Shantytown Heritage Park facts for kids
Shantytown Heritage Park, often called Shantytown, is a fun place to visit in the West Coast Region of New Zealand's South Island. It's about 10 kilometers south of Greymouth. This park opened in 1971 and has 30 buildings that look just like a gold-mining town from the 1800s. It's surrounded by beautiful native forest and is one of the most popular spots in the area.
Contents
The Story of Shantytown
Shantytown was created because people in Greymouth wanted to save the history of gold mining on the West Coast. A group of local people who loved history started the West Coast Historical and Mechanical Society in 1968. Shantytown Heritage Park first opened its doors to visitors on January 23, 1971.
Most of the work to build Shantytown was done by volunteers and people who gave their time for free. Over the years, thousands of old items have been given to the park. These include gold-mining tools, furniture from early settlers, everyday things, clothes, and old photos. All these items came from local people and businesses.
The collection and the park mostly show what life was like during the Victorian era, from the mid-1800s up to before World War I. However, some items are from as late as the 1940s. Many of these old items are displayed inside the buildings, making them look real. More special or delicate items are kept safe in special storage areas because of the damp weather on the West Coast. You can see these by making an appointment. Today, a local board still looks after Shantytown Heritage Park, and the community continues to be very involved.
What to See and Do
Shantytown has two main streets with 30 historic buildings. These include a church and a two-story hall. Most of the buildings are original and were moved or rebuilt on the site. They now look like shops from the late 1800s, such as a bank, a hotel, a butcher, a shoe shop, a barber, a carpenter, and a blacksmith. Some shops even sell old-fashioned sweets! The town also has a hospital, a train station, a fire station, a Masonic Lodge, and a jail.
Learning About Ironwork
At the foundry, you can see how people used to work with iron. There are interactive displays and old tools that show the skills and methods used for ironwork long ago.
Exploring Chinatown
Next to the main town, there's a "Chinatown" area. This part shows what life was like for Chinese gold miners who came to the West Coast in the 1860s. Many came from other gold fields in New Zealand when those ran out of gold, and some came directly from China.
Riding the Train
Shantytown also has a re-created narrow-gauge train line. This "bush tram" follows an old sawmill track from the Shantytown train station. It stops at the Infants Creek Sawmill and then goes 1.5 kilometers further for great photo opportunities. Trains run all day, and your admission ticket includes the ride. The train station is built to look like an old railway station.
You can get off the train at the Infants Creek Sawmill. Here, a sluice gun is fired up to four times a day, and you can learn how to pan for gold. The old passenger carriages are pulled by either "Gertie," an 1877 steam engine from England, or by an 1896 steam engine called "Kaitangata."
More Fun Activities
Other things to do include taking an "old time" photo where you dress up in costumes. There's also a special theatre show and a playground for younger visitors. You can also take short walks through the bush to find a surveyor's monument and a lookout point.
The town's church, built in 1866, can be booked for weddings. There's also an education center, supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Education, which offers hands-on history lessons for school groups.
Shantytown has a cafe and a souvenir shop. It's open all year, except on Christmas Day.
Shantytown's Locomotives
Shantytown is home to several interesting locomotives, each with its own history.
- Kaitangata (or Katie): This steam engine was built in Scotland in 1896. It worked on a coal mine railway in Kaitangata, New Zealand, until 1970. It was then given to Shantytown in 1971.
- PWD 508 (Gertie): This L class steam engine was built in England in 1877. It worked on various construction projects in New Zealand's North Island. Later, it was used by a cement company until 1964. After being at another historic village, Shantytown bought it in 2002, and it returned to service after a big repair.
- Climax: This special type of geared locomotive was built in Pennsylvania in 1912. It was used in New Zealand's logging industry, helping to move timber. It was bought by the society in 1988 and restored in 1980.
- The Opossum: Built in New Zealand in 1875, this is one of the oldest complete locomotives made in the country. It worked for various companies and was displayed in Greymouth for many years before being donated to Shantytown in 1986. It was restored and put on display in 2012.
- Heisler: Another geared locomotive, this one was built in 1924. It worked for several sawmills in New Zealand. The society bought it in 1969, and it was restored and put on display in 2012.
- TR 107 (TR 396) (Rosie): This diesel locomotive started working for New Zealand Railways in 1957. It was used until 2005, then purchased by Shantytown. After restoration in 2008, it now has a green color and is named "Rosie."
- Nattrass: This unique vehicle from 1936 is a Fordson farm tractor that was changed to run on railway tracks. It helped sawmills reach areas that horses couldn't.
