Denniston Mine – Westport

In its time Denniston was one of the most isolated and difficult mining towns to live in the country. The current road was not built until 1902, with the first access being either up a steep pack track or in a coal wagon up the Incline.

The fact that former inhabitants remember it fondly, and that people still choose to live there, speaks volumes for its past social values and enduring mystique.

Premium coal mined from a lonely landscape in the clouds

For many decades Denniston was New Zealand’s largest producing coal mine, yielding a premium quality coal from underground mines. The coal was loaded into railway wagons and lowered by cable down an extremely steep incline railway: a remarkable feat of engineering.

The miners and their families endured a life ‘living on the edge’, exposed to the elements on a barren windswept plateau. The isolation and difficult living conditions forged a close-knit community.

As the demand for coal declined the operation at Denniston was gradually reduced. In 1967 the railway closed and production declined. In 1995 Coalcorp (now Solid Energy) ceased mining at Denniston. Private coal mining continues on the plateau.

Today Denniston’s significance is reflected by its status as a Category 1 Historic Place.

Denniston is 18 km northeast of Westport. From Westport, follow SH67 north for 15 km. Turn right at Waimangaroa onto the road to Denniston.

There is a easy short walk 15mins return to the Brakehead which was built to allow the coal to be brought across the mountain side and that is well worth doing. Also you will find a walk bridge around the front to the viewing platform so that you can see the actual include from where the coal was taken down to the bottom and how the people that worked there actually rode up to work in the mines.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Make sure you were good footwear and be well aware of the weather it can change quickly and can be very cold at the top as it is open to the weather in most places. Take food and water also if you want to stop and enjoy the scenery.

This board shows you the community and where in relation the shed and steel framed house fitted in to our pasts history of Denniston.

House foundations beside carpark and remains of old building where you can read more about the miners here at Denniston

These two buildings used to be a workshop that was right beside the Directors Quarters you can see in the previous image.

Information Board about Cascade Creek which is further up the side of the mountain.

Board showing how the operation of the mine rail was build and how the carts where transported up empty and down full of coal on the steep incline and in any weather.

Part of the mechanism that work the rail mine built in the 1900's.

This gives you detailed information about how the changes were built and constructed.

Boards that are displayed to document the history of the mine operations and miners.

Building of the hopeway during 1954.

Remains of old tracks and chimney where buildings were placed for workers on the mines including children.

Information of the haulage system for the mining of the coal cut frorm Denniston.

Clipping and Weighing Board Information

Reminders of past history here at Denniston, coal carts lay rusted and worn on the tracks that remain.

This board describes how in the early 1900's a surface road was started.

The Banbury mine is higher above this track and then leads down to the Denniston Incline below.

This is called the Brakehead, the arch of rock was built so the track could be brought across the gap allowing coal to be railed down to the incline from the Banbury Mine. Here a community of miners families lived and worked.

Information on the Banbury Mine from 1879-1890

Here you can read about all the different types of jobs that the men were employeed to do at these mines for little pay and poor and unsafe working conditions.