Hokitika New Zealand

Text with the photograph in the image above...

"Port of Hokitika

September 16 1867. 41 vessels alongside the wharf at Hokitika, in some places three and four deep. In 1867 the Port of Hokitika ranked first in New Zealand in both the number of overseas vessels entered inwards and in the total value of exports (gold)."

"The Quayside

The straggling town of Hokitika with 80 hotels along the beach in Revell Sreet alone, or with the tightly jam-packed hotels and business houses in Wharf Street or Gibson Quay was at first an unsubstantial and rickety affair. But soon there was an air of prosperity, once he hurriedly built tents or ponga huts, along with the business places made of galvanised iron gave way to false-fronted buildings made of either locally cut or imported timber. With the later arrival of families, schools and churches were opened and where only a few months before there had been thick native forest, there was now a well-established business and commercial centre.

Along the bustling streets the voices of Germans, Australians, Irish and Italians could be heard among those of many other nationalities, as each sought a bed for the night, somewhere to have a meal or else inquired about the quickest way to reach the nearest gold field. Because of the constant shipping traffic between here and Australia, for several years Westland had stronger ties and loyalty to Victoria or New South Wales than to the rest of New Zealand.

From late 1864 with the discovery of payable gold-fields up the Hokitika River at Kaniere, to the north at Blue Spur, Stafford and Goldsborough, and south at the Totara rush at Ross, gold rushes brought large numbers of excited diggers to Hokitika. Eager to make their fortune men arrived by sea either from New Zealand ports or direct from overseas, or else struggled on foot or travelled by coach overland through the mountains and heavy forest. After crossing the Tasman Sea by ship, passengers would pass through the custom house before joining other hopeful miners, or if they had an eye for business would open up a hotel or store close to the busy river port."

Pictures captions on sign

"On 16th September 1867 the tide, weather, and river all combined to make ideal conditions for forty one vessels to berth at Hokitika.

The Shotover Hotel helped the publican advertise where he had once had owned a hotel.

Fitzherbert Street in 1906 with small cottages and muddy streets.

Hokitika’s businessmen pose for their photograph in early 1865."