The New Zealand Historic Places Trust has put a stop to treasure hunters who descended on a site in Greymouth where an old building was recently demolished.
The building, occupied by Selwyn Traders when it was demolished, was built in 1897 on the site of the Melbourne Hotel (the first pub built in Greymouth) which was destroyed by fire 1894.
Several frolickers had sifted through the site, taking bottles and ceramics without permission before police moved them on May 17.
The Historic Places Trust today asked that all items removed be handed in to police.
Archaeologist Dr Matthew Schmidt said the site was protected by the Historic Places Act and all artifacts were the property of the landowner, the Mawhera Incorporation, and should be returned.
“Anyone who was on that site was committing a criminal offense but I’m hoping people will be honest enough to realize their mistake and hand over any artifacts that they may have claimed,” Dr Schmidt said.
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