Name applied generally to the portion of the Buller River between the Four Rivers Plain near Murchison, Tasman District, and the western slopes of the coastal ranges near Te Kuha, Buller District. The highway through the gorge (State Highway No. 6) is one of the most impressive scenic drives in New Zealand.
Buller Gorge
Tramping in the Rimutaka and Tararua ranges and a trip to the West Coast
Date: 1914
From: Girdlestone, Hubert Earle, 1879-1918 : Albums relating to surveying, tramping and climbing
Reference: PA1-q-914
Description: Opens with a group of men on a tramp into the valley of the Orongorongo River in the southern Rimutaka Ranges. Included are views of the river and surrounding mountains, in particular Mount Matthews which they climbed posing for a photograph at the Mt Matthews trig station. There are views in the native forest and one looking over the Wainuiomata Valley. One image shows a group of men standing on the Fernside Railway Station labled as the "Mt Hector Party". This probably relates to a group of photographs later in the album recording a tramp in the Taraua Ranges. A group of five photographs records a trip to the Dawson Falls on Mount Egmont. There are views of the road leading to the falls through native forest, the group sitting on a huge rock below the falls, and the falls themselves. The other images in this group show the party on the Mountain, and loaded onto a cart at Eltham. Two pages of views of Days Bay, Lower Hutt, showing individual houses, Croyden School, and coastal scenes. A surveying trip to Kapiti Island. Views of the western cliff face of the island, the caretaker's house and surroundings, a tame deer, nautilus shells, and H E Girdlestone standing beside an 8 inch micrometer on a tripod. Views of the Volcanic Plateau showing Mounts Ruapehu, Ngauruhoe, and Tongariro and the surrounding plains. The departure of the Main Expeditionary Force from Wellington during the First World War. The focus of these images is on the transports moored at the wharves, and the two escorting warships, the Japanese "Ibuki" and the British H M S "Minotaur", in the harbour. A group of women playing golf on the Waiwhetu golf links Family and friends at Eastbourne. Trip to the West Coast and the glaciers. Views of the main road south of Ross passing through heavy native forest, the Franz Josef Glacier and people climbing its ice fields, Mount Tasman, the Toaroha Rapids, and the Fox Glacier. There are also views of the Pelorus River and Bridge, the Buller Gorge, the Buller River, and the bridge on the road between Lyell and Inangahua. A general view of Greymouth where the party stayed with friends whoes two children were photographed driving peddle cars. A southern crossing of the Tararua Ranges. The route was by way of Mount Reeves, then down into the Tauherenikau River valley, along the river, then up to Mount Alpha and along the ridges to Hector and out again along the Waiotauru River to Otaki Forks. There are two photographs of members of the tramping party, as well as general views of the ranges, the rivers, a mountain tarn, and the Waihoanga Bridge. A visit to the Army training camp at Trentham. Photographs of individual soldiers and groups of soldiers and visitors. Three views of a man on horseback and a dog in the Manganuiateo River. Three images of surveyors making observations at a trig station using an 8 inch micrometer. Views of the Southern Alps. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s).
West Coast Mining album
Date: [Circa 1880s to 1912]
By: Divis, Joseph, 1885-1967
Reference: PA1-o-531
Description: Very clear views of West Coast gold and coal mines (mainly in the Reefton subdivision), and mining towns, taken by unidentified photographers, except for one of "Wondrous Waiuta New Zealand" Jos. Divis Photo (p 27). Views on various roads include the Reefton to Blackspoint Road, Reefton to Westport Road, the Buller Gorge, the Maruia Road alongside the Inangahua River, Progress Road, and fording a river near Progress Mill. Images relating to mines include a winter picture of the old Wealth (of Nations) waterwheel covered in icicles; and gold batteries at various stages of development. Gold mines include the Progress Mine, Wealth of Nations Mine, Welcome Mine, the Mountain Battery at Boatman's Creek, the Blackwater Mine and the Globe Mine. Coal mines include views of Lanky's Creek Coal Mine, and the Lanky's Creek to Energetic coal tramway showing new bridges and coal miners. One photograph (p 9) shows several men "beach combing" for gold on the West Coast. There are a number of articles in The West Coast Times, Otago Witness and Otago Daily Times talking about the success or otherwise of seeking gold by this method in the 1860s to 1880s (see Papers Past paperspast.natlib.govt.nz, search under "beach combing" "west coast") Inscriptions: Album page - "To Messrs E & A Spencer with best wishes from D Turnbull, Reefton, N.Z., 13/10/1911, 2/6/1912" Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with dark grey cover, entitled "Photographs" in gold lettering; 19.0 x 27.5 cm
Photographs of scenic views in New Zealand
From: Murray-Oliver, Anthony Audrey St Clair Murray :Photographs and negatives of scenic views in New Zealand
Reference: PAColl-2031-1
Description: Includes images from early New Zealand drawings and prints, Alexander Turnbull Library Quantity: 9 colour photo-mechanical print(s). 31 b&w original photographic print(s) in one folder.
