What was initially known as Westland Sawmill Company's Siding, opened for goods traffic on 18 December 1893 when the railway to Hokitika was officially opened. The siding was designated as a passenger stop and named Awatuna on 22 July 1893.
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West Coast Times, 20 July 1895
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19 Aug 1895 – Which comes first the rail or the town?
The way in which, a railway line is able to create a traffic has been very amply proved by the timber trade that has sprung up on the Hokitika-Grey line. For the thirty-one days up to the 9th inst. the Westland Sawmill Company sent 220,000 feet of sawn and planed timber along the line, and the out-put in the future-will be increased, Mr Hornby, the manager, having purchased an engine from the Hokitika Harbour Board for the purpose of drawing logs, thus doing away with horses and a great deal of heavy work. Since this enterprising company commenced operations the place has assumed quite a settled appearance. They have built a commodious dwelling house for their manager as well as some small cottages. Mr Thomas Kelly has erected a handsome seven-roomed house, which is quite an ornament to the place. The Railway department have put up two substantial cottages for the workmen and a small station house, besides making a railway siding. The next requirement for this community will be a school, concerning which the residents will soon place themselves in communication with the Board.
Source : West Coast Times, 19 August 1895
Station Closure
Closed to Passengers - November 1971
Closed to Goods - 23 April 1972
Closed to All Traffic - 30 September 1973
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| Dj3286 crossing Waimea Creek in December 1990 |
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| Waimea Creek bridge, 14 September
2006 |
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| Dbr1213 on the 6 Shunt crossing Waimea Creek on 2 February 1999 |
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| Number 6 shunt hauled by Dbr1213 crosses Waimea Creek on 9 September 2008 |
14
Sep 2011 – Construction of the new Waimea Creek bridge
Heritage Hokitika says it hopes
large parts of the 117-year-old Waimea Creek rail bridge can be salvaged. The
historic bridge is being replaced as part of a Kiwi Rail upgrade of the
Hokitika Industrial Line. Heritage Hokitika secretary Brian Ward said the
company had agreed to ensure at least two sections of the bridge would be
salvaged, at least one of which could possibly be incorporated into the new
Westland Wilderness Cycle Trial. Reefton Crane Hire site co-ordinator Tom
Williams said work started last week on replacing the old bridge. He expected
it would take a couple of months at least to erect the new steel structure. “We
will be driving eight cylinders to a depth of 14m and caps on the top. We will
remove the old structure, which will be replaced with three steel spans. Each
of those will weight 45 tonnes.” Mr Williams said the new bridge would be built
alongside the old one, after which the original bridge would be lifted out in
sections.
Source
: Greymouth Star, 14 September 2011
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| Construction of the new Waimea
Creek bridge, 9 October 2011 |
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8 Dec 2011 - Last Train for Old Bridge - First Train for New Bridge
The old Waimea Creek rail bridge
at Awatuna is no more as the last of the old bridge was hoisted from the water
yesterday (7 December). Reefton Crane Hire and sub-contractors were on the job at 5.30am.
After the last train crossed the old bridge on its way to Westland Milk
Products’ Hokitika factory an hour later, it was all go. Four large cranes —
from 125-tonne lifting capacity down to 25-tonne — kicked into action and
chains swung into position to be coupled for hoisting four 21-tonne sections of
the tired old bridge from where it had stood proud for 117 years. New 40-tonne
steel spans were hoisted in to replace the old, and the job was completed by
the end of the day. The first train is due to cross the new bridge tonight (8 December).
Project manager Bruce McCulloch, of Winton in Southland, said the project was
ahead of schedule despite a few minor hold-ups along the way. “We planned it
well.” Mr McCulloch said site cleanup work should be completed by Christmas.
All is not ended for the old bridge. Part of it may live again, if Heritage
Hokitika is successful in convincing the Westland District Council to support
the repositioning of one of the trusses across the waterway from Gibson Quay,
providing foot and cycle access to Wadeson Island. Heritage Hokitika chairman
Bernard Preston said the part of the old bridge repositioned across the
waterway would be visible to the public crossing the Hokitika Bridge. The
Waimea Creek truss bridge was one of the last of its kind and it would be
fitting historically for it to be clearly visible to the public, Mr Preston
said.
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| The new Waimea Creek bridge, 9 April 2013 |
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| Dc4876 and Dxc5419 cross Waimea Creek
with the Greymouth-bound shunt on 9 April 2013 |
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