Page 9 - The Waioeka Journey Booklet
P. 9
“…the sad part of our life was seeing a number of men carried out through bush felling accidents; some would be badly smashed about “…the old suspension bridge was carried away by fl ood in 1918.
while others would be dead.” MARY ANN ENSOR – Started bush farming with her husband in the Waioeka Gorge – 1905 Since then the settlers have been battling with this river and a brute of a crossing.” ALICK TRAFFORD – Waioeka farmer – 1921
CLEARING THE LAND The Tauranga Bridge stands as a
European settlement of the Waioeka Gorge began in the monument to the commitment of
1880s with some land allocated for stock and education settlers determined to make a living
reserves. Settlement intensifi ed in the early 1900s. In 1907 off the land of the Waioeka. They
there were 400 applications for a 700 acre (238 hectare) block shared a sense of optimism and hope,
at Oponae. The main challenge was access. Gangs of workers
were contracted to clear the bush with concerns raised about believing they could “make a go” of
the effect bush clearance would have on the steep hillsides. farming this inhospitable place.
SETTLING IN
THE BRIDGE
The fi rst dwellings were rough whare of pitsawn timber and THE CHALLENGE THE BRIDGE
corrugated iron, some later replaced by more substantial OF ACCESS The T
The Tauranga Bridge is a single spanauranga Bridge is a single span
homes. As settlements grew, shops multiple rope or harp suspension bridge
multiple rope or harp suspension bridge
THE CHALLENGE OF THE LAND
opened at Matahanea and Oponae THE CHALLENGE OF THE LAND River crossings were diffi cult and often spanning approximately 60 metres. It is
spanning approximately 60 metres. It is
Stock needed to be fed. This pr
and a telephone connection Stock needed to be fed. This proved a big challenge as the soiloved a big challenge as the soil treacherous, hence the need for a bridge to one of only two remaining of its type in
one of only two remaining of its type in
was not fertile enough to maintain vigorous grass growth. Much
was established. In the early was not fertile enough to maintain vigorous grass growth. Much link the farms of the Tauranga Valley with the New Zealand. It is of national signifi cance
New Zealand. It is of national signifi cance
of the land reverted to fern, bidibidi and wineberry. Properties
1920s a half time school was of the land reverted to fern, bidibidi and wineberry. Properties outside world. The Tauranga Bridge is the for its rarity of design and aesthetic
for its rarity of design and aesthetic
were lost in mortgagee sales, others simply abandoned.
established between Oponae were lost in mortgagee sales, others simply abandoned. second to cross the Waioeka at this point, the quality, and is listed as a Category 1
quality, and is listed as a Category 1
and Wairata. fi rst being destroyed by fl ood in April 1918. Historic Place with the New Zealand
Historic Place with the New Zealand
Families who settled in this
Families who settled in this
Families who settled in this Historic Places Trust.
Historic Places Trust.
area included the Beaufoys, ea included the Beaufoys,
area included the Beaufoys, After the destruction of the fi rst bridge a cable
ar
Hamiltons and Lamberts. They ts. They ts. They
Hamiltons and Lamber crossing was used while decisions were made The Tauranga Bridge fell into disrepair
Hamiltons and Lamber
Hamiltons and Lamberts. They
The Tauranga Bridge fell into disrepair
all took up leases in 1906 with about a replacement. The second bridge was and became dangerous. A conservation
all took up leases in 1906 with
all took up leases in 1906 with
and became dangerous. A conservation
the Beaufoys and Lamberts designed by the Public Works Department and project was initiated by the Department
the Beaufoys and Lamberts
project was initiated by the Department
leaving in 1927. These early built by Percy Kerr, probably in 1922. of Conservation and the bridge was
leaving in 1927. These early
of Conservation and the bridge was
settlers had a dream but in offi cially reopened in 1995.
settlers had a dream but in
offi cially reopened in 1995.
hindsight it is clear that some
hindsight it is clear that some
land is not meant to be
farmed. Their leases were
farmed. Their leases were
incorporated in to what is
incorporated in to what is
now the Waioeka Gorge
now the Waioeka Gorge
Scenic Reserve.
DOC manages ongoing conservation of the bridge with
fi nancial support from the Environment Bay of Plenty
Environmental Enhancement Fund.
while others would be dead.” MARY ANN ENSOR – Started bush farming with her husband in the Waioeka Gorge – 1905 Since then the settlers have been battling with this river and a brute of a crossing.” ALICK TRAFFORD – Waioeka farmer – 1921
CLEARING THE LAND The Tauranga Bridge stands as a
European settlement of the Waioeka Gorge began in the monument to the commitment of
1880s with some land allocated for stock and education settlers determined to make a living
reserves. Settlement intensifi ed in the early 1900s. In 1907 off the land of the Waioeka. They
there were 400 applications for a 700 acre (238 hectare) block shared a sense of optimism and hope,
at Oponae. The main challenge was access. Gangs of workers
were contracted to clear the bush with concerns raised about believing they could “make a go” of
the effect bush clearance would have on the steep hillsides. farming this inhospitable place.
SETTLING IN
THE BRIDGE
The fi rst dwellings were rough whare of pitsawn timber and THE CHALLENGE THE BRIDGE
corrugated iron, some later replaced by more substantial OF ACCESS The T
The Tauranga Bridge is a single spanauranga Bridge is a single span
homes. As settlements grew, shops multiple rope or harp suspension bridge
multiple rope or harp suspension bridge
THE CHALLENGE OF THE LAND
opened at Matahanea and Oponae THE CHALLENGE OF THE LAND River crossings were diffi cult and often spanning approximately 60 metres. It is
spanning approximately 60 metres. It is
Stock needed to be fed. This pr
and a telephone connection Stock needed to be fed. This proved a big challenge as the soiloved a big challenge as the soil treacherous, hence the need for a bridge to one of only two remaining of its type in
one of only two remaining of its type in
was not fertile enough to maintain vigorous grass growth. Much
was established. In the early was not fertile enough to maintain vigorous grass growth. Much link the farms of the Tauranga Valley with the New Zealand. It is of national signifi cance
New Zealand. It is of national signifi cance
of the land reverted to fern, bidibidi and wineberry. Properties
1920s a half time school was of the land reverted to fern, bidibidi and wineberry. Properties outside world. The Tauranga Bridge is the for its rarity of design and aesthetic
for its rarity of design and aesthetic
were lost in mortgagee sales, others simply abandoned.
established between Oponae were lost in mortgagee sales, others simply abandoned. second to cross the Waioeka at this point, the quality, and is listed as a Category 1
quality, and is listed as a Category 1
and Wairata. fi rst being destroyed by fl ood in April 1918. Historic Place with the New Zealand
Historic Place with the New Zealand
Families who settled in this
Families who settled in this
Families who settled in this Historic Places Trust.
Historic Places Trust.
area included the Beaufoys, ea included the Beaufoys,
area included the Beaufoys, After the destruction of the fi rst bridge a cable
ar
Hamiltons and Lamberts. They ts. They ts. They
Hamiltons and Lamber crossing was used while decisions were made The Tauranga Bridge fell into disrepair
Hamiltons and Lamber
Hamiltons and Lamberts. They
The Tauranga Bridge fell into disrepair
all took up leases in 1906 with about a replacement. The second bridge was and became dangerous. A conservation
all took up leases in 1906 with
all took up leases in 1906 with
and became dangerous. A conservation
the Beaufoys and Lamberts designed by the Public Works Department and project was initiated by the Department
the Beaufoys and Lamberts
project was initiated by the Department
leaving in 1927. These early built by Percy Kerr, probably in 1922. of Conservation and the bridge was
leaving in 1927. These early
of Conservation and the bridge was
settlers had a dream but in offi cially reopened in 1995.
settlers had a dream but in
offi cially reopened in 1995.
hindsight it is clear that some
hindsight it is clear that some
land is not meant to be
farmed. Their leases were
farmed. Their leases were
incorporated in to what is
incorporated in to what is
now the Waioeka Gorge
now the Waioeka Gorge
Scenic Reserve.
DOC manages ongoing conservation of the bridge with
fi nancial support from the Environment Bay of Plenty
Environmental Enhancement Fund.
