History of Denniston
For many decades Denniston was New Zealand's largest producing coal mine, yielding a premium quality coal from underground mines. The coal was loaded into railway wagons and lowered by cable down an extremely steep incline railway: a remarkable feat of engineering.
The miners and their families endured a life 'living on the edge', exposed to the elements on a barren windswept plateau. The isolation and difficult living conditions forged a close-knit community.
A wagon of coal sits at the Brakehead.Once
it descends the incline it will be taken by
train to Westport and loaded onto ships.
As the demand for coal declined the operation at Denniston was gradually reduced. In 1967 the railway closed and production declined. In 1995 Coalcorp (now Solid Energy) ceased mining at Denniston. Private coal mining continues on the plateau.
Today Denniston's significance is reflected by its status as a Category 1 Historic Place.
Denniston today
Once home to over 1500 people, today Denniston is a ghost town.
Today: a restored Q wagon at the
Brakehead
The rocky plateau offers magnificent views of coastal plains and ocean. Even when shrouded in mist the dramatic landscape is still breathtaking.
A visit allows you to appreciate the tough working and living conditions endured by miners and their familes in this desolate 19th century industrial environment.
There are a number of relics and great heritage sites to explore, particularly the railway incline and the township.
Views of the dramatic landscape
You can walk up the same tracks that residents used rather than risking their lives riding on the incline wagons. The Coalbrookedale walk which passes the country's best remaining example of a mine fanhouse is a highlight.