Stables and Feed for horses important

From the late 1860s Cameron and Co. in Hokitika provided both passenger and freight transport between the main towns and also distant mining camps. It was a large operation and Cameron's kept 100 horses in Hokitika along with further horses at change stations along main routes.
The term 'livery' meant that horses and horse-drawn vehicles were available for hire while 'bait' signified that traveller's own horses could be stabled, fed and looked after.
The front of the building at Shantytown is from Camerons' Hokitika stable.