MURCHISON EARTHQUAKE
17 JUNE 1929
MURCHISON, WEST COAST, SOUTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND
Shortly before 10.30am on Monday the 17 June 1929, violent shaking was felt almost all over New Zealand. In Auckland, goods on shelves were thrown to the floor. In Hornby in Christchurch a passenger locomotive was forced off the rails and in Wellington, plate glass windows were shattered.
It was obvious that a large earthquake had hit somewhere but in the days before cell-phones and helicopters it took almost 24 hours for New Zealand to find that disaster had struck Murchison, on the West Coast of the South Island.
Damage was widespread with landslides, collapsed bridges and burst dams. An area 30 kms long and 16 kms wide was lifted 40 cms. The Murchison side of the fault line was raised nearly 4.5 metres and moved sideways 1.8 metres. Nelson, Westport and Greymouth were seriously damaged.
Seventeen people lost their lives during the Murchison Earthquake - this site is dedicated to their memory.
For further information see THE MURCHISON EARTHQUAKE.
| BUSCH | Emily Mary Elizabeth Miss | Matakitaki Valley, Murchison | Busch's Slip |
| BUSCH | Jane Mrs (nee REVELL) | Matakitaki Valley, Murchison | Busch's Slip |
| BUSCH | Ronald Samuel Revell | Matakitaki Valley, Murchison | Busch's Slip |
| CHAMLEY | William | Cardiff Bridge Mine, Seddonville (Miner) | West Coast |
| FERGUSON | Thelma Miss | Maruia Valley, Glengarry | Gibsons' Slip |
| GIBSON | Eliza Mrs | Maruia Valley, Glengarry | Gibsons' Slip |
| GIBSON | Leonard Martin Mstr | Mariua Valley, Glengarry | Gibsons' Slip |
| HOLMAN | Lionel Clive Mstr | Lower Maruia Valley | Holman's Slip |
| HOLMAN | Vera Mrs | Lower Maruia Valley | Holman's Slip |
| McALLISTER (McALISTER) | Robert | Glasgow Mine, Seddonville (Miner) | West Coast |
| MOREL | Charles Gustave | Matakitaki Valley, Murchison | Busch's Slip |
| RUSSELL | David | Mokihinui River (Prospector) | Mokihinui |
| RUSSELL | James | Mokihinui River (Prospector) | Mokihinui |
| STUBBS | Arthur Douglas | Golden Bay Cement Office, Takaka | Takaka |
| THOMSON (THOMPSON) | Nellie Agnes (nee BEILBY) | Maruia Valley, Glengarry (Diabetic - died due to lack of Insulin) | Maruia |
| WELCH | John Thomas | Buller Gorge (Died 26 June from injuries received) | Buller Gorge |
| WESTBROOK | Leo Gordon | Maruia Valley, Glengarry | Westbrook's Slip |
The Memorial Cairn at Murchison reads: Murchison Earthquake 17 June 1929 - This memorial is a gift to the people of the Murchison District and marks the transiton to the new millennium.
Presented by the Murchison District Historical & Museum Society. Nelson and the West Coast are included. As they too were affecteed by this event of nature.
Most of the people who lost their lives Murchison were all engulfed by rock falls and slips. And a rock from the actual slip that took their lives has been used as their memorial.
Those who died from the wide area share other plaques mounted here.
FAMILIES I AM RESEARCHING | MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL STUFF | NEW ZEALAND — ON LINE GENEALOGICAL AND FAMILY HISTORY RESOURCES | NEW ZEALAND — YOUNG BOY IMMIGRANT SCHEME 1911 — 1914 | NEW ZEALAND DISASTERS AND TRAGEDIES | NEW ZEALAND MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL INDEXES | NEW ZEALAND LAND WARS — MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGICAL INDEXES | NEW ZEALAND AND WORLD WAR ONE | NEW ZEALAND AND WORLD WAR TWO | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR AND WAR MEMORIALS — BY LOCATION | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR AND WAR MEMORIALS — BY CONFLICT | NEW ZEALAND ROLLS OF HONOUR — MILITARY NURSES | PAKEHA/MAORI TRANSLITERATIONS | PASSENGER LISTS TO NEW ZEALAND | SHAND — FAMILY HISTORY | SOUTH TARANAKI, NEW ZEALAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES | SPONDON, DERBYSHIRE, ENGLAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES | WANGANUI COLLEGIATE SCHOOL 1865 — 1947 | WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY, NEW ZEALAND — GENEALOGICAL RESOURCES