84 Gresson Street, Cobden-Omoto, Grey

Greymouth Wharf

Grey Walks

Image Credit: Wharf, Greymouth, circa 1907, Dunedin, by Muir & Moodie studio. Te Papa,Derek Smith and Maclean Barker Photographers (2)

With the exception of the masted ships, a visitor to the Greymouth wharf today might see sights very similar to this 1907 image by Muir and Moodie. The wharf is a veritable step back in time and into a very masculine world of fishing, fishing, fishing and a little drinking.

With the Greymouth bar internationally famous for ruthlessly taking the life and vessel of any man rash enough to risk it's waters during a storm, the only the hardiest souls work the waters from Greymouth, but the rewards can be immense. Most of the fishing is to the south of the Grey and the bigger boats all work out of Nelson, so these are small tough crews with boats of similar stature. One family who live at Cobden on the other side of the river have made many fortunes fishing out of here. Talleys and Westfleet have processing facilities at the far end of the wharf, and many of the smaller fishing boats anchor on the Blaketown side of the inlet.

Coal, being a major industry on the West Coast, is still barged out of the Greymouth wharf, coming by rail from nearby mines. The wharf was a major site for the Great strike of 1913, when workers from coal, sea and watersiding unions campaigned for better conditions here and around the country. Greymouth Coal Heritage Park has been installed on a grassy part of the floodwall, a resting place for several relics of earlier coaling days.

Outsiders who venture into the one or two remaining drinking establishments on the wharf will find the characters colourful as ever and the conversation lively and challenging although the most famous of these pubs, the Shakespeare, may have become a backpackers Hostel. Some-time mayor and long time Council employee Kevin Brown set up a Museum down here for the Greymouth Historical Society, in the old County Council building, it's treasures are as rich as the waters offshore, however earthquake concerns closed it in 2017. Across the road, the Harbour Board still operates from the sturdy stone premises erected for them in 1884.

Civilisation: Twenty Places on the Edge of the World

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  • Fishing

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Coal Creek Walkway

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