Addison's is often called Addison's Flat. It lies about eight miles to the south of Westport by road, and is about ten miles from Charleston. It forms part of the Wareatea South riding of the county of Buller, is in the electorate of Buller, and in the provincial district of Nelson. Gold was discovered at Addison's Flat in May, 1867. Since then the industry has been continued with varying success, and several claims are still worked. It is said that in the heyday, of the rush between three thousand and four thousand men were gold digging in the vicinity. Apart from private houses, the township consists of two hotels, a store, a blacksmith's shop, a bakery, a public school, and a Roman Catholic church. At the local post office, money order business is attended to, and there is a telephone bureau. The Okari river passes the township, and in the ranges to the south-east are the Buckland Peaks, 3,273 feet high. A good deal of fanning is carried on in the locality. The population at the census of 1901 was 208.

The Post Office , Addison's. The post office, telephone bureau, and money order office are conducted at the store of Mr. P. McEnroe, who is postmaster at Addison's. Mr. McEnroe is further referred to as proprietor of the Shamrock Hotel.

Shamrock Hotel (Philip McEnroe, proprietor), Addison's. This hotel was established in the year 1867 by Mr. McEnroe. There is good accommodation, and the best liquors are kept.

Mr. Philip Mcenroe , Proprietor of the Shamrock Hotel, is also postmaster and storekeeper. He was born in the year 1835, in County Cavan, Ireland, where he was educated, and learned farming. Mr. McEnroe went to Australia in 1855, followed mining for some years, and came to New Zealand in the year 1861. He followed the gold diggings at Gabriel's Gully, Dunstan, and the Shotover, and settled on the West Coast in 1866. For some years Mr. McEnroe had a punt on the Buller River, was a member of the first Buller Road Board, and was for some time a member of the Buller County Council. He holds a large interest in the old Shamrock claim, from which, at one time, £12,000 was taken. Mr. McEnroe married in the year 1869, and has three sons and five daughters.