Old Waiheke
Waiheke Island underwent its first major changes of the modern era between the 1960's-1980's. The population grew to over 4,000 residents by the 1980's, though only a small number of commuting workers were left by 1983, compared to 150 regulars in the sixties. Commuting was held back until faster ferries came on stream in 1990. The "back end" was opened up to road access in the mid-sixties. This eastern end had served as the main settlement, meeting the needs of the kauri industry and as a resort for those in transit to and from the Coromandel. In contrast, the now favoured west end was primarily Maori land, eventually transferred to European farmers such as Fred Alison, who purchased Matiatia & Oneroa in 1901. In 1922 Alison sold his Oneroa block enabling the subdivision & commercial development of the main village to proceed.
The Alison's had a major impact on Waiheke's development - Fred's father Alex started the ferry service from small beginnings, using a single-sailed dinghy with a fare of six pence per trip. Alex was 14 years old , a young entrepeneur then, in 1868.
Old Waiheke, in the post colonial era featured a declining Maori population though the heart remains in Te Huruhi Bay, with Piritahi Marae sitting close to the water. Ngati Paoa are the tangata whenua. Large kumara gardens once covered the Blackpool area. The former largest Maori settlement was at Church Bay. Maori land holdings are now a large block in the east end.
In 2010 the cycle has returned: with a resident poulation exceeding 8,000, large numbers of workers leave the island by ferry daily for their city employment.
In many ways development kills the goose that lays the golden egg: a lot of the charm that made Waiheke so appealing has disappeared so it is great to revisit some of the memories.
Reference:
Maddock, S & Whyte, D Islands of the Gulf (1983 revised)
Baragwanath, Lucy Dr The Waiheke Project (2010)
Waiheke Island underwent its first major changes of the modern era between the 1960's-1980's. The population grew to over 4,000 residents by the 1980's, though only a small number of commuting workers were left by 1983, compared to 150 regulars in the sixties. Commuting was held back until faster ferries came on stream in 1990. The "back end" was opened up to road access in the mid-sixties. This eastern end had served as the main settlement, meeting the needs of the kauri industry and as a resort for those in transit to and from the Coromandel. In contrast, the now favoured west end was primarily Maori land, eventually transferred to European farmers such as Fred Alison, who purchased Matiatia & Oneroa in 1901. In 1922 Alison sold his Oneroa block enabling the subdivision & commercial development of the main village to proceed.
The Alison's had a major impact on Waiheke's development - Fred's father Alex started the ferry service from small beginnings, using a single-sailed dinghy with a fare of six pence per trip. Alex was 14 years old , a young entrepeneur then, in 1868.
Old Waiheke, in the post colonial era featured a declining Maori population though the heart remains in Te Huruhi Bay, with Piritahi Marae sitting close to the water. Ngati Paoa are the tangata whenua. Large kumara gardens once covered the Blackpool area. The former largest Maori settlement was at Church Bay. Maori land holdings are now a large block in the east end.
In 2010 the cycle has returned: with a resident poulation exceeding 8,000, large numbers of workers leave the island by ferry daily for their city employment.
In many ways development kills the goose that lays the golden egg: a lot of the charm that made Waiheke so appealing has disappeared so it is great to revisit some of the memories.
Reference:
Maddock, S & Whyte, D Islands of the Gulf (1983 revised)
Baragwanath, Lucy Dr The Waiheke Project (2010)
1940's Waiheke -The Fun Map
In the 1940's an excellent "fun map" of Waiheke was produced by locals Gordon Ingram and Stopford Wrathall. Designer/illustrator Wrathall was responsible for some excellent graphic art of the era, including the children's book "Just Us" and an illustrated Rotorua tourism Map. Read more of the detail of the Waiheke map and view a high resolution image http://bit.ly/hIlBSL
Snippets from Dixie Day's "Waiheke Pioneers"
The Massacre at Woodside Bay occurred over 800 years ago Chief Maeaea led his warriors across the water from Maraetai to accept the invitation of a feast. Unsuspecting, they landed at Woodside Bay and were set upon and massacred by their hosts. The 1878 Post Office is still on site - elevated above the beach at the western side of Woodside Bay The house is a classic kauri dwelling of the period & has been restored for ongoing use as a dwelling.
Woodside Bay features on the WALKS page. CLICK TOP LEFT on slideshow to Play |
The grocery store in Ostend, corner Ostend Rd and Albert Cres was first built in the 1920's. It continues, in an enlarged building to sell foodstuffs etc to serve the local community. Bus, transport and taxi services operated in the vicinity, servicing the route from Ostend-Onetangi -which initially went via Seaview Rd, before the present main road was constructed. For many years, scows sent over from Auckland carted off loads of beach shingle to service construction in Auckland. To this day, the bays depleted of shingle, suffer from erosion caused by removal of nature's own system. |