Storekeepers were important people on the goldfields

They frequently gave credit to miners who thought they were onto a good claim (known as grubstaking) as well as acting as postal agents and gold buyers.
Patrick Griffen from Ireland opened the Beehive store in Greymouth in 1865.
The Shantytown Beehive Store is important because its the place where all the old fashioned lollies can be found. Ice-creams are another popular feature of the Beehive