DOCSLIB.ORG

Denniston Archaeological Survey

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Denniston Archaeological Survey DENNISTON Archæological Survey Report for The Department of Conservation West Coast Conservancy P.G. Petchey Southern Archæology Ltd. 2007 DENNISTON Archæological Survey Report for The Department of Conservation West Coast Conservancy P.G. Petchey Southern Archæology Ltd. 2007 Cover illustration Looking down the Denniston Incline towards Waimangaroa and the Tasman Sea. Southern Archaeology Ltd. P.O. Box 6331 Dunedin New Zealand 2007 Denniston Archæological Survey 1 The Eighth Wonder of the World It is an often-told story that, when in March 1889 a hurricane hit Apia in Samoa, it was the high quality Denniston coal carried by H.M.S. Calliope that enabled her to raise steam and avoid disaster when other warships in the harbour were wrecked. Between 1880 and 1967 the Denniston Incline worked to bring this first class coal down from the Denniston Plateau to the wharves at Westport. The incline itself was regarded by locals as ‘the eighth wonder of the world,” descending at grades of almost 1 in 1.25 in places, bringing 105 tons of coal an hour down 1,700 feet from the plateau. It stands as one of New Zealand’s foremost Victorian engineering structures, built at the height of the railway and steam age. The Denniston Incline is now managed by the Department of Conservation as an historic site, and conservation and restoration work is currently underway to improve the interpretation of this site to visitors. In late 2006 an archæological survey was carried out in order to record details of the incline and associated sites, and help guide future conservation work. Denniston Archæological Survey 2 Acknowledgements I would like to thank a number of individuals and organisations for their assistance during this survey. The West Coast Conservancy of the Department of Conservation funded the survey and provided logistical assistance. In particular Jackie Breen of DoC co-ordinated the work and assisted in the field during a very wet ten days, many of which she spent bashing though gorse. I would particularly like to thank Carmen Sarjeant of the University of Otago, who also assisted during the survey, and spent numerous hours standing at a water-logged plane table. Gary James of the Friends of the Hill provided warm hospitality on a particularly wet day, acted as a guide around the historic sites in the township, and provided clarification over a number of historical details. Kevin Jones of the Department of Conservation in Wellington kindly supplied copies of his recent detailed low-altitude aerial photographs of the mining sites on the Denniston Plateau. My father, David Petchey, provided engineering advice, particularly regarding the oft- misquoted fact that the incline used 4 inch diameter wire rope (actually 4 inch circumference rope). The New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society gave permission to reproduce images from Bob Meyer’s excellent publication Coaling from the Clouds. I would also like to acknowledge the work of Sonia and Terry Sumner, whose 1983 survey of historic coalmining remains was used extensively in the preparation of this report. Their work was so comprehensive that in places all that was really required was the preparation of accurate maps and plans and an update on the condition of sites. Denniston Archæological Survey 3 Table of Contents Introduction................................................................................................................5 Geographical Description ..........................................................................................6 Previous Research......................................................................................................8 General History of Denniston and the Incline ...........................................................9 The Westport Colliery Company & The Westport Coal Company Ltd. .............10 State Mines Department.......................................................................................11 The Union Movement..........................................................................................11 The 2006 Archæological Survey .............................................................................13 The Denniston Incline..............................................................................................14 The Upper Incline ................................................................................................18 The Middle Brake ................................................................................................24 Site Description....................................................................................................26 The Lower Incline................................................................................................29 Conn’s Creek Yards.................................................................................................31 Site description.....................................................................................................32 The Brakehead .........................................................................................................33 Site Description....................................................................................................34 The Bins & Screens .............................................................................................38 The Power House and Winding House................................................................39 Weighbridge.........................................................................................................39 The Workshops ....................................................................................................40 The Rope Road ........................................................................................................42 Site Description....................................................................................................44 The Monocable Aerial Ropeway .............................................................................45 The Banbury Mine, Banbury Arches & Early Tramway.........................................48 Site Description....................................................................................................49 Denniston Settlement...............................................................................................50 The Camp.................................................................................................................52 Site Description....................................................................................................55 