Brunner Coal Mining Precinct
Reconstructing
the past …
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Site management is coordinated through the Brunner
Industrial Site Coordinating Committee (BISCC)
comprised of DOC, Grey District Council, Historic
Places Trust (HPT), and other community
stakeholders
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Brunner Mine Industrial Area is comprised of the
bridge, Brunner Mine site (Taylorville side of the Grey
River) and Tyneside site (on the railway - Brunnerton
- side of the river)
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Bridge owned and administered by the Grey District
Council
The Site
“ The
Brunner mine was one of New
Zealand’s earliest, opened in 1864.
“A
former coal mining site on the west
coast of the south island
“ Roads
along each side and rail service
through the centre of the site.
Site plan
History
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For 12 years mine output was barged 13 kilometres
down the river to the port of Greymouth.
Other mines opened along the Grey River and by the
early 1870’s the Brunner coalfield was the largest
producer in New Zealand.
In the 1870s’ the government public works and
immigration programme developed a rail line to the
port.
A bridge was required to link the Brunner mine with
the railway.
The bridge, unusually, was not designed for steam
locomotives but rather as “a comparatively light
inexpensive” structure. Horses hauled the full-size
railway wagons.
The railway to Brunner officially opened on 7
April 1876
“ At 4.00 am on 28 July 1876 the bridge – still
under construction - collapsed.
“ The enquiry absolved the contractor and the
design engineers but local Resident Engineer
of the PWD, Mr McArthur, was allocated
some of the blame.
“ The wreckage was salvaged and the rebuilt
bridge opened for traffic on 11 April 1877.
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First bridge across the Grey River
“ Catered for both road and rail traffic on a
shared deck.
“ Designed by the Engineer-in-Chief of the
Public Works Department, John Carruthers
and built by E. B. Garvin.
“ Owned and operated by the Government.
“ Enabled significant increases in mine
productivity
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Production at the Brunner
and nearby Coal-pit Heath
mines peaked in 1892 when
181,075 tonnes of coal were
won.
“ Railway wagons at the time
carried six tons (30,000
wagon loads), 100 per day
passing over Brunner bridge.
“ Tolls were instituted in 1879
but were abolished seven
years later following strident
and prolonged protests from
users.
Many of the miners who worked at the
Wallsend mine lived in Taylorville and had to
walk across the bridge at the beginning and
end of each shift.
“ A walkway constructed above the ‘box girder
trusses’ to separate foot traffic from freight on
the railway and dray deck below.
“ Walkway remained in use until the mid
1920s.
“ Lighting installed 1889.
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Coal production ended
in May 1921 when
accessible seams were
worked out.
The bridge had been
allowed to deteriorate to
a poor condition and the
Railways wanted to
remove it.
After strong local protests, ownership was
transferred to the Brunner Borough Council
on 18 May 1923.
“ Extensive refurbishment was carried out and
the cables were replaced in 1925-26.
“ By 1961 the bridge had again deteriorated so
badly that it threatened with closure.
“ Local protests resulted in major
refurbishments being carried out during 196364, and again in 1969 and 1977.
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During 1977 the heritage values of the
Brunner mine site came to the attention of
Historic Places Trust
“ Work began on conserving the ruins and
developing the site for visitors.
“ 1978 HPT commenced vegetation clearance
and conservation work
“ Brunner bridge closed to vehicles after the
opening of the Stillwater bridge on 29
September 1978.
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Description
90 metre span suspension bridge.
“ Wooden box girder construction with splayed
suspension cables.
“ First such bridge designed and built under the
control of the Public Works Department.
“ restricted dimensions of the carriageway
limited the size of motor vehicles that could
cross it.
“ Local service buses were specially
constructed with reduced height and width so
that they could safely use it.
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Statement of Significance
Parts of the Brunner site are of international
importance (coke ovens) and as a whole the
site is of national significance.
“ The bridge’s heritage values, stem from its
unusual design and its physical links to the
historic mining areas on both sides of the
Grey River. These areas once comprised
New Zealand’s largest worked coal field. It
was the first suspension bridge planned and
built by the Public Works Department. The
original contractor was E. B. Garvin.
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It was also unusual in that it was designed as
a railway bridge for the government railways,
a function it served from 1896 until 1921
before being handed over 2 years later to the
Brunner Borough Council.
“ It is now an integral and necessary part of the
Brunner Mine Industrial Area.
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Fabric
The bridge has nationally significant design
values due to its unusual ‘box girder’ design
“ Timber truss structures supported by raking
stays hung from splayed cross-river
suspension cables.
“ The rebuilt bridge contains few original bridge
components apart from some timber
transoms and cast ‘Bullivant’ cable clamps
that were designed and made in London,
England.
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Remaining fabric
Foundation blocks
“ 2 steel towers
“ 8 timber transoms
“ various ‘Bullivant’
cable clamps
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Little original fabric remains due to frequent
reconstructions and repairs:
“ 1876 after it collapsed prior to completion.
“ Later re-building replaced decayed structural
timber, corroded suspension cables.
“ The ‘box girder’ element was rebuilt in
1963/64 with a steel construction.
“ The appearance of the reconstructed bridge,
particularly the wooden ‘box girder truss
element’ is close to that of the original.
Elements of the Bridge
Cultural significance
There are still strong community associations
with the site. Many people who live in the
area have family connections with those who
worked in the mine.
“ There is a memorial to those killed in the
mine disaster that also serves to recall those
killed in other mining accidents nationally
“ The site attracts some 30,000 visitors
annually.
“ The overall Industrial Area has an Historic
Places Trust category 1 heritage registration.
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“ During
its life the bridge was closed
several times because of concerns
about its safety
“ Usually subsequently re-opened
because of representations from the
local community
Role of Bridge in conservation
area
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Management assessment
report prepared and
endorsed by HPT
“ Bridge retained as a
pedestrian link and key site
element.
“ 1996 Memorial established
on centenary of mine
disaster.
“ Engineering assessment
recommended demolition of
bridge.
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1997:
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1997:
2002:
“ 2000:
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2002:
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2004:
Historic Places Trust Category II
registration No 7399
Brunner Mine site designated a
DoC ‘conservancy showcase’ site
Conservation Plan; M. Kelly
Concept Plan for Brunner Mine
Industrial Area; M. Kelly
Remedial specification; David
Chung; Montgomery Watson Harz,
Consulting Engineers, Greymouth
Bridge re-opened
2003-2204 reconstruction
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Designed by
Montgomery Watson
Harza, Consulting
Engineers
Undertaken by Works
Infrastructure Limited
for the contract sum of
$585,000.
Required complete
removal of the bridge,
including the 2 steel
towers.
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The rebuilding
commenced with the reerection of the rebuilt
towers followed by the
“stringing” and fixing of
the new suspension
cables.
The treated radiata pine
‘box girder trusses’
were then reinstated in
sections.
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First two sections hung from
the cables on the Taylorville
side of the river with the
assistance of a mobile
crane.
“ Remaining sections winched
out from the Tyneside side of
the river.
“ The sections were
progressively bolted together
when the cross-bracing was
correctly aligned.
“ Bolted joints were used on
all the timber work junctions.
Completion - 2004
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Formally
reopened by Hon.
Chris Carter,
Minister of
Conservation on
27 March 2004
before an
audience of
several hundred
people.