An early European explorer, Arthur Dudley Dobson, observed Maoris on the north side of the Grey River had a good sized Pa, about where the Cobden quarry is located.

[6] The French navigator Jules Dumont d'Urville, sailed along the West Coast of the South Island in 1827 in the warship, Astrolabe and made reference to the prominent, pyramid shaped limestone outcrops at the base of the Rapahoe Range known locally as the 'Twelve Apostles'.

[5] Thomas Brunner and Charles Heaphy left Nelson in 1846 to explore the West Coast and arrived at the Twelve Mile just north of Rapahoe in a weary state where they were fortunate to meet a group of friendly Māori who supplied them with food and shelter.

Although they gave an unfavourable report of the area on their return to Nelson, only a few years passed before authorities became interested in the small settlement on the north side of the river.

[5] After James Mackay completed the sale of the West Coast with the Māori Chiefs in 1860, his mission was then to return to Nelson.

Both parties arrived at the Grey River about the same time and after inspecting the area and checking the people already in residence, Superintendent Saunders decided it should be given a name.

Saunders was a keen follower of English politics and decided he would give the name of 'Cobden' to this place, honouring Richard Cobden.

[8] At a public meeting held at the Greymouth Town Hall in June 1883, it was decided to proceed with the building of a bridge and finally end 20 years of dangerous and unsatisfactory crossing of the river.

[10] By 1916 the kauri superstructure was showing signs of deterioration and in March 1916 a contract was accepted for its replacement in Australian hardwood from Mr H. Bignall of Greymouth, costing £14,320.

Three piers in the main channel , where the limestone is up to 160 feet below the river bed, were founded on 66 foot long prestressed concrete piles.

Michael Aynsley Connelly, MP Minister of Works and Development and Chairman of the National Roads Board.