Denniston Township ................................................................................................57 Brakehead & Main Town Area............................................................................58 South-east Area of Town, School, Power House.................................................60 The Denniston Track................................................................................................62 Site Description....................................................................................................62 Coalbrookdale..........................................................................................................63 Site description.....................................................................................................65 Lower Coalbrookdale Valley...............................................................................65 The Coalbrookdale Sheds ....................................................................................69 The Coalbrookdale Mine Entrance & Bath House ..............................................74 The Cascade Mine Entrance & Fan House..........................................................77 Discussion................................................................................................................81 Recommendations....................................................................................................83 Specific Recommendations......................................................................................84 The Incline ...........................................................................................................84 Conn’s Creek Yards.............................................................................................84 Brakehead Area....................................................................................................84 The Camp.............................................................................................................85 Denniston Township ............................................................................................85 The Rope Road ....................................................................................................85 Denniston Archæological Survey 4 Coalbrookdale......................................................................................................85 Interpretation........................................................................................................85 Further Survey Work ...........................................................................................85 References................................................................................................................87 Published & Unpublished Works.........................................................................87 Maps & Plans.......................................................................................................88
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Internal Correspondence
    Internal Correspondence Our ref: Your ref: To: PRSG – T. Wilkes Date: From: Terrestrial Ecosystems Unit – J. Marshall Subject: Te Kuha Coal Mine Summary • The applicant has provided appropriate and adequate information to assess the vegetation and flora values of the proposed industrial footprint, the impact of the proposal on those values and potential mitigation and compensation actions • The vegetation and flora values within the Westport Water Conservation Reserve, the Ballarat and Mount Rochfort Conservation Areas and the Lower Buller Gorge Scenic Reserve are clearly significant, particularly the degree of intactness but also the degree of connectivity to other large and relatively unmodified areas of high ecological value, and because of the presence of several “Naturally Uncommon Ecosystems”, two Nationally Threatened plant species, one and potentially two or three plant species in decline – at risk of extinction, and six species with scientifically interesting distributions. • The site is an ecologically important part of the Ecological District and Region. The elevated Brunner coal measures ecosystems are nationally unique: Te Kuha and Mt William are distinguished from all other parts of the elevated Brunner coal measures as they are the only discrete parts of the system that are essentially intact with no significant disruption to ecological patterns and processes and they represent the best example of coastal hillslope forest remaining on elevated Brunner coal measures. • The impacts, both in short and long time frames on significant biodiversity values of an opencast coal mine and associated infrastructure, are significant; the remedial effects of active restoration and site rehabilitation will be limited. • The suggested mitigation actions include avoidance measures, remedial actions and some mitigation and/or compensation suggestions.
    [Show full text]
  • Update on Resources and Reserves
    T +64 4 499 6830 Level 12, 1 Willeston Street F +64 4 974 5218 Wellington 6011, New Zealand E [email protected] PO Box 5963 Lambton Quay Wellington 6145, New Zealand 17 October 2016 Market Announcements Australian Securities Exchange Level 4, 20 Bridge Street Sydney NSW 2000 Bathurst Resources Limited - Update on Resources and Reserves The Board of Bathurst Resources Limited (ASX: BRL “Bathurst”) is pleased to announce an update on Resources and Reserves. During the past year work has been ongoing to update the company’s Resources and Reserves to comply with the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) 2012 code. The key indicator of total Resources shows a small reduction from 108.2 million tonnes to 108 million tonnes. While there was a maiden Resource announced for New Brighton of 0.2 million tonnes, and the Canterbury Measured Resource increased by 0.2 million tonnes this was offset by depletion due to mining at the company’s domestic operations on the West Coast and at Takitimu, in Southland. The Resource tonnages at New Brighton showed a decrease in Indicated and Inferred Resources due to a revised model of total open cast recovery with no underground extraction. Marketable Reserves increased overall due to revised economic modelling based on an improved coal price and reduced operating costs at Escarpment and Takitimu. The documents appended have been generated as JORC Table 1 disclosures as required under clause 5 of the JORC (2012) code. The Table 1 documents support both first release and materially changed Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves for significant Bathurst projects.
