MAORI CREEK AKA DUNGANVILLE
MAORI CREEK
Maori Creek is an old mining settlement that became a thriving community.
As it grew the residents wanted to change the name to stop it being confused with another nearby district of Maori Gully.
The name of the settlement was changed to Dunganville in the 1860s.
Dunganville was named after westland councillor, Peter Dungan.
In its height Dunganville had about 600 residents consisting of miners, their families and other residents that provided services to the community like the teacher and storekeepers.
For several decades the community of Dunganville sustained a variety of local businesses.
The town consisted of the New River Hotel with a butcher attached to the side of it, a barber, a store, a church a school and even a boot maker.
Maori Creek,oficially named Dungamville, in 1882. Coutesy of Greymouth History House.
Dunganville Town Map courtesy of Greymouth History House
The people that lived there were community minded and enjoyed gardening giving them the reputation in the West Coast as being the most Community Minded and generous with their fundraising efforts.
Every year they would raise money for the local hospital in Greymouth by holding a ball putting on coaches so people could come from other parts.
They raised the most money for the hospital for many years.
They also took great pride in their townships appearance and created flower and vegetable gardens.
As the gold findings subsided and people started leaving for greener pastures the last family left were the Tibbles.
Today you will find no sign, not one remnant of the Town of Dunganville.
The decendant of Tibbles says this is progress.
The progress he refers to is modern machinery, heavy duty excavation and digging creating the open cast mine.