Road through the rock, Buller Gorge, NZ
Date: Between 1910 and 1913
From: Commons family :Assorted negatives, photographs and postcards relating to the Commons family
Reference: PA5-0070
Description: Road through the Buller Gorge showing a horse-drawn vehicle Quantity: 1 b&w photo-mechanical print(s). Physical Description: Photolithograph, 89 x 137 mm Provenance: Donated by Commons family 1976
New Zealand scenery album 2
Date: [Circa 1870s to 1880s]
By: Edmund Wheeler & Son (Firm); Burton Brothers (Dunedin, N.Z.)
Reference: PA1-o-386
Description: Photographs of New Zealand scenery taken by various photographs of whom Wheeler & Son and the Burton Brothers are identified. There are a number of images of Mount Tarawera and surrounds both before and after the eruption on 10th June 1886. A few other images show the volcanic areas around Whakarewarewa and Wairakei in the North Island; all the rest are in the South Island. Two interesting images show people transported across wide rivers by flying fox, one with a woman sitting in the `cage', across a river near Lake Wakatipu (probably Deep Creek or the Shotover, near Skippers), and one with two people crossing the Hooker River. Most of the views of people are distant views, but several near the end of the album show close-up views of men climbing on glaciers with ropes and ice picks. Other - "Apparently only part of an album", note in album register Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with grey card covers, tied with cream tape; 17.5 x 29.5 cm
Jacobsen, Charles Seigmond, fl 1875-1979 : Reminiscences
Date: [ca 1875-1959]
By: Jacobson, Charles Seigmond, active 1875-1959
Reference: Micro-MS-0226
Description: Jacobsen writes of his childhood in the Nelson area, his friends and acquaintances, working as a miner, the 1913 Waterfront strike, his World War I experiences as a Private with the 1st Canterbury Infantry Battalion, working as a commercial fisherman in the French Pass area in the 1930s, and his discovery of uranium in Buller Gorge Includes holograph reminiscences, and typed transcript Quantity: 1 microfilm reel(s) positive.
Tourist Department album 2
Date: [circa 1905 to 1912]
By: New Zealand. Tourist and Publicity Department
Reference: PA1-o-498
Description: Photographs of a range of industries in New Zealand, possibly related to the Christchurch International Exhibition in 1906-1907. Industries include animal related products including wool, from fellmongery to transportation and finally weaving; meat works, including the slaughter house, the mutton cooling room, shipping fozen mutton, the beef cooling room; butter, at the Hautapu Butter Factory, showing butter in the factory, and delivering butter at Ngaruawahia Railway Station; the Waikato Bacon Factory, and pig carcases. Other industries include flax, with scenes showing a flax mill, carting flax to the mill, stripping, washing and drying flax, and also grading hemp and loading bales of it at Auckland wharves; kauri timber industry, from felling the trees, hauling logs by bullock, floating logs over the Wairoa Falls, sorting timber at the mill booms, timber mill on the Wairoa River, and a million feet of sawn timber at the mill. The latter part of the album shows scenes of gold dredging on the Buller Gorge, hydraulic gold-mining at Ross, Westland; coal mining at Brunner; kauri gum diggers and a warehouse storing kauri gum; and finally views of the Sugar Refinery in Auckland, and a warehouse filled with sacks of sugar. Other Titles - New Zealand scenery Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with red cover, leather corners and spine, entitled "New Zealand scenery" in gold lettering; 26.0 x 34.5 cm
Webster album 9
Date: [Circa 1890s]
From: Webster, Kenneth Athol, 1906-1967 : The Webster Collection
By: Edmund Wheeler & Son (Firm); Morris, John Richard, 1854-1919
Reference: PA1-o-520