    [Show full text]
  • Notification of Access Arrangement for MP 41279, Mt Te Kuha
    Attachment C Draft Terrestrial Ecology Report 106 VEGETATION AND FAUNA OF THE PROPOSED TE KUHA MINE SITE Prepared for Te Kuha Limited Partnership October 2013 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Te Kuha mining permit is located predominantly within the Westport Water Conservation Reserve (1,825 ha), which is a local purpose reserve administered by the Buller District Council. The coal deposit is situated outside the water catchment within an area of approximately 490 ha of Brunner Coal Measures vegetation approximately 5 km southwest of Mt Rochfort. Access would be required across conservation land to reach the coal resource. The Te Kuha site was recommended as an area for protection by the Protected Natural Areas Programme surveys in the 1990s on the basis that in the event it was removed from the local purpose reserve for any reason, addition to the public conservation estate would increase the level of protection of coal measures habitats which, although found elsewhere (principally in the Mt Rochfort Conservation Area), were considered inadequately protected overall. The proposal to create an access road and an opencast mine at the site would affect twelve different vegetation types to varying degrees. The habitats present at the proposed mine site are overwhelmingly indigenous and have a very high degree of intactness reflecting their lack of human disturbance. Previous surveys have shown that some trees in the area are more than 500 years old. Habitats affected by the proposed access road are less intact and include exotic pasture as well as regenerating shrubland and forest. Te Kuha is not part of the Department of Conservation’s Buller Coal Plateaux priority site and is unlikely to receive management for that reason.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Help Stop the Escarpment Mine, Denniston Plateau
    Help stop the Escarpment Mine - Denniston Plateau June 2011, West Coast Environment Network (WCENT) A new coal mine proposed for the West Coast would destroy 200 hectares of a nationally significant ecosystem and increase New Zealand's coal exports by up to 62%6. The mine, located entirely on public conservation land, would be run by Buller Coal Limited (owned by Bathurst Resources Ltd Australia), which has already applied for resource consents from Buller District Council and the West Coast Regional Council1, and an access arrangement and concession from the Department of Conservation. You can see the location of the mine footprint in the photo below, which would be turned into an open-cast pit, with a further 48 ha for a coal processing plant and related infrastructure. But make no mistake; this proposal is only the beginning. The company holds mining permits for 10,000 ha on the Buller Coalfield, with an estimated 50 million tonnes of coal. Letting this mine go ahead will set a precedent that will accelerate the destruction of this unique environment. The Denniston and Stockton Plateaux are New Zealand’s only elevated (600-1100 m above sea level) coal measure plateaux, are considered nationally significant, ‘outstanding natural landscapes’ 2 and contain ‘originally rare ecosystems’ 3. Unlike Stockton, the Denniston Plateau is relatively intact and is the only Brunner coal measure ecosystem without large-scale land conversion. The interplay between geology, altitude, high rainfall and wind, and gentle sloping of the plateaux has created a dramatic landscape, and unique associations of native plants and animals that are different from anywhere else in New Zealand 5.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmentalist Opposition to Escarpment Mine on the Denniston Plateau
    View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by ResearchArchive at Victoria University of Wellington Democracy in the face of disagreement: Environmentalist opposition to Escarpment Mine on the Denniston Plateau Lillian Fougère Thesis ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES 591 A 120 point thesis submitted to Victoria University of Wellington in partial fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Environmental Studies School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences Victoria University of Wellington March 2013 Abstract Democracy in the face of disagreement: Environmentalist opposition to Escarpment Mine on the Denniston Plateau Despite New Zealand’s Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) being lauded as offering democratic decision-making processes, those in opposition to consent applications often feel their input has minimal influence on the decisions made. This research explores how democracy is actualised or constrained through environmentalist opposition to decisions made about coal-mining on conservation land, including both informal and formal participation. Escarpment Mine is a proposal for an open cast coal mine on the Denniston Plateau on the West Coast of New Zealand. The mine was granted resource consents in 2011 by the two local councils. Environmental activists engaged with these decisions through the formal council led submission process, a requirement under the RMA, and informally through activism, protest and campaigning. Their opposition was founded on concerns about the mine’s effects on conservation and climate change. Drawing on theories of deliberative democracy and radical democracy, I create a framework for democracy that includes agonism and antagonism, situated within the overarching democratic principles of equality, justice and the rule of the people.
