Infants Creek (Shantytown), Greymouth, Grey District, West Coast Region, New Zealandi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Infants Creek (Shantytown) | Creek |
| Greymouth | - not defined - |
| Grey District | District |
| West Coast Region | Region |
| New Zealand | Country |
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
42° 32' 2'' South , 171° 10' 56'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
It is not often on Mindat a historic mining site comes with its own theme park.
Gold was discovered on the beaches at Paroa in 1866, and miners moved inland searching for its source. Several sites within the area surrounding Rutherglen saw activity up to around the outbreak of the Great War. Gold was found within a clay layer bordering streams. It was never a rich field, providing tucker (food) money only. Infants Creek was one minor site across this area, now part of the Shantytown tourist attraction, 10 kilometres south of Greymouth, and marked off State Highway 6.
Only minor information was found relating to Infants Creek. In 1872, Ryan and Co. were reported to be mining on a high terrace at the top of Infants Creek. The wash (as it was sometimes called) was thick with gold all through it, with water also being used to carve away clay from a cliff.
Also in 1872, it is reported that Paulsen and Co. were sluicing near Saltwater Creek, with a head race taken from Infants Creek.
Shantytown is next to the former gold diggings, and was established in 1971 as a local tourist attraction. Thirty Victorian era buildings have been moved from various locations in the region to the site, now housing shops and historical displays. There are also steam train rides, a foundry, sawmill, Chinatown display, hologram theatre, hydro mining demonstrations, gold panning opportunities, period photographs taken of guests in costumes, short rainforest walks, and most importantly a New Zealand themed mineral specimen museum.
Shallow gold diggings can be seen a short walk from the large water wheel, and are found along the creek. They are not particularly impressive, covered in moss and leaf litter, reclaimed by the thick temperate rainforest after over one hundred years of dis-use. More mining activity can be seen at the end of the steam train trip further up the creek, however, this area has been altered to a certain degree for tourist purposes.
Ideal if you have a family in tow, bored at looking at old mine sites.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Native Gold Formula: Au |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Native Gold | 1.AA.05 | Au |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| Au | Gold | |
|---|---|---|
| Au | ⓘ Native Gold | Au |
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to
visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders
for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.
Infants Creek, Greymouth, Grey District, West Coast Region, New Zealand