Stillwater to the left and Inchbonnie to the right. The Platform was to be 100 ft by 12 ft. It shows a Station building, 18 ft by 12 ft, Privy and Urinal at the left, a Rail Siding and Platelayers Cottage at the right.
The work was split into Sections. The Kotuku Section was from Stoney Creek to Lake Brunner near where the Arnold River leaves the Lake and Messrs Jay and McLean won the contract to build this Section.
Note that the drawing shows the Station and future Township at the Lake was to be named “Kotuku”. This name was to stay until December 1892, when it was renamed “Moana”.
This was born out by several articles in the Newspapers.
Grey River Argus 7 November 1891
A FISH EXCURSION.
ACCLIMATISATION. (Greymouth Acclimatisation Society)
About the time that the last consignment of brown trout ova was placed in the ponds of the Acclimatisation Society, Mr Wilson, general manager of the Midland Railway, showed his appreciation of the good work being done by the society by kindly promising the use of a special train to facilitate the transfer of the fish when hatched out to their future homes in the streams running into and out of Lake Brunner.
(Excerpt from the Article, while on the Steamer Tay on the Lake. The group had to walk from Stoney Creek to Molloy’s Landing where the Steamer Tay would take them to the Lake). Passing onto our next objective point we notice the site of Kotuku station, all cleared ready for the next little township of formation hands and others. It is a very pretty site and commands a fine view of the lake, taking all between the Hohonu and Cashmere Bay.
Inangahua Times 1892-11-05.
In this morning's issue the Midland Railway Company advertise their cheap excursion fares for the Prince of Wales’s Birthday. The general manager of the Company, Mr Wallace, certainly spares no effort to make his Company popular with the Reefton public. For the ridiculously low charge of 6s (2s 6d extra for cushioned seats) holiday makers will have an opportunity of visiting Lake Brunner on Wednesday next, than which there are few more beautiful spots in the South Island. For the followers of Isaac Walton, it is said there is any amount of sport on the Lake, and for the accommodation of ordinary excursionists there are the steadier Tay and a small fleet of row-boats, which for a small, fixed charge will take parties to all parts of the Lake. The train leaves Reefton at 8 a.m. and arrives at Kotuku (the Lake station) at about 11 o'clock, returning again at 7.45 p.m., thus giving picnickers ample time for a thoroughly good day's enjoyment. We hear that there are several parties forming already for this outing, so that given fine weather a large crowd should leave town on the 9th for this, the first excursion to Lake Brunner.
(It’s interesting to note that was the first public excursion to Lake Brunner by train).
By the date below “Kotuku” had been renamed “Moana”.
Grey River Argus 1892-12-08.
A meeting of the Lake Brunner Regatta committee was held at the Empire Hotel, Moana, Lake Brunner, on Saturday evening last, Mr. Joseph Butler in the chair, and a strong muster of the committee present. A large amount of business in connection with the forthcoming regatta was got through, and the programme for a two-days' regatta, viz, on the 28th and 29th December, was drawn up and settled, particulars of which will be found in our advertising columns. About £80 will be paid away in prize money, besides special prizes. Lake Brunner offers every facility for holding a first-class regatta on its waters. The train now runs close to its northern shore, and the Moana railway station is located right in the centre of the regatta movements. The Midland Railway Company will run special trains at cheap fares to the lake on both days, and the steam launch will convey passengers from the Orangapuka river, Mitchell's, and Irishmans track to Moana, where the regatta will be held. To lovers of the water and boating two splendid days outing may be looked forward to.
(Note that it didn’t take long for a hotel to be built at Moana.)
By November 1893 the name “Kotuku” was shifted down the Arnold River to the district which included Molloy’s Clonmore Farm, where a Station was built, as Sawmilling had moved into the area and there was a need for a Station. Previously all mail and other Government dealings were directed to “Molloy’s House, Clonmore”. After this date dealings were directed to “Molloy’s House, Kotuku”.
Date of Photo1891ContributorGeoffrey Bell
Shown in this image
Eventsurveyor's drawing shows the Moana Railway Station and Line format.
Editing is temporarily disabled
Cancel EditClick on the image to add
a tag or press ESC to cancel
a tag or press ESC to cancel
West Coast New Zealand History (12th Oct 2026). October 1891 surveyor's drawing shows the Moana Railway Station and Line format.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 13th Oct 2026 15:36, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/36788