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Story: Southland region

Building the Homer Tunnel

Building the Homer Tunnel

There was no road access to Milford Sound until the 1.2-kilometre Homer Tunnel pierced the mountains that divided the sound from the Hollyford Valley. This photograph was taken soon after work started, in 1935. The war interrupted work, and the tunnel was not completed until 1953.

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Southland Museum and Art Gallery

Reference: 2004.936

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How to cite this page

David Grant, Southland region – Transport, power and other advances, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/20115/building-the-homer-tunnel (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by David Grant, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 May 2015.

Comments

Richard Hockey
05 April 2024
Hi This pic is much later than 1935. Its of the western portal. The tunnel was started in 1935 and they only worked from the eastern end. It was holed through in 1940 but work didn't recommence until about 1950 after WW2. This pic would be about 1950.
Graham Lamond
04 October 2021
I have a few photos of the Milford Sound side when my father and grandfather worked there during the depression. They are mainly of the men relaxing and the huts they lived in. Dad lent quite a few others to a university student doing a thesis on work schemes during the depression about 1985 and they were sadly never returned.
Fergus Pearce
28 March 2016
Hi Vicki I remember meeting Owen at some stage when he was in new Zealand and being told he was my father's cousin. The story about Owen was that he was working in the tunnel when the breakthrough came and tunnelers from both ends met.There were many dignitaries there and they were to march thru and be the first people to travers the tunnel. Well when the break through came Owen jumped thru the hole, ran to the end of the tunnel and became the first person thru. Met an Auntie Mary who I believe was Owen's mum.
Vicki Hodge
02 January 2015
Hi there, I am researching my great Uncle Owen Pearce. My mother had a photo of him emerging as the first person through the homer Tunnel when it was being built. I was wondering if you have archival photos of the construction of the Homer Tunnel. I would like to have a copy for my family history. I was also wondering if you had any newspaper articles regarding the opening of the Homer Tunnel or any other references to Owen Pearce who worked on the Homer Tunnel. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you kind regards Vicki Hodge (nee Stokes, mothers maiden name Pearce)