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DENNISTON
BEEN AND GONE Julius Haast and James Burnett first discovered coal at the plateau of the Papahaua Range in 1860. A detailed survey in 1862 established millions of tonnes of extractable coal. It took Robert Denniston to spark an interest in mining this resource and building of the 'Incline' started in 1878. In 1880 the first consignment went down the Denniston Incline, fondly referred to by the locals as: 'the Eight's Wonder of the World'. Rapid development culminated in the establishment of a number of settlements with a total population of about 1500 people during the time of peak productivity of the mines . The decline in mining on the Plateau started during the Great Depression in the 30's and ended when it was decided to concentrate on the Stockton open cast mining operation in 1995. Today there are just 7 houses left. In a race against time volunteers set up the 'Friends of the Hill' charitable trust and are trying to preserve as much as possible of the true West Coast Heritage. It has a small museum with restored relics of the past and a wealth of documentation. If interested
contact: Gary or Sylvia James at: +64 (0)3 789 9755 or write to:
Friends of the Hill Soc. Gary and Sylvia James c/- Postal Agency Waimangaroa Email: click HERE Home How it started the Camp Marshallvale Burnett's Face Coalbrookdale Photo album Links events Poetry |