    [Show full text]
  • View Annual Report
    XXXXXXX ANNUAL REPORT 2012 For personal use only 1 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS To be held at 10am on Tuesday 20 November 2012: Exchange Centre, 20 Bridge Street, Sydney All $ amounts referred to in this report are expressed in $AUD unless otherwise noted For personal use only www.bathurstresources.co.nz “OVER THE NEXT DECADES, WE’LL BE SHARING THE BENEFITS OF OUR BUSINESS WITH HUNDREDS OF NEW ZEALAND FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE LONG- TERM PROTECTION OF THE CONSERVATION ESTATE IN THE SOUTH ISLAND”. SECTION SECTION SECTION ONE TWO THREE Year In Review Financial Statements Other Information Chairman and Managing Director’s Report 4 Directors’ Report 28 ASX additional information 104 Review of Operations 6 Auditor’s Independence Declaration 44 Tenement Schedule 106 Sustainability 16 Corporate Governance Statement 45 Coal Resources and Reserves 107 Our People 24 ASX Principles Compliance Statement 51 Corporate Directory 109 Coal 26 Financial Statements 54 Directors’ Declaration 100 Independent Auditor’s Report 101 For personal use only 1 ABOUT BATHURST RESOURCES Bathurst Resources Limited was fl oated on the Australian ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE Securities Exchange in December 2007 and listed on the New Zealand Exchange in November 2010. The company is now well positioned as a modern BATHURST GROUP New Zealand mining company with producing assets in the South Island and an operations offi ce in Wellington. The company is already a producer of coal for the domestic BULLER COAL EASTERN COAL thermal markets and is fi rmly focussed on becoming LIMITED LIMITED a leading exporter of high quality coking coal from its Buller Coal Project, near Westport, on the West Coast.
    [Show full text]
  • Forest & Bird New Zealand Tours 2021-22
    DEPARTING SEPTEMBER 2021 through to APRIL 2022 Our ever-changing country is full of natural spectacles to be enjoyed, challenged, or held in awe. Travel off the beaten track, in small groups, and experience some less visited, but still spectacular treasures. Join us to explore New Zealand’s natural heritage and feel good knowing your tour’s profits will be supporting Forest & Bird’s conservation work! Footsteps on Conservation Heritage ______________________________________ Departs Dunedin October 10 2021, March 20 2022 Travel through awe-inspiring landscapes at the heart of some of the greatest environmental campaigns of the past 100 years. Meet conservation legends such as Gerry McSweeney, who will share some of their “wins” and memories of hard-fought battles. Highlights of the 10- night South Island tour include Tautuku in the Catlins, Rakiura Stewart Island, Lake Manapouri, Te Wāipounamu World Heritage Area, West Coast rainforests, Punakaiki, and Nelson Lakes and Kahurangi national parks. Accommodation includes two nights at Gerry and Ann McSweeney’s iconic Lake Moeraki Wilderness Lodge. Day 1 Dunedin, Royal Albatross and Otago Harbour cruise What better way to begin our journey than to view the Royal Albatross colony at Taiaroa Head. We take a one hour cruise to view the wildlife of this spectacular headland, gain an insight into the life of an albatross, and learn of the conservation challenges this colony has faced. Stay Dunedin. Day 2 Catlins Coast and Forests, Tautuku Eco- restoration Project Travel south to focus on the Catlins region. We stop in the fascinating Tautuku Basin and Estuary. This is now the location for one of the Society’s key conservation projects.
    [Show full text]
  • Recovery Plans for Powelliphanta Land Snails
    Recovery plans for Powelliphanta land snails 2003–2013 THREATENED SPECIES RECOVERY PLAN 49 By Kath Walker Published by: Department of Conservation P O Box 10-420 Wellington, New Zealand Illustrations Front cover: Powelliphanta lignaria lignaria. Photograph by Rod Morris. Back cover: Variety of Powelliphanta species. Photograph by Gideon Climo. Cartoon p. vii: Andrew Jeffs Line drawing p. ix: Powelliphanta superba mouatae by Pauline Morse Species identification photographs by Gideon Climo, Kath Walker and Tim Skinner. Species distribution maps and snail identification photographs prepared for publication by Graeme Elliott © Copyright June 2003, New Zealand Department of Conservation ISSN 1170-3806 ISBN 0–478–22418–4 This work may be cited as: Walker, K. J. 2003: Recovery plans for Powelliphanta land snails. Threatened Species Recovery Plan 49. Department of Conservation, Wellington, x + 208 p. + 64 plates. CONTENTS Abstract 1 1. Background 2 1.1 Introduction 2 1.2 How many species are there? 3 1.3 The biology and ecology of Powelliphanta 4 1.4 Are Powelliphanta populations declining? 5 1.5 Causes of snail decline 6 1.5.1 Habitat destruction 6 1.5.2 Predators 6 1.6 Are translocations a solution to snail decline? 8 1.7 Current conservation status 9 2. Powelliphanta recovery plan scope, goal and issues 10 3. The recovery plans 13 3.1 Powelliphanta marchanti 14 3.2 Powelliphanta “Maungaharuru” 19 3.3 Powelliphanta traversi traversi 23 3.4 Powelliphanta traversi florida 27 3.5 Powelliphanta traversi latizona 29 3.6 Powelliphanta traversi tararuaensis
    [Show full text]
  • Denniston Plateau
    The combined population of the plateau approached 1500 Introduction Rehabilitation at its peak in 1911. The depression of the 1930s had an impact on mining, followed by government changes in Mountain biking is an increasingly popular recreational More than 100 years of mining has left its mark on the the 1940s. A decline in production and improved access, activity, which provides access to different environments plateau. State-owned coal company, Solid Energy, is in transport and aerial ropeways resulted in the abandonment and challenging terrain. the process of completing a rehabilitation programme in the headwaters of the Rapid Stream catchment. This of the townships and the use of the incline by the 1960s. The Department of Conservation and Buller Cycling Club includes restoring soil cover, replanting and aerial seeding. have, in partnership, created an opportunity for MTB use The areas being rehabilitated include old tracks and sites Historic sites on Denniston Plateau. that were used by the Sullivan Mine. Respect for these Denniston Plateau is a unique environment situated 25 km rehabilitation areas is essential to ensure the best outcome When riding through the area, the remains of the incline, east of Westport and 600 m above sea level. With a fragile for the environment. (Do not use any old tracks that are the rope road and the townships are evident. A museum ecosystem and a wealth of human history, it provides an blocked off for rehabilitation). now resides in the old school building. The historic sites opportunity high in natural, historic and recreational values. provide a glimpse of times gone by.
