As part of the redevelopment process Shantytown is researching stories about West Coast people.  Do you have stories, photos or memorabilia from the West Coast?  If so, we would be pleased to hear from you.

At the present time research is focused on the following areas:

• Photographs of West Coast people.

• Stories about tangata whenua and the gold-rush.

• Stories about the gold-rush and people's experiences during that turbulent time.

• The difficulty and dangers of travelling to and around the West Coast.

• The difficulties and hardships suffered by some families.

• Stories about people and events in the district near Shantytown (Paroa, Rutherglen, Marsden, Dunganville).

• Law & order.  Was your ancestor a policeman?  Or did they run into trouble with the law?

• Sawmilling.  Did your ancestor work in a sawmill?  Were they involved in any accidents?

• Health and medical.  Was your ancestor a midwife, nurse, doctor or patient?

• West Coast inventions.  Did your ancestor invent something?

• West Coast heroes, for example the life-saver Alexander Beveridge, Richard Seddon, sports heroes.

• West Coast poems, songs and other literature.

• West Coast characters and interesting life stories, particularly those of minority immigrant groups such as Chinese, Swedes and Germans.

• Odd happenings and funny stories. 

Send a message here to our researcher Julia Bradshaw curator@shantytown.co.nz and become involved in our plan to tell real West Coast stories about real people.