Reefton

The rich veins of gold found in a quartz reef near the town led to its name, originally spelled "Reef Town". Two nicknames in use soon after it was founded were "Rest Town" and "Quartzopolis".[8] The main street, Broadway, was named after West Coast magistrate Charles Broad. The nearby Wealth of Nations mine was named after Adam Smith's book because the gold been discovered by another Adam Smith (no relation).[8]

Crushington gold battery, 1890
(U.S. English, Stamp mill)

Reefton had a population of 927 at the 2018 New Zealand census, a decrease of 129 people (-12.2%) since the 2013 census, and a decrease of 54 people (-5.5%) since the 2006 census. There were 447 households. There were 471 males and 456 females, giving a sex ratio of 1.03 males per female. The median age was 51.9 years (compared with 37.4 years nationally), with 132 people (14.2%) aged under 15 years, 120 (12.9%) aged 15 to 29, 453 (48.9%) aged 30 to 64, and 222 (23.9%) aged 65 or older.

Ethnicities were 90.0% European/Pākehā, 13.3% Māori, 1.0% Pacific peoples, 2.9% Asian, and 2.6% other ethnicities (totals add to more than 100% since people could identify with multiple ethnicities).

The proportion of people born overseas was 11.3%, compared with 27.1% nationally.

Although some people objected to giving their religion, 53.1% had no religion, 32.0% were Christian, 0.3% were Muslim and 1.9% had other religions.

Of those at least 15 years old, 63 (7.9%) people had a bachelor or higher degree, and 246 (30.9%) people had no formal qualifications. The median income was $22,900, compared with $31,800 nationally. The employment status of those at least 15 was that 306 (38.5%) people were employed full-time, 117 (14.7%) were part-time, and 24 (3.0%) were unemployed.[1]

Gold was first discovered near the town in 1866, although the major discovery was made in 1870. An earlier settlement, known as Ross Town, had been established on the opposite bank of the Inangahua River around 1870, but most businesses shifted across the river in 1871 to be nearer the quartz mining.[8] Soon after, the town briefly boasted a population of several thousand. This later dwindled to less than a thousand. Other industries in the town are coal mining, forestry, tourism and angling. A new gold mine is planned to open in 2024, it is expected to employ 100 people.[10]

Locally received radio stations include repeaters of both The Hits from Greymouth and Coast FM from Westport. The Greymouth Star newspaper is also received daily in the town.

Reefton is located on the Stillwater–Westport Line railway, which diverges from the Midland Line in Stillwater. On 29 February 1892, the line was opened to Reefton, but it terminated on the southern bank of the Inangahua River opposite the town. Early in the 20th century, a bridge was built across the river and the present-day station established in Reefton. The line was opened beyond Reefton to Cronadun in 1908, but it was not until 5 December 1943 that the line officially became a through route to Westport, though trains had been operating the length of the line since July 1942. On 3 August 1936, a railcar passenger service began operating in the morning between Hokitika and Reefton utilising small Leyland diesel railcars, but low patronage meant this service ceased to operate all the way to Reefton in August 1938. In the early 1940s, much larger Vulcan railcars were introduced to New Zealand and they provided two services to Reefton: one local service from Greymouth that terminated in Reefton, and a service that ran between Westport and Stillwater to connect with the West Coast Express. In 1967, all passenger services through Reefton ceased. Today, the primary traffic on the railway is coal, with multiple coal trains operating daily.

Located in the Inangahua Valley at an altitude of 194m, Reefton falls under the Köppen-Geiger climate classification of Cfb (Oceanic). At an average temperature of 15.9 °C, February is the warmest month. July is the coldest month, at 6.8 °C. Reefton's average annual temperature is 11.4 °C. On average, snowfall occurs on 1.4 days annually, and an average of 22.1 days per year will exceed 26.7°C (80°F). During an average winter, Reefton can expect to see 47 days of frost.

• 1866 – Gold discovered
• 1888 – Town electricity supply commenced
• 1892 – Railway line opened
• 1908 – Rail line to Cronadun opened
• 1912 – Mine workers locked out[13]
• 1967 – Rail passenger services ceased

The first state school in Reefton was founded in 1878, and there were once 24 schools in the area.[14]

Reefton Area School is a composite (years 1–13) school with a roll of 150 as of March 2020.[15][16] It was formed by the merger of Reefton School and Inangahua College (earlier called Reefton District High School)[14] in 2004.[17]

Sacred Heart School is a full primary (years 1–8) school with a roll of 39.[18] It is a state integrated Catholic school.[19] Both schools are coeducational.

• Marty Banks – rugby union player, born and grew up in Reefton
• Amy Castle – museum curator and entomologist, born in Reefton
• Elisabeth Croll – anthropologist, born in Reefton
• Phill Jones – basketball player, grew up in Reefton
• Edward Smyrk – cricketer, born in Reefton

• 
  Broadway
• 
  Reefton Court House
• 
  Reefton Oddfellows Hall
• 
  Broadway Tearooms & Bakery
• 
  Reefton Roman Catholic Church
• 
  Old Knox Church
• 
  Blacks Point Museum
• 
  Reefton Masonic building
• 
  Reefton Distilling Co.

• Reefton Oddfellows Hall
• 
• 
• 
  Roll of members

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Reefton, New Zealand.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Reefton.

• Reefton i-SITE Visitor Centre
• Department of Conservation – Reefton short walks
• Reefton Area School