    [Show full text]
  • Buller Coal Limited (BCL)
    Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai Notified Concession Final Report to Decision Maker Final Report to Decision Maker: Jan Hania; Director, Conservation Partnerships, North & Western South Island Region Notified Application for a Notified Easement Concession Applicant: Buller Coal Limited (BCL) Permission Record Number: 34684-OTH File: PAC-11-04-420-03 The purpose of this report is to provide a final thorough analysis of the application within the context of the legislation, the statutory planning framework and actual and potential effects, so the Decision Maker can consider the application and make a decision whether it should be granted or declined. As part of this assessment it analyses the submissions received from the public notification process. 1.0 Summary of Proposal A decision in principle (subject to public notification) was made to grant this concession on the 20th May 2013. A copy of the Notified Concession Officer’s Report to the Decision Maker (Officer’s Report) is attached as Appendix 2 (DM 1191066). The Intention to Grant was publicly notified on 19th June 2013, and 246 submissions were received: 189 in support (128 of these were form submissions); 53 in opposition; and 4 neutral. Following the hearing one submitter, Forest and Bird [233], changed its submission from one of opposition, to a neutral one. There were 21 submissions received after the notification period which were not accepted. A hearing held in Westport on the 24th and 25th September 2013 heard 11 submitters by phone or in person. The outcomes of public notification are dealt with in sections 3 & 9 of this report.
    [Show full text]
  • For Personal Use Only Use Personal For
    T +64 4 499 6830 Level 12, 1 Willeston Street F +64 4 974 5218 Wellington 6011, New Zealand E [email protected] PO Box 5963 Lambton Quay Wellington 6145, New Zealand 17 October 2016 Market Announcements Australian Securities Exchange Level 4, 20 Bridge Street Sydney NSW 2000 Bathurst Resources Limited - Update on Resources and Reserves The Board of Bathurst Resources Limited (ASX: BRL “Bathurst”) is pleased to announce an update on Resources and Reserves. During the past year work has been ongoing to update the company’s Resources and Reserves to comply with the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) 2012 code. The key indicator of total Resources shows a small reduction from 108.2 million tonnes to 108 million tonnes. While there was a maiden Resource announced for New Brighton of 0.2 million tonnes, and the Canterbury Measured Resource increased by 0.2 million tonnes this was offset by depletion due to mining at the company’s domestic operations on the West Coast and at Takitimu, in Southland. The Resource tonnages at New Brighton showed a decrease in Indicated and Inferred Resources due to a revised model of total open cast recovery with no underground extraction. Marketable Reserves increased overall due to revised economic modelling based on an improved coal price and reduced operating costs at Escarpment and Takitimu. The documents appended have been generated as JORC Table 1 disclosures as required under clause 5 of the JORC (2012) code. The Table 1 documents support both first release and materially changed Mineral Resources or Ore Reserves for significant Bathurst projects.
    [Show full text]
  • Late Palaeocene – Eocene Tectono-Sedimentary Evolution of North Westland, South Island: an Analysis of the Brunner Coal Measures and Their Basal Contact
    LATE PALAEOCENE – EOCENE TECTONO-SEDIMENTARY EVOLUTION OF NORTH WESTLAND, SOUTH ISLAND: AN ANALYSIS OF THE BRUNNER COAL MEASURES AND THEIR BASAL CONTACT A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE IN GEOLOGY at the University of Canterbury by Fraser Daniel Monteith 2015 Frontispiece A cold day on the Denniston Plateau, Buller Coalfield Abstract The Late Palaeocene to Middle Eocene geological history of New Zealand is characterised by tectonic quiescence the development of an extensive unconformity. This period represents the time between cessation of spreading in the Tasman Sea Basin in the Late Palaeocene and commencement of extension of the Challenger Rift System in the Late Eocene. The unconformity itself and the Middle Eocene Brunner Coal Measures (BCM) which directly overlie it are used to study the tectono-sedimentary evolution of this time period in detail. Field research has shown a deep leached horizon underlies the unconformity in almost all cases. This horizon formed through prolonged subaerial chemical weathering in the warm subtropical climate at this time. The degree of weathering is directly related to the duration of subaerial exposure but is occasionally enhanced through leaching of overlying coals. Truncation, partial or complete removal of the weathering profile indicates the presences of palaeovalleys and highs respectively. Two occurrences of continuous deposition through the Late Palaeocene – Early Eocene are recognised. The Ikes Peak Formation and the Papahaua Formation, both within the Paparoa Group, are newly defined in this thesis. Both are related to faulting in the Late Palaeocene, potentially reflecting late stage tectonism related to the Tasman Sea spreading.
    [Show full text]