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The Murchison earthquake postcards of Hugh & G. K. Neill Ltd
- by Steve McLachlan
On 17 June 1929, at 10:17 a.m., a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the northern South Island. It was felt in cities and towns all over New Zealand, but it was half a day before authorities realised that the worst hit region was the top of the South Island. The first reports of serious damage came from Greymouth, Nelson and Westport. In Greymouth most chimneys were destroyed and gas, water and sewage pipes had broken. In Nelson, shop windows had broken and chimneys had collapsed. At Nelson College the tower had fallen and dormitory roofs had been smashed by falling stonework. Fortunately no-one was in the dormitories at the time. It was the worst since the 1855 Wellington earthquake, and the first to cause a large number of deaths (17). The earthquake centre was in the Lyell Range, just west of Murchison, and thus the earthquake became known as the 1929 Murchison earthquake.
The Dunedin photographic company of Hugh & G. K. Neill sprang into prominence with their 1925 appointment as official photographers of the New Zealand & South Seas International Exhibition held in Dunedin in 1925-26. They produced a large series of postcards for the exhibition from their premises at Camera Corner 93 George St, not far from the Octagon in central Dunedin. By 1929 the company had moved a few shops northwards to the Corner of George and St Andrews Streets.
For the 1929 Murchison Earthquake they produced another long series of postcards showing scenes from Greymouth, Westport and Nelson. None are known from Murchison itself or other inland areas, so it seems likely that Neill’s photographer only visited those areas accessible by boat.
- Download a .pdf of this list -
Compiled by Steven McLachlan
Hugh & G. K. Neill 1929 Murchison Earthquake Postcard list |
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Number |
Caption |
Additional Details |
Images |
Total of 22 listings |
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N755 |
Shop Front Collapsed at Greymouth |
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N756 |
Backyard of House at Greymouth. |
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N757 |
Razed Chimneys at Greymouth |
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N758 |
A car in Difficulties, Greymouth. |
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N759 |
Damaged Business Premises Greymouth |
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N760 |
Quarry at Cobden. |
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N761 |
Near Blaketown bridge, Greymouth. |
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N762 |
Collapsed Chimney at Greymouth. |
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N763 |
Classroom at Nelson College. |
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N764 |
Debris of Tower at Nelson College. |
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N765 |
Northern Front of Nelson College. |
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N766 |
Western Entrance, Nelson College. |
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N767 |
Wall of Masonic Hotel. |
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N768 |
Damage to shop in Hardy St, Nelson. |
 |
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N769 |
Earthquake ?? Tower Nelson College N.Z |
 |
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N769 NZ |
Image of Clock Tower Nelson College | ||
N770 |
Debris of the Tower at Nelson College. |
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N771 |
Chimney Stack, Griffins Mill, Nelson. |
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N772 |
Pillar weighing one ton. |
 |
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N773 |
Post Office Westport. |
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N774 |
Betts Garage Westport. |
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N775 |
Interior Post Office Westport. |
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