Our latest Newsletter (June 2023)
Previous newsletters:
April 2023, May 2023
The Tauranga Historical Society has worked since 1952 to preserve, interpret, and promote the historical and cultural heritage of the Western Bay of Plenty for the people of the region and beyond. Society members also contribute to the Bay of Plenty Historic Review. Subscription to the Society is $40 per household and new members to support the work of the Society are always very welcome.
In 1979 Elva Brain Watkins gifted her home into the care of the Tauranga Historical Society. The Brain Watkins House Museum was built in 1881 by her father, Capt. Joseph Denham Brain (1841-1924), and was registered by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga as a Historic Place Category 2 on 4 April 1983. The house museum and heritage garden are a unique historic property located near the central business district of Tauranga city, and guides open the building to the public on Sunday’s from 2pm to 4pm.
Occupied by one family for 98 years and still retaining the original contents, the house offers an insight into the life of a middle class Pākehā family. It predominantly tells the story of the women of the Brain family who occupied the house for 98 years from 1881 to 1979. Joseph was married to Kate Ellen Brain (nee Bishop) (1844-1933), and their daughters were Ada, Alice, Eleanor, Edith (Bessy) and Elva.
The collection is and eclectic mix of all the decades during the time period of occupation. The collection is currently part of a cataloguing project, with only a small portion so far displayed on Ehive.
Tauranga Historical Society Inc
233 Cameron Road, Tauranga 3110
PO Box 112, Tauranga 3140
Phone: 07 578 1835
Email: tauranga.historical@
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
President: Debbie McCauley
Iwi Representative: Buddy Mikaere (Ngāi Tamarāwaho)
Vice-President: Meg Jones
Secretary: Erin Nicholson
Treasurer: Diane Bain