Holmes Wharf Oamaru
Holmes Wharf in Oamaru. A day trip to Waimate yesterday included a few stops along the way, including strolling this historic wharf. Oamaru became a major port town, but from the 1860s the harbour was notorious for being dangerous, with over 20 ships wrecked and many more stranded. In the 1880s the north mole was built, offering protection from the northerly surges. It was replaced by Holmes Wharf when it was constructed in 1907. Named after James Stuart Holmes, the harbour board chairman at the time, ships up to 10,000 ton were able to use it. It was last used by cargo vessels in 1974 and now is a lovely old wooden structure with rusted rails and find the enormous old rusted chain sitting in the sea, amongst the rocks at the end.
