Patea Port Works

Where else in New Zealand can you find such a varied industrial graveyard?

Once the Patea Freezing Co-Op was South Taranaki's primary employer. It closed in 1982. Wikipedia tells us, "In the 1920s Patea was the largest cheese exporting port in the world. The Grader Cool Store received cheese for grading from all over South Taranaki and as far south as Oroua Downs near Himatangi. After grading it was loaded into coastal ships at the grader wharf for transport to Wellington where it was transhipped into overseas ships for export. The port closed in July 1959." There is a motor camp near the river mouth and on the shore a surf club. Spectacular views of the coast line and the, at times, tumultuous sea can be gained from a lookout above the river mouth.

Image with thanks to Te Papa:

Wharf, Patea, circa 1905, New Zealand, by Muir & Moodie studio, maker unknown. Te Papa (C.013493)