Blackball and Brunner

The most famous building in Blackball is undoubtedly the pub called Formerly the Blackball Hilton.  Built in 1910 it was named The Dominion.  In the 1970s the owners changed the name to The Blackball Hilton, as the main street is called Hilton after one of the early mine managers.  However, a threat of legal action from the overseas Hilton Hotel chain caused the name to be changed by adding “Formerly” to the title.

Formerly the Blackball Hilton

The town evolved around mining and rose to fame in 1908 when the miners went on strike for three months to extend the allocated lunch break from 15 mins to 30 mins.  The miners were taken to court and fined, and from this strike New Zealand's Labour Party was formed inside the hotel.  The West Coast weather brought the strike to an end.  In May the early winter rain flooded two other mines which were used to replace the lost production of Blackball and the pumps couldn't cope.  Several days later the Company agreed to all the strikers demands and work resumed again. 

Museum alongside the hotel, telling the story of the 1908 strike

Midmorning we packed a picnic lunch and set off to find Lake Brunner – somewhere we hadn't been before.  The rain as coming down, but it is the West Coast, after all.  Strangely enough, the locals had told us that there hadn't been any rain for weeks, so they certainly welcomed it. 

Arriving at  Iveagh Bay  we parked up at sightseers and day trippers car parks.   That was handy, we had a lovely lake view.   A group of youngsters were having a fine old time frollicking in the lake, and one of the Mums told me that the lake temperature that day was 21C, and it can sometimes rise to 25C!  . 

Water babies

The rain came down again and we ate our picnic lunch in the car, watching as a group of boys had a friendly water fight pushing each other off the surf ski.  There was much hilarity going on as one after the other were pushed off and climbed back on again.  There is a Freedom Camping Area across from the car park, with room for about a dozen vans, with a two night maximum stay. 

Another lake view

On the way back we took a detour to the Brunner Mine Memorial.  Early morning of 26th March 1896, mine workers tried to coax the team of pit ponies into the mine.  The horses reared and kicked and ran back to the stables, and would only enter the mine when they were blind folded and led in backwards.  At 9.30am there was a loud explosion  deep within the mine, flames and smoke billowed out, and 65 men lost their lives, including the reluctant pit ponies.  Because the company owned their homes, many families faced eviction.  Across the country, New Zealanders were moved by this tragedy and raised 32,000 pounds to help the families.

Some of the old mine buildings are still standing are across the river, with the bridge connecting both sides still in use.  Robin zeroed in on the statue of the miner across the river bank.  Last time we were down this way we explored the buildings still standing on the opposite side of the river.

Old Brunner Mine

Everyone who knows Robin knows he likes to have a good supply of caps to wear.  He had seen a West Coast one in the Blackball Inn so I went to get one for him while he was having a little snooze in the afternoon.  That should keep him happy.

His new cap