Northern Buller Museum - Granity

Granity (used to be Grannity) is a special town, or rather strip of beach between the steep bush covered hills and the Tasman Sea, where miners have been making their homes for over 150 years.

Necessarily, the town is stretched along the road, virtually connected with the next door town of Ngakauwau, and Millerton on the plateau above. Nearby towns of Hector and Karamea further north are considered part of the same community due to the dwindling population of each. Granity has a population of about 230, including several accommodation houses, a theatre called the Lyric, and apparrantly more than it's share of eccentric characters.

The Northern Buller Museum is home to much of the archive and memorabila of this mining community, it's importance only amplified by the sure and steady erosion of the coast, now threatening properties and probably the road too. The museum is on Torea Street next to the Coke ovens related to historic mining operations. More mining history can be seen up at Millerton. There used to be a rail incline for getting the product down the hill here, similar to the one at Denniston but not as steep, part of it is now a walking track.

Stockton opencast mine is still operational in the hills behind Millerton, but has changed hands several times and is subject to protest by environmental interests.

Image Credits: Grannity, binns and incline, New Zealand, by Muir & Moodie studio, Grannity incline, New Zealand, by Muir & Moodie studio. Te Papa