[2] Reefton man George Rich Wylde (1858-1942), son of James Wylde, brought samples of Edison and Swan electric lamps back from a visit to Victoria, Australia returning on 8 January 1883 and a public meeting was called to consider an electricity generating and distribution enterprise for Reefton.

[5] The decision to build a power station was taken in the same year, following a demonstration of electric lighting in four Reefton hotels.

[6] The power station turbine was run by water supplied from the Inangahua River via two tunnels and a headrace flume.

[2] The Reefton Power Station was recognised by Heritage New Zealand as a Category 2 Historic Place on 30 August 1990 (List no.

[7] Parts of the original structure remain and are accessible via a walking track,[8] and there are plans for restoration of the site.