North End Loop Site 4
Development of residential housing in the Brighton Road area started as early as 1924. Brighton Park Reserve is marked north to the Leo Street sections.
The area is significant today as a recreational facility and open space reserve.
It was significant in the past because it was the centre for returned servicemen activities and a community hub.
Brighton Road residential building 1948 depicting the design of the period.
A memorial was erected in the Brighton Road Reserve in 1988 to commemorate New Zealand’s soldiers who served in World War One and World War Two.
IN MEMORIES OF THOSE WHO MADE THE SUPREME SACRIFICE IN ALL WARS DONATED BY THE WAIHI BEACH RSA 1988
The GREAT WAR 1914- 1918
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the cessation of hostilities at the the 11th hour of the11th day of the 11th month 1918 and in memory of those who gave their lives for peace 11th November 1933.
VJ DAY 15th AUGUST 1995
The 50th anniversary of the end of World War II 1939- 1945 In tribute to all who served New Zealand overseas and at home throughout these years and in memory of those who laid down their lives.
VE DAY 9 May 1995
The 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WORLD WAR II IN EUROPE 1939 – 1945 IN TRIBUTE OF THOSE WHO SERVED AND IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE THER LIVES.
The original Waihi Beach Memorial RSA was in Leo Street, northwards opposite this QR code. It was hurriedly built in 1946 to welcome the return of our soldiers from World War Two.
Many names on the first committee of the Waihi Beach Memorial RSA were those of the first bach owners – Whaley, Clarke, Hopkins, Hicks, Hovell, Morrison and Slevens.
During the RSA’s time there, until it was replaced by the new one on the hilltop in 1990, the facility played an active role in community activities.
It was a place for returned servicemen to gather.
It was also used as a community hall, temporary Plunket rooms, and a venue for table tennis and indoor bowls (before the indoor bowling club moved to the Bowentown Boating Club in 1963 because of better floor levels).
The Waihi Beach RSA was packed to capacity at New Year’s Eve 1953.
The building burned down in 1956 and a hall and side room was built on the same site by volunteers. In the interim the RSA bought Fred Hawkin’s house in Shaw Road to use as clubrooms to maintain club activities.
The Leo Street premises was in competition with the Cabaret in the 1950s and 1960s as a dance hall. It hosted popular bands, and held Sunday midnight dances to avoid the liquor restriction which prohibited alcohol on Sundays.
Stories describe the boys outside drinking in their cars during dance breaks, and girls remaining inside.
In the 1970s the hall was in need of repairs.
The Club offered the Brighton Road premises to the Ohinemuri Council for use of a Town Hall. The project initially went ahead but in 1972 the council withdrew its offer, and so the Shaw Road property was sold and the Club moved back to the original premises.
Dancing in the 1980s in the Waihi Beach RSA.
Having overcome setbacks, including the denial of Liquor Licence in 1980 due to community opposition, the Waihi Beach RSA obtained approval in the following year. There was then a marked increase in club membership.
In 1992 Stuart and Rita Brown offered the RSA a prime one hectare hilltop location off Beach Road.
Construction of the current Waihi Beach Memorial RSA began in 1998.
Other Nearby Sites
Other Nearby Sites
Sources for historical accounts have been gathered from community archives, photographs and interviews. As such the Waihi Beach, Bowentown and Athenree Historical Society are still on their journey. Should you have something to correct, or add to the recording of our local history, contact secretary waihibeachmarilyn@gmail.com
The Trails
Athenree Stretch
This trail explores the people who shaped the community in the twentieth century, beginning at the initial settlement on Waione Road and finishing at the Doctor North Memorial Reserve.
Lack of roads meant that all good and travellers accessing the north end of Waihi Beach from the south had to cross the ford at Athenree and traverse the beach at low tide. This sited Athenree a place of significance for the district.
Athenree has always been a place of agricultural activities for both early Maori and settlers. Fishing was bountiful and the soil was good.
Today Athenree is a small residential settlement which is growing with increasing subdivisions.
Island View Stretch
Island View was originally called Koutinui.
In the early twentieth century significant archeological sites and middens were exposed, which revealed extensive Maori habitation since the 13th century.
The trails explore the lives of two early settler families who farmed the land from c1940s onwards, and early residential development.
The excursion begins in the Island View Reserve at its entrance and ends outside the Seaford Caralease Park.
Today Island View has become urbanised along both sides of Seaforth Road and also Emerton Road at the roundabout intersection.
North End Loop
The trail explores the first European settlement of the north end of Waihi Beach in the twentieth century and the impact that Mrs Martha Shaw and EA Wilson had shaping our small town.
It is a hardy walk as the trail meanders over a one square mile from the foreshore of Pohutukawa Park and ends at the top of the same park.
The trail describes lifestyles and characters of the early residents, holiday makers, businesses and activities of the time.
The character of the north end as a small residential area with seasonal explosions of holiday makers was formed in those early days and still exists today.
Athenree Homestead
Athenree Homestead is a significant home and grounds on the Athenree Homestead Reserve: Local Purpose Reserve Historic Homestead at 360 Athenree Road.
This QR site is a brief introduction to those who originally lived there and to the story of its restoration. Richer information is discovered in the hours the homestead is open to visitors.
