The idea of Shantytown arose out of a meeting in Greymouth of a group of railway and vintage car enthusiasts in 1968.  The group were keen to preserve West Coast relics and to create a tourist attraction. 

Barney Sutherland, a watchmaker and jeweller, who had an interest in gold-panning as a tourist attraction presented his idea of re-creating an old West Coast town. 

The West Coast Historical and Mechanical Society was formed and soon after work began on the present site.  Over ten thousand hours of labour were donated and the town was formally opened on 23 January 1971.  Shantytown is almost entirely self supporting and receives no operational funding from central or local government.

This replica town of the 1880s is situated on the site of a gold-rush.  About 140 years ago the forest here rang with the sound of picks and shovels as gold seekers swarmed over the area searching for the precious metal.

The setting for Shantytown is appropriate for several reasons.  Most important is its close proximity to historical gold mining sites of the mid to late 1860s.  Although the sites themselves are hidden by regenerating forest the whole area is crammed with history.

Diggings townships, erected in haste, supplied the needs of the gold-hungry miners.  They were abandoned as quickly as they had been built when whispers of new gold strikes reached the miners.

Near Shantytown is the village of Rutherglen which in its heyday boasted ten stores, a similar number of drinking establishments, billiard rooms and at least two dance halls.

To view pictures which show how Shantytown has changed  click here.

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