Big River Mine, Reefton, Buller District, West Coast Region, New Zealandi

Regional Level Types
Big River Mine	Mine
Reefton	Town
Buller District	District
West Coast Region	Region
New Zealand	Country

The area has some of the most interesting mining relics left in the Reefton district, although it requires an effort to get to. It is part of a two day walk, steep in parts, leaving the Inangahua swing bridge picnic area on State Highway 7 east of Reefton, staying at the Big River Hut overnight, before continuing the second day to the Waiuta ghost-town. You can also return the second day to your car, as there is no transport at either end. Big River can also be reached by a challenging 4 wheel drive track, leaving the Alborn Mine walk trail, 9 kilometres south along Soldiers Road. Allow all day.

Along the way are restored tram tracks, Progress water race, the Cumberland battery site, Golden Lead battery, St George Mine sites on the walk trail, and Merrijig mines if travelling in by car. The Big River mine site contains a restored 1895 era poppet head (one of only two remaining in New Zealand), the steam winding plant/boiler in a red shed, old dam site, old sawmill with Robey engine, cyanide vats, building locations for the town which once contained one hundred people, derelict miner's huts, and other smaller mining relics.

The Big River mine operated from 1882 to 1942, with peak production across 1907 to 1924. The mine was the seventh largest producer for the Reefton district, amounting to 124,060 tons of quartz crushed, for 135,965 ounces of gold, at a grade of 34.1.

William Morton was killed in a fall of stone underground at the mine in 1899. Frank Nankervis was killed in 1909 when gelignite he was setting exploded underground. George Scott was killed in the associated coal mine, that provided coal for the mine site, with a fall of coal in 1916. Charles Cooper (55) was killed in a fall of stone at the No. 4 level in 1934.

Chalcopyrite was reported from the mine, and occasionally molybdenite. The lode was broken, east dipping, with a north-south strike. There were two adits, and a main shaft with nine levels.

The Big River lode was discovered by Hugh F. Doogan in 1880. A company was formed in 1882, but mining was intermittent, due to the isolated location. A road had been constructed into the site by 1886, and this led to the erection of a 10 head stamp mill (foundations can still be seen), water race, and aerial tramway. After some dis-appointing crushing results, mining ceased. In 1897, the tailings were sold to a Mr. McDonald, who erected a cyanide plant, and processed 4,000 tonnes at much profit. The battery house was broken into, and two plates holding gold amalgam was stolen in 1902, during a period of mining inactivity.

Profitable ore at the site was only discovered in 1907. In 1908 the company also purchased a cyanide plant, formerly from the Sir Francis Drake Mine (the cyanide vats can still be seen). The New Big River Gold Mines Ltd worked the mine profitably from around 1908 to 1926. By 1920, it had paid £102,000 in dividends, the mine contained £80,000 of machinery, all provided from only £600 in original capital invested.

D.W. Jones was charged with stealing gold specimen stone, whilst working underground in 1908. He had been approached by Michael Heenan on a street in Hokitika, who told him he planned to report the matter to the police. Jones stated he was being set-up by his enemies. However the telegraph office reported shortly after the meeting that Jones sent two messages: 1) 'Go to hut at once, get bottle of stone, will pay you, say nothing' and 2) Go to my swag, find in pockets gold in tin, and flask of yours, put away from house, and say nothing'. Gold subsequently found in Jone's possession was identified as Big River Mine gold.

Big River Gold Mines Ltd re-opened the mine in 1931, until its final closure in 1942.

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