Description: Album of tourist views of New Zealand and the sub-Antarctic Islands, chiefly taken by John Richard Morris, Jnr, circa 1890s. Places and subjects listed above where identified. The Sub-Antarctic Island views are all of native flora and fauna of the different islands, listed on the images as mollymawks, albatrosses, sea lions, crested penguins and erect-crested penguins On page 32 there is a view of the SS Knight Templar leaving Lyttelton on February 17, 1900, taking about 260 soldiers and 300 horses of the 3rd Contingent "the New Zealand Roughriders" to Durban, en route to fight in the South African War. The wharf is crowded with people seeing the ship off, soldiers lined up alongside the ship, and bunting flying on two ships nearby. Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with black cover; 24.5 x 32.5 cm
Muir and Moodie :Photograph of a fern arch in the Buller Gorge
By: Muir & Moodie (Firm)
Reference: PA7-19-25
Description: Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Ring, James, 1856-1939 :Buller Gorge, West Coast
Date: [ca 1880s-1890s]
By: Ring, James, 1856-1939
Reference: PA7-51-10
Description: View of the Buller River and Gorge. Photograph taken by James Ring. Inscriptions: Photographer's title on negative - bottom left - Buller Gorge. N.Z. 440 J.R. Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: 138 x 204 mm
Fama, Ronald :Photographs of New Zealand scenery, Indian Contingent 1901, Duke of Glouc...
Date: 1901-1934
By: Fama, Ronald Cyril, 1926-
Reference: PAColl-3254
Description: Arrangement: Negatives housed at 1/4-039904 to 039909 Quantity: 7 b&w original photographic print(s).
Scenes of Stewart Island, Westland, Southland and Nelson
Date: [ca 1940s]
From: New Zealand Free Lance : Photographic prints and negatives
By: Raine, William Hall, 1892-1955
Reference: PAColl-0785-1-003
Description: Photographs of Stewart Island, Westland, Southland and Nelson taken circa 1940s for publication in the New Zealand Free Lance. Includes photographs of road construction, towns, rivers, bridges, lakes, mountains and personalities. Quantity: 55 b&w original photographic print(s).
Tyree Brothers (Firm) :Photograph of part of the Buller Road
From: Tyree Studio: Negatives of Nelson and Marlborough districts
By: Tyree Brothers (Firm)
Reference: PA7-25-14
Description: Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Photographs of the South Seas Exhibition and a tour of the South Island
Date: 1925
From: Living, John Frederick, d 1978 :Photographs of the South Seas Exhibition and holidays
Reference: PA1-o-1052
Description: Album recording a motoring and camping holiday through the South Island of New Zealand. This took in the New Zealand South Seas Exhibition in Dunedin and included the West Coast, Otago, and Canterbury. The central part of the album has images of Khandallah, Wellington, and the family home in that suburb. Family photographs include Doug on his Norton Motorcycle, and Jack and Neville similarly posed on a Douglas Motorcycle. Rene and Frank stand at the net holding tennis rackets, and mother has several images with young Joyce. The last part of the album recordes something of a holiday to Auckland where the family camped at Brown's Bay and took a trip to Kawau Island. A group shot on Mt Messanger on the way back and some views of Pukekura Park New Plymouth complete the album Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s).
Morice album 1
Date: [Between 1899 and 1902]
From: Morice, Charles George Frederick, 1868-1966 :Photographs
Reference: PA1-q-162
Description: Views of South African war, showing activities of New Zealand and Canadian troops; many photographs of Afrikaners (including a portrait of Paul Kruger) and Zulu people; photographs of Richard and Louisa Seddon in South Africa, and on board ship en route to coronation of Edward VII in 1901. The album also includes views of Maori officers who travelled to the coronation as part of the New Zealand Army contingent. There are signed photographs of J R Taylor, and H Rees (p 69) Inscriptions: Album page - Charles G. Morice (Ex libris, signature inside front cover) Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with green cover, black leather corners and spine; 28.5 x 37.5
Girdlestone, Hubert Earle, 1879-1918 :A climb up Mount Holdsworth and the mountains of ...
Date: 1911
By: Girdlestone, Hubert Earle, 1879-1918; Daniell, Charles Edward, 1856-1939
Reference: PA1-o-188
Description: Views of the Mangatarera Stream and Mount Holdsworth opens a record of a climb to the summit of Holdsworth. The party consists of six women and about five men. There are views of the stream and the swing bridge leading to the Holdsworth track; several shots of the Mountain House with the climbing party arranged along the veranda, and Mr McGregor's party who had arrived on horseback to fix the water tank; the climbing party grouped in the bush on the way up the mountain and on the open alpine ridges; a surveyors tent in the alpine tussock; the party eating beside the Holdsworth Trig; views of the Tararua Ranges from the summit of Mount Holdsworth. Interspersed among the main image groups are photographs of a trip to Rotorua. This involved a group of people in two motor cars. There are images of the Hamurana Stream and Springs at Rotorua, and of children diving for pennies at Whakarewarewa. Views of mounts Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe, the Mangaehuehu Stream, the Crater Lake and the crater on Ngauruhoe, and mountaineers crossing the ice field on Ruapehu and climbing Ngauruhoe. There is a view of Matterhorn Peak the name of which was changed to Girdlestone Peak in 1922. Two images of a surveyors' camp in the Waimarino Bush. The Tern Arch and Little Hawke's Crag on the Buller Gorge road. A view of Lake Tarawerea from the top of Mount Tarawera. The final photograph is a view along the beach to Pencarrow Head, Wellington. Pasted inside the front cover is a cutting from `The Weekly News', Wednesday, December 26, 1945, entitled `New Zealand's highest memorial' by JWG, describing the renaming in 1922, of Matterhorn Peak (Tongariro National Park) to Girdlestone Peak in honour of Hubert Earle Girdlestone after he was killed in action in August 1918. Source of title - Title supplied by Library Inscriptions: Album page - To Mr and Mrs Daniell with kindest recollections from a very old friend, Hugh Girdlestone, March 1911 Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: Album with brownish green cover, 25 x 20 cm Provenance: The album had been presented to Daniell in March 1911 by Hubert Girdlestone.
Photograph album containing photomechanical views of New Zealand tourist areas
Date: ca 1910
From: Robinson, Mr :Photograph albums containing mainly carte de visite portraits and views of New Zealand
Reference: PA1-f-063
Description: Large format photomechanical tourist views of New Zealand taken by an unidentified photographer, possibly published by Wrigglesworth & Binns in "W & B Series". Places shown are listed above. One photograph shows a young maori woman wearing a feather cloak and a hei tiki, and carrying a mere. Other Titles - Robinson III Album Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s). Physical Description: 430 x 295mm rebound with blue "Library" marbled covers
Second tour in South Island
Date: 1958
From: Finnis, Henry John, fl 1885-1971 : Personal travel diary scrapbooks
Reference: MSY-5713
Description: Finnis describes the Finnis family's second tour of the South Island from leaving Wellington 8 to 22 Apr 1958 with diary entries, brochures, clippings, maps etc. They sailed from Wellington to Lyttelton, drove from Chrsitchurch to Waikuku, to Blenheim via Kaikoura, Blenheim and the Marlborough Sounds, Nelson, Waimea Plains, Kaiteriteri, through the Buller Gorge to Reefton and the West Coast, down to Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers, then back through Lewis Pass and across to Lyttelton and then on to the ferry to Wellington. Quantity: 1 volume(s).
Photographs of the Murchison and Hawke's Bay earthquakes
Date: 1929-1931
From: Furkert, Frederick William, 1876-1949 :Photographs of Hydro schemes and the Murchison and Hawke's Bay earthquakes
Reference: PA1-q-768
Description: Damage to buildings, roads, rivers and landscapes resulting from the Murchison and Hawke's Bay earthquakes Quantity: 1 album(s) Album(s).
Martin (Photographer) :Buller Gorge
Date: [ca 1900]
Reference: PA4-1047
Description: Stereoscopic photograph of Buller Gorge Inscriptions: Backing board recto - right of image - New Zealand Graphic Series; Backing board recto - left of image - Martin - Photo; Recto - beneath image - Buller Gorge Quantity: 1 b&w original photographic print(s). Physical Description: Albumen print