Ross Goldfields Information & Heritage Centre

Established in the 1860s, Ross is an historic West Coast town located in the Westland District on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. The township lies 20 minutes drive south of Hokitika airport on State Highway 6 and 46 kilometres north-east of Harihari, State Highway 6 passes through Ross on its route from Ruatapu south to Pukekura, Harihari, and further south, the Franz Josef Glacier.

With a population of 297 (2013 census) there is little to suggest that Ross once had a population of over four thousand . Ross was once “The Ballarat of Westland” and the Ross Flat was “the richest piece of alluvial ground in New Zealand”

The Information Centre is located on the south end of Aylmer Street and along with Information for travellers hosts a well stocked gift shop selling everything from gold jewellery to postcards, there is a good range of tea towels, N.Z. made possum merino the range includes cardigans, jerseys, scarves, gloves and hats.

In the Information Centre there is a small museum which includes a replica of New Zealand’s largest gold nugget “The Hon Roddy” which was discovered in Ross in 1909. Ross Gold Town an award winning DVD plays continually, there are many models, photographs and all things relating to “Ross’s great history.

Research facilities are available; there are mining, cemetery records, and photographs. We ask if you want to do some research that you book in ahead as we have limited time and staff in the busy season.

You can buy your own pan and head up to the Doc controlled public fossicking at Jones Creek and search for gold or if time is short gold pan at the Centre. Hire pans and shovels are also at the Centre.

Around the Centre there are a couple of Historic building which are free to enter, these are The De Bakkers Cottage an original miner’s residence and the old Ross Jail, and also St Patricks Church across the road.