The School of Mines in
Reefton, New Zealand (1887–1970) was one of a number of mining schools set up to teach the science of mining during the 19th century gold rush. Like the
Thames School of Mines it is a
Heritage New Zealand Category 1 listed historic building.
History
The Reefton Mining Institute was formed in March 1885. In the same year
Professor James Gow Black from the
University of Otago commenced lecturing there and an application was made to the government for a School of Mines building; land was granted in Shiel St. The building was opened in 1887.
The purpose of the school was to teach the science related to mining, both theory and practice.
Subjects such as mathematics, surveying, chemistry and assaying were taught.
Directors of the School
* Thomas Fenton, 1886–1890
* John Joseph Woodmass Lee, 1899–1902
*
Thomas Otto Bishop
Hon. Thomas Otto Bishop MLC (1877 – 1 May 1952) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.
Biography
He was appointed to the New Zealand Legislative Council in 1943, and was Speaker from 15 March 1950 until it was abolished on 31 ...
, 1902–1903
*
John Henderson, 1903–1911
* John Francis McPadden, 1911–1915
* John Herbert Williamson, 1915–1917
* Sydney Arthur Alexander Fry, 1917–1919
* John Francis McPadden, 1919–1920
* John Joseph Woodmass Lee, 1920–1927
* Lionel William Stevens, 1930–1938
* Leslie Clifton, 1938
* William James Bolitho, 1938–1970
Other Schools of Mines were set up in
Coromandel,
Waikato,
West Coast West Coast or west coast may refer to:
Geography Australia
* Western Australia
*Regions of South Australia#Weather forecasting, West Coast of South Australia
* West Coast, Tasmania
**West Coast Range, mountain range in the region
Canada
* Britis ...
,
Nelson and
Otago
Otago (, ; mi, Ōtākou ) is a region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately , making it the country's second largest local government reg ...
.
The school closed in 1970 when the then director Jim Bolitho retired. The building was then used by the St John's Ambulance from 1972 to 1989 when the Reefton School of Mines Historic Reserve was created.
Current status
Since 1990 the building has been registered by
Heritage New Zealand as a Category I structure, with registration number 263.
See also
*
List of historic places in Buller District
References
West Coast Gold Rush
Buildings and structures in the West Coast, New Zealand
1880s architecture in New Zealand
Heritage New Zealand Category 1 historic places in the West Coast, New Zealand
Gold mining in New Zealand
Educational institutions established in 1887
Educational institutions disestablished in 1970
Reefton
1887 establishments in New Zealand
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