Cultural Significance

This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1993. This report includes text from the original Recommendation for Registration considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Spiritual: There are several structures within the area that have spiritual significance to some of the citizens of Reefton. The historic Catholic and Anglican churches are still used by their congregations. The convent which is now used as a private residence is a reminder of the strong Catholic presence in the West Coast at the turn of the century. In 1900 the Convent housed ten nuns who taught a total of 190 pupils at the local school. Cultural/Social: The collection of public buildings, churches, lodges and the War memorial represent the values of a thriving community at the turn of the century. Many of these structures now have new uses.

Historic Significance

Historical Significance or Value This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1993. This report includes text from the original Recommendation for Registration considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. For the last three decades of the nineteenth century Reefton was a major mining centre on the West Coast. Of special historical significance to the district was the School of Mines and the first installation of electric light in a New Zealand public building - the Oddfellows Hall. The variety of turn of the century buildings in Reefton give a good indication of the major role in played in the history of mining on the West Coast. The buildings, though simple, are architecturally interesting and the location has an aesthetic charm

Physical Significance

This historic place was registered under the Historic Places Act 1993. This report includes text from the original Recommendation for Registration considered by the NZHPT Board at the time of registration. Architectural: When many of the Reefton buildings were erected circa 1870-1900 the future of the town was uncertain, therefore the buildings were simple, small and functional. They were built by locals with local materials, mainly timber. The public buildings (the Courthouse School of Mines, Oddfellows Hall etc.) for example, were simple but had impressive Classical facades. Many of Reefton's buildings have lost much of their architectural integrity due to the use of fibrolite cladding in later years. Aesthetic: The area within this now small, quiet West Coast town located on the banks of the Inangahua River is surrounded by densely wooden hills has aesthetic appeal.

Nolan, 1981

Tony Nolan, Gold Trails of the West Coast, A H & A W Reed, Wellington, revised edition 1981.

Historic Places in New Zealand

Historic Places in New Zealand

Porter, 1983

Frances Porter (ed), Historic Buildings of Dunedin, South Island, Methuen, Auckland, 1983.