Bank of New Zealand

The BNZ building in Shantytown depicts the more permanent structures that were built in the small towns on the West Coast. The pioneer bank agents were not so lucky. George Preshaw, agent for the Bank of New South Wales , was here during the first days of the rush and had only a pair of saddle bags to base his banking operation in. In November 1864 he sent out a shipment of 350 ounces of gold (about 9 kilograms) which he purchased from miners at the Greenstone diggings - the first place to rush to on the West Coast. Today the gold would be worth $NZD654,500