Hokitika Customhouse is an historic building in

Hokitika Hokitika is a town in the West Coast region of New Zealand's South Island, south of Greymouth, and close to the mouth of the Hokitika River. It is the seat and largest town in the Westland District. The town's estimated population is as of ...

on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. The

West Coast Gold Rush The West Coast Gold Rush, on the West Coast of New Zealand's South Island, lasted from 1864 to 1867. Description The gold rush populated the area, which up until then had been visited by few Europeans. Gold was found near the Taramakau River i ...

of 1864 established Hokitika as an important regional town and port. The first customhouse was erected on Gibson's Quay, where the current

Department of Conservation An environmental ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for the environment and/or natural resources. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of the Environment ...

annex stands, in July 1865. It was enlarged the following year. The current building was erected by the Public Works Department in 1897 at a cost of £400 to a design by John Campbell. After the Hokitika port closed in 1954, the building was no longer needed as a custom house, and was used by the Ministry of Works. In 1985 it was taken over by the local council and shifted to its present site, where it was officially reported in March 1990. Customhouse Hokitika 1898

The Customhouse is a small plain building clad in rusticated weatherboards, with Queen Anne influences. The Customhouse is registered by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust as a Category I structure, with registration number 1700.

References

Heritage New Zealand Category 1 historic places in the West Coast, New Zealand 1890s architecture in New Zealand Customhouse John Campbell (architect) buildings {{NewZealand-struct-stub