This is one of New Zealand's earliest coal mines, first discovered by Thomas Brunner in 1848. The first commercial mine opened in 1864, coal production reached a peak in 1901 then declined rapidly and ceased in 1942. Brunner was also the site of New Zealand's worst mining disaster in 1896 when 65 miners were killed. A monument to those miners now stands beside the road on the north bank of the site and their mass grave is located at Stillwater, a few kilometres up the valley on SH7. Coke and bricks were made here as ancillary industries to coal extraction. The beehive coke ovens are a rare and impressive sight. Other features are a suspension bridge, mine chimney and mine entrances. The site is extensively interpreted with information panels on both sides of the river.