Hi Guys, this weekend past was a long weekend here and I took the opportunity to go away with my girlfriend to stay with friends in the rough and ready former mining town of Greymouth, which is a four-hour winding drive from Nelson. Greymouth is situated at the mouth of the Grey River (geddit), a treacherous and powerful body of water, which used to be a major conveyor of barges filled with coal, as this part of the country is mining territory. The West Coast is an unapologetic place, as are the people; direct and determined, the towns here are windswept and a little unkempt, but are full of charm. I've spent time on the coast before, but my girlfriend hasn't, so it was nice to catch up with friends who are locals, who gave us a tour of the town. I took my camera, keen to capture something worthwhile.
On the way south, we stopped in Murchison and went to the world Famous in New Zealand "Dust and Rust" vintage shop. For me the attraction is not what lies inside, but the patina of the things surrounding the store.
Here we are on the banks of the Grey River. This used to be one of the busiest ports in the country, as coal by the shipload was exported around the world. West Coast coal has a reputation as being among the purest in the world. We are standing on a breakwater, necessary since the river breaks its banks every now and then and sinks Greymouth below the waves. The green stone is Greenstone, or Pounamu to give it its proper name. That chunk has been gifted to the town by the local tribe.
This is a monument to those who have lost their lives in mining disasters in the local area. There have been many, the last was in 2010 at the Pike River mine, where 29 people died following an explosion deep underground. There are memorials to lost miners all along the West Coast.
A mute reminder of the wharf's distant past, a coal wagon sits derelict and rusting at a heritage park on the water front.
With the earthquakes that have been ravaging the country over the last 12 years, many of the older buildings surviving in towns around the country have ben earmarked as being unsafe and are scheduled for demolition. In Greymouth, that means that many classic buildings in town will soon go. I took images of some of these to preserve their memory.
A general store's proprietor's name reminds passers by of the building's past. Soon this will be no more.
Beautiful leadlight windows line the upper faces of the shops. These will be gone unless rescued.
A derelict building no one cares for anymore.
A mural depicting Greymouth of old. This building is also going to be demolished.
The former Royal Hotel on the waterfront has sat derelict for some years now and will be pulled down.
Rumour has it, this building will be saved and will be turned into apartments.
Down at the beach and we can see that the Southern Alps have had a dusting of snow. That big mountain is Aoraki/Mt Cook, New Zealand's tallest peak.
The sea is grey and turbulent here, this is the Tasman Sea. Next stop, Australia.
Not much sunbathing goes on here...
The Brooding clouds put on a show today.
More from the West Coast in a bit...
On the way south, we stopped in Murchison and went to the world Famous in New Zealand "Dust and Rust" vintage shop. For me the attraction is not what lies inside, but the patina of the things surrounding the store.
Here we are on the banks of the Grey River. This used to be one of the busiest ports in the country, as coal by the shipload was exported around the world. West Coast coal has a reputation as being among the purest in the world. We are standing on a breakwater, necessary since the river breaks its banks every now and then and sinks Greymouth below the waves. The green stone is Greenstone, or Pounamu to give it its proper name. That chunk has been gifted to the town by the local tribe.
This is a monument to those who have lost their lives in mining disasters in the local area. There have been many, the last was in 2010 at the Pike River mine, where 29 people died following an explosion deep underground. There are memorials to lost miners all along the West Coast.
A mute reminder of the wharf's distant past, a coal wagon sits derelict and rusting at a heritage park on the water front.
With the earthquakes that have been ravaging the country over the last 12 years, many of the older buildings surviving in towns around the country have ben earmarked as being unsafe and are scheduled for demolition. In Greymouth, that means that many classic buildings in town will soon go. I took images of some of these to preserve their memory.
A general store's proprietor's name reminds passers by of the building's past. Soon this will be no more.
Beautiful leadlight windows line the upper faces of the shops. These will be gone unless rescued.
A derelict building no one cares for anymore.
A mural depicting Greymouth of old. This building is also going to be demolished.
The former Royal Hotel on the waterfront has sat derelict for some years now and will be pulled down.
Rumour has it, this building will be saved and will be turned into apartments.
Down at the beach and we can see that the Southern Alps have had a dusting of snow. That big mountain is Aoraki/Mt Cook, New Zealand's tallest peak.
The sea is grey and turbulent here, this is the Tasman Sea. Next stop, Australia.
Not much sunbathing goes on here...
The Brooding clouds put on a show today.
More from the West Coast in a bit...
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