The oldest commercial building in Whitianga has had a life that is worthy of a story all of its own. It was built in the heyday of kauri milling, moved location when no longer required and is still in use nearly 140 years later!
In 1884, a few months after the Mercury Bay Timber Company Mill was moved across the river from Ferry Landing, the company built a building. Part of this building was two stories high and was situated on the waterfront (now known as the Esplanade) just south of the mill. The site was on the south corner of Monk Street. This was not only to house the mill’s single workers but was also used as a dining hall. The kitchen, 32 feet square, had a baker’s oven installed in it as well. The building became known as ‘The Mill Kitchen’.
In 1888 in Mercury Bay
In 1888, it came under the control of the Kauri Timber Company when they bought out the Mercury Timber Company.
Later the building became known as Geard’s Boarding House. It is not certain whether they were the owners, or whether they were running it on behalf of the Kauri Timber Company.
The next known proprietors were George and Lil White, whose twin daughters, Greta and Winnie, at one stage, assisted with running the boarding house. One day they noticed that a photographer was about to line up the staff and customers in front of Eddie Eyre’s butcher shop across the road. Wishing to be in the photograph, they abandoned their housekeeping without a thought for their mother, and became etched in history, Greta with broom in hand.
Removing the Second Storey
In 1917, Mr Dugald Bryce purchased the building, removed the second storey, and the building was then placed on a catamaran (large sledge) hauled by a team of bullocks. The bullock driver was probably Tommy Thom. It was hauled up to its present site on the corner of Albert Street and Campbell Streets in two sections. Bill Streat was the carpenter who had the job of joining it back together again, and generally making it habitable. The design was very basic – the kitchen and dining room at one end, and a long corridor with eight bedrooms leading off it, four on either side.
Over the next 28 years or so, Mrs McGregor ran it as a boarding house, followed by Fred and Ivy Norton (née McGregor), and lastly by Ken White.
Sometime in the 1930s, it fell vacant.
From 1941 to 1945, Bert and Eadie Chaney took up residence, starting a bed and breakfast business. When the Whitianga Hall burnt down in October 1945, they opened their dining room to the local community for dances.
World War II
Around mid-1945, after his return from World War II, Robin Smith, in partnership with Len Clark, bought the property off the Bryce family.
After gutting the old boarding house and removing the inner walls, they held a dance to assist with the raising of funds to rebuild the public hall. The band that played for the dance consisted of Robin, Boy (Norman) Wells, Merv George Senior, Alan Bruce, Rob Simpson, and Louie Lowe. The buildings at the Radar Station south of Hot Water Beach were up for sale at that time too, one of the larger ones being purchased for use in the rebuilding of the hall. Louie Lowe, Joe Crabb (carpenter) and Robin Smith took on the task of bringing the building to Whitianga.
Once the hall was rebuilt, Robin completed the ex-boarding house conversion into a transport depot by removing the floor. From this depot, he and Len Clark ran the south cream and mail run, using it as a garage for the business Mercury Transport Company, an established Auckland/Mercury Bay transport service. Robin bought Len out in 1950 and continued to run his transport business from the premises.
The Thames Valley Electric Power Board bought the property from Robin on 5th June 1960 and occupied the building until 1995.
Since the closure of the Electric Power Board, the building has had several identities – a fish factory, PlaceMakers, a travel agent and today the building houses two businesses – a bakery and an IT business.
Apart from the change of location and removal of the top storey, this building is one of the oldest commercial buildings in Whitianga – if not the oldest. What’s next for this grand old space?? Only time will tell.
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