 Established near the junction of the Taieri River and Owhiro Stream the site was first known to Europeans as "Scroggs' Creek Landing" after Samuel Scroggs, a member of Charles Kettle's survey teams.The surrounding area was (and still is) known as Owhiro.In 1875, with the arrival of the railway south from Dunedin; and satisfying criteria for a "town", the community was renamed Greytown - after former Governor Sir George Grey.