Denniston

Posted by jamesy (christchurch, New Zealand) on 24 May 2009 in Architecture.

After a quick trip to Westport or as quick as can be with a caravan behind the car. We made camp grabbed lucnh and decided to go for a trip up the windy road to Denniston.
Denniston was an old coal mining area and was famous as at one time had the steepest coal railway in the world. It was a huge place with up to 3000 people at one stage. It is now a ghost town and only has one habitable building in the place plus a Museum. The last Full time resident only moved of the hill in the early 1970's so it has really disappeared very quickly.
One of the amazing things about this place is that it has no graveyard as it is all rock and they couldn't dig holes to bury people.
another amazing fact is that early settlers used to have to ride up in the coal carridges as there was no road. either that or walk up a very steep hill. some people hated the mode of transport that they didn't come off the hill for 20years!!! everything was carted up in empty coal carridges including all building materials, groceries, linensand household furniture

this is a photo of the map. I don't know whether it will be of much use whether you can read it but it gives an idea of the steepness and where things were

I really enjoy taking photos and would appreciate your feedback so that I can learn as I go. I particularly enjoy photographing birds animals and landscapes