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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name = Millerton
|population_total = 40
|population_as_of = 2006
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = [[New Zealand]]
|subdivision_type1 = Region
|subdivision_name1 = [[West Coast, New Zealand|West Coast]]
|subdivision_type2 = District
|subdivision_name2 = [[Buller District]]
|seat_type = Electorates
|seat = [[West Coast-Tasman]]<br>[[Te Tai Tonga]]
|pushpin_map = New Zealand West Coast
|coordinates = {{coord|41|38|4|S|171|52|38|E|region:NZ|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Millerton''' is a small settlement in the northwestern [[South Island]] of New Zealand in the [[West Coast, New Zealand|West Coast region]]. It is in the [[Papahaua Ranges]], around 33 kilometres by road north of [[Westport, New Zealand|Westport]], via SH67 from Westport to [[Karamea]].

The history of Millerton bears some resemblance to that of [[Denniston, New Zealand|Denniston]], being a town that lived from and for the [[coal]] that was [[Mining|mined]] in the Ranges. Millerton has a population of approx 30-40. It was classified like Denniston as a [[ghost town]] in the 1970s but has had a resident population for several decades. It is possibly New Zealand's only populated hilltop township.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.newzealand.com/travel/getting-to-around-nz/driving-routes/nelson-greymouth-christchurch.cfm/day/4.html|title = Getting Around New Zealand | 100% Pure New Zealand}}</ref>

[[File:G Parkhouse (Firm, Westport) -Millerton, N.Z. New Zealand post card, issued by G Parkhouse, Westport. Phototyped in Saxony (ca 1910) (20988403283).jpg|thumb|Millerton, {{circa|1910}}]]
[[File:Millerton settlement (21119023478).jpg|thumb|Millerton settlement]]

==Mining and incline==
{{Maplink|frame=yes|type=line|text=Map of the Millerton Incline}}
Despite its elevation of 300 metres being considerably lower than that of [[Denniston, New Zealand|Denniston]] (600 metres), the steep grade between the coastline and Millerton still meant that the coal was difficult to get down from the hilltop to the [[Seddonville Branch|coastal railway]] near sea level. The Westport Coal Company built the Millerton Incline in 1891<ref name="solid">[http://www.solidenergy.co.nz/about/our-industry/coal-regions/buller/ Solid Energy]</ref> and the Millerton Mine began production in 1896. Mining at Millerton ended in the late 1960s, as it largely did at [[Denniston, New Zealand|Denniston]].<ref name="solid"/>

The Millerton Incline was a [[Narrow gauge railway|narrow gauge]] ({{Track gauge|2ft|lk=on|disp=or}}) incline consisting of two parallel sets of tracks on which the [[Minecart|coal tubs]] ran, being hauled by rope. Remnants of tracks, trucks, bath house and other installations are still visible.
The Millerton Incline was a significant engineering achievement for its time, and the remains of this incline and its infrastructure are more accessible than those of the more famous [[Denniston Incline]]. The Millerton Incline was used to convey tubs of coal from the mines around the Millerton area to the [[Coal bin|bins]] at Granity, which were once the largest coal loading bins of wooden construction in New Zealand. The bins no longer exist, but the incline remains and can still be seen today.

Further images of Millerton, its ropeways and incline, can be accessed via the 'External links' below.

The Hon. [[William Henderson McIntyre|William McIntyre]] from Millerton was a member of the [[New Zealand Legislative Council|Legislative Council]] from 1921 until he died in 1949, and was known as the ''Father of the Upper House''. A miner from Scotland, he (with his brother) set a record for the coal mined in one shift at the Millerton Mine.

With the Denniston and the smaller Millerton mining operations having ended, the nearby [[Stockton, New Zealand|Stockton]] coalfield is continuing the tradition of West Coast coal. Solid Energy New Zealand has planned to extend the life of the Stockton mining area by opening up the old Millerton Mine workings, albeit as an [[Open-pit mining|open cast pit]].

==Community==
The Millerton [[football (soccer)]] club, known as the Millerton All Blacks,<ref>{{Cite web|date=17 October 2021|title=South Island Soccer Finalists|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TS19320824.2.59.6|website=Papers Past}}</ref> were twice runners-up in the [[Chatham Cup]], New Zealand's knockout football competition, in [[1932 Chatham Cup|1932]] and [[1933 Chatham Cup|1933]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-09-16|title=The West Coast boys from the All Black stuff|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/9163184/The-West-Coast-boys-from-the-All-Black-stuff|access-date=2020-07-17|website=Stuff|language=en}}</ref>

Millerton had its own Lodge of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes (Lookout Lodge No 127 of the R.A.O.B. NZ Constitution of the Grand Lodge of England). The Lodge was opened in 1950 and closed sometime in the mid-1980s. {{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

==Tourism==
Tourists often venture further up the West Coast north of Westport. Originally there was a narrow, steep and winding road to the township, but the steeper section of road has been closed and diverted, going directly to Stockton via 'The Grand Canyon'. Access is now off the new upper road section and is signposted, entering the township via the original road from the north-eastern end of the town. This 'old' road continues through the town and west towards the historic Millerton Incline, the portal and dam (part of an inclined rail system that took coal down to Granity). There are some extensive views here across the rainforest to the coast and north towards the Karamea headland. The closed section of old road can be walked down as far as the Millerton 'Granity Creek' Bridge, from which there are a series of waterfalls to be viewed. There is parking at either end of this walking section. The local community offers maps and information at the local community hall (in the township). There are several short walks in and around Millerton with historic sites and scenic views.

The bathhouse walks are additional trails in this area, and the Bathhouses themselves are of historic value also.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} A creek formed the reservoir dam where the coal miners used to come and bathe after a long day mining, and remnants of the pipework which flowed with hot water heated by the mines still remains at the site. In the township area one can see the mine sites and the incline brake head.{{more citations needed|date=December 2016}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commonscat|Millerton, New Zealand}}
*[http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22300668 G Parkhouse (Firm). G Parkhouse (Firm, Westport): Millerton, N.Z. New Zealand post card, issued by G Parkhouse, Westport. Phototyped in Saxony [ca 1910]. [Postcards of the Wesport and Buller area, collected by William Robert Jones. 1900-1970s]. Ref: Eph-A-POSTCARDS-Jones-03. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.]
*[http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22709500 Coalmining town of Millerton, West Coast. Couchman, Gary: Photographs of coalmining in New Zealand. Ref: 1/2-080267-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.]
*[http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22705775 Lock, Henry Thomas, fl 1885-1910?. Millerton township. Couchman, Gary: Photographs of coalmining in New Zealand. Ref: 1/2-080265-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.]
*[http://natlib.govt.nz/records/23128103 Millerton Incline, Buller district, with coal wagons. Greymouth Evening Star: Photographs of the West Coast. Ref: 1/2-050053-F. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand]
*[http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22583996 Lock, Henry Thomas, fl 1885-1910?: Main rope road, Westport Coal Company works, Millerton, West Coast. Ref: PAColl-D-0806. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.]

{{Buller District}}

[[Category:Buller District]]
[[Category:Ghost towns in the West Coast Region]]
[[Category:1891 establishments in New Zealand]]
[[Category:1960s disestablishments in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1891]]
[[Category:Populated places disestablished in the 1960s]]
[[Category:Rail transport in the West Coast Region]]
[[Category:Railway lines in New Zealand]]

Millerton, New Zealand - Revision history

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