Howick Historical Village
Encyclopedia
Howick Historical Village is a re-creation of a New Zealand
colonial village using houses and cottages saved from the surrounding Auckland
suburb of Howick
. It is good for field trips for schools.
The Village is open to the public every day of the year (except Christmas Day, New Year's Day, ANZAC day, and Good Friday) from 10am-4pm. On the third Sunday of each month (excluding December) Live Days are held, in which the Village comes to life with many costumed volunteers re-enacting daily life in Victorian New Zealand times. There is an admission fee, parking is free, and a cafe is on-site.
was concerned that the French could move down to New Zealand from where they were already established in New Caledonia and Tahiti by 1845. At the same time the Maori chief, Hone Heke
, was causing unrest with new settlers in the north of New Zealand. He cut down the flagpole at Kororareka flying the British flag five times in succession to make the point that the British settlers were not welcome.
The sacking of Kororareka (now known as Russell) caused Governor George Grey to write to Earl Grey back in England in 1846, asking for assistance in protecting the fledgling settlement in Auckland. At this time, Auckland was a collection of wooden buildings near the waterfront and had only just been made the capital of New Zealand. (Korerareka was the first capital, Auckland was capital from 1841 to 1865, and Wellington from then on).
The decision was made to send out retired and worn-out British soldiers who had returned from fighting in Afghanistan, India, Malta and elsewhere in the British Empire. They had served up to 20 years overseas, and were invited to form an army corps to be known as the Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps
, meaning they were a form of defensive force to protect Auckland should it ever be attacked.
The conditions of engagement offered these men were that they were allowed to bring their wives and children, and it became the biggest immigration programme of its day (approximately 2,500 men women and children settled in Panmure
, Otahuhu
, Onehunga
and Howick). They arrived here between 1847 to 1852, in ten sailing ships. Most voyages took about 3 to 4 months. Conditions on board were usually very good for the time, but one particular ship, the Clifton, was termed the Ship of Sorrows because 46 people died during the voyage (mainly children coming from the Irish potato famine).
Most of the ships departed from Gravesend, in England, and over half of the Fencible families were Irish in origin. Panmure was the biggest Irish settlement.
The Fencible soldiers were generally offered free passage to New Zealand and for many, a two-roomed cottage and an acre of land, in return for a seven year term of service. They were encouraged to take on other employment, as their main obligation was to attend military parades every Sunday. They were also offered work for a year on public work schemes, like road and bridge building. They were only called out on military duty once, in April 1851.
When the first four boats arrived, no cottages ready. Instead, the new arrivals were assigned to tents, raupo cottages, or on Howick Beach, two long sheds (one for the men, the other for women and children). Privates generally had paired “Siamese” cottages, sergeants had single dwellings, and officers had bigger houses (Captain Smith’s house, Bell House, can be seen behind Sergeant Ford’s).
After seven years, Fencibles were released from service and the cottages and an acre of land became theirs absolutely. They could also buy extra land at a very good price. Only three ever returned to Europe. Financially the Fencible immigration scheme was very successful.
The Bell family offered Bell House, located in its present position, to the Society in 1972. Alan la Roche negotiated with Lloyd Elsmore, the mayor at the time, and the Society was offered five acres next to Bell House (this was later extended to a total of 7 acres). This became the site of the Howick Historical Village.
It took eight years to develop the area into a living museum, using volunteer labour and working bees in the weekends. A plan was drawn up, letters sent to owners of Fencible cottages, and over that period of time many cottages were offered to the Society. They were transported to their new home and restored to represent the Fencible period.
The funding for the re-siting of buildings and their restoration largely came initially from the sale of Christmas cards and from cake stalls. There was a lot of local support for the fund raising initiatives that led to the development of the site.
John Litten used his farm tractor to develop the roads and drains, and the Manukau City Council dug out the pond. The last Manukau mayor, Len Brown
, was one of the young volunteers who helped develop the Village in its early days, and was once firmly scolded by Alan la Roche for swimming in the pond!
On the 8th of March 1980, the Howick Colonial Village (as it was then called) was officially opened by the Hon. Allan Highet, Minister of Internal Affairs, on behalf of the Governor General Sir Keith Holyoake who was unwell on the day. A cloud of caged pigeons was released before a large crowd, who then inspected the fourteen buildings that comprised the museum.
At that time there was only one oak tree on the site and all the rest of the planting has been carried out subsequently. The gardens have now become an extensive heritage project, led by a restoration ecologist, with close links to the Heritage Tree Crops Association and Auckland Seed Savers. Many of the trees come from the sites of historic homes in the area.
The first director of the museum was Alan la Roche, and he continued in that role until his retirement in more recent years. The staffing has grown a great deal since the early days, but the Village operates with a huge amount of support from volunteers.
There are thirty buildings that comprise the museum and the site has reached maturity and its full capacity. The challenge for the future will be to retain the buildings in good and authentic condition for future generations.
The little church is used most weekends for weddings or naming ceremonies, and the surrounding grounds (including Victorian period gardens, wagon, and 30 historic buildings) make the perfect backdrop for unique wedding, family photography or promotional photography.
School Holiday programmes are offered once or twice in each holiday period.
Bookings are essential for all extra-special visits.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
colonial village using houses and cottages saved from the surrounding Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
suburb of Howick
Howick, New Zealand
Howick is an eastern suburb of Auckland, New Zealand, forming part of what is sometimes called East Auckland. Due to the relatively numerous remaining heritage buildings and other historical remnants from its early European settlement past, it has been called "perhaps Auckland's most historically...
. It is good for field trips for schools.
The Village is open to the public every day of the year (except Christmas Day, New Year's Day, ANZAC day, and Good Friday) from 10am-4pm. On the third Sunday of each month (excluding December) Live Days are held, in which the Village comes to life with many costumed volunteers re-enacting daily life in Victorian New Zealand times. There is an admission fee, parking is free, and a cafe is on-site.
Fencible History - a Brief Overview
Governor George GreyGeorge Grey
George Grey may refer to:*Sir George Grey, 2nd Baronet , British politician*George Grey, 2nd Earl of Kent *Sir George Grey , Governor of Cape Colony, South Australia and New Zealand...
was concerned that the French could move down to New Zealand from where they were already established in New Caledonia and Tahiti by 1845. At the same time the Maori chief, Hone Heke
Hone Heke
Hone Wiremu Heke Pokai was a Māori rangatira and war leader in Northern New Zealand and a nephew of Hongi Hika, an earlier war leader of the Ngāpuhi iwi. Hone Heke is considered the principal instigator of the Flagstaff War....
, was causing unrest with new settlers in the north of New Zealand. He cut down the flagpole at Kororareka flying the British flag five times in succession to make the point that the British settlers were not welcome.
The sacking of Kororareka (now known as Russell) caused Governor George Grey to write to Earl Grey back in England in 1846, asking for assistance in protecting the fledgling settlement in Auckland. At this time, Auckland was a collection of wooden buildings near the waterfront and had only just been made the capital of New Zealand. (Korerareka was the first capital, Auckland was capital from 1841 to 1865, and Wellington from then on).
The decision was made to send out retired and worn-out British soldiers who had returned from fighting in Afghanistan, India, Malta and elsewhere in the British Empire. They had served up to 20 years overseas, and were invited to form an army corps to be known as the Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps
Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps
The Royal New Zealand Fencible Corps was formed in 1846,following the conclusion of the northern war against Hone Heke. The Governor, George Grey, had requested military forces for the defence of the early settlers in New Zealand, instead of supplying regular military forces the English Parliament...
, meaning they were a form of defensive force to protect Auckland should it ever be attacked.
The conditions of engagement offered these men were that they were allowed to bring their wives and children, and it became the biggest immigration programme of its day (approximately 2,500 men women and children settled in Panmure
Panmure, New Zealand
Panmure is a south-eastern suburb of Auckland City, in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located 11 kilometres southeast of the city centre, close to the western banks of the Tamaki River and the northern shore of the Panmure Basin...
, Otahuhu
Otahuhu
Otahuhu is a suburb of Auckland. It is located to the southeast of the city centre, on a narrow isthmus between an arm of the Manukau Harbour to the west and the Tamaki River estuary to the east...
, Onehunga
Onehunga
Onehunga is a suburb of Auckland City, New Zealand and the location of the Port of Onehunga, the city's small port on the Manukau Harbour. It is eight kilometres south of the city centre, close to the volcanic cone of One Tree Hill, Maungakiekie....
and Howick). They arrived here between 1847 to 1852, in ten sailing ships. Most voyages took about 3 to 4 months. Conditions on board were usually very good for the time, but one particular ship, the Clifton, was termed the Ship of Sorrows because 46 people died during the voyage (mainly children coming from the Irish potato famine).
Most of the ships departed from Gravesend, in England, and over half of the Fencible families were Irish in origin. Panmure was the biggest Irish settlement.
The Fencible soldiers were generally offered free passage to New Zealand and for many, a two-roomed cottage and an acre of land, in return for a seven year term of service. They were encouraged to take on other employment, as their main obligation was to attend military parades every Sunday. They were also offered work for a year on public work schemes, like road and bridge building. They were only called out on military duty once, in April 1851.
When the first four boats arrived, no cottages ready. Instead, the new arrivals were assigned to tents, raupo cottages, or on Howick Beach, two long sheds (one for the men, the other for women and children). Privates generally had paired “Siamese” cottages, sergeants had single dwellings, and officers had bigger houses (Captain Smith’s house, Bell House, can be seen behind Sergeant Ford’s).
After seven years, Fencibles were released from service and the cottages and an acre of land became theirs absolutely. They could also buy extra land at a very good price. Only three ever returned to Europe. Financially the Fencible immigration scheme was very successful.
Howick Historical Village History - a Brief Overview
In 1962, the Howick and Districts Historical Society was formed by a group of enthusiasts wanting to preserve Howick’s history. They began collecting historical material from the area, and in time, were offered buildings from the Fencible period.The Bell family offered Bell House, located in its present position, to the Society in 1972. Alan la Roche negotiated with Lloyd Elsmore, the mayor at the time, and the Society was offered five acres next to Bell House (this was later extended to a total of 7 acres). This became the site of the Howick Historical Village.
It took eight years to develop the area into a living museum, using volunteer labour and working bees in the weekends. A plan was drawn up, letters sent to owners of Fencible cottages, and over that period of time many cottages were offered to the Society. They were transported to their new home and restored to represent the Fencible period.
The funding for the re-siting of buildings and their restoration largely came initially from the sale of Christmas cards and from cake stalls. There was a lot of local support for the fund raising initiatives that led to the development of the site.
John Litten used his farm tractor to develop the roads and drains, and the Manukau City Council dug out the pond. The last Manukau mayor, Len Brown
Len Brown
Len Brown is the Mayor of Auckland in New Zealand and the head of the Auckland Council. He won the 2010 Auckland mayoral election on 9 October 2010 and was sworn in as Mayor of Auckland on 1 November 2010, being the first to hold that title for the amalgamated Auckland 'Super City'...
, was one of the young volunteers who helped develop the Village in its early days, and was once firmly scolded by Alan la Roche for swimming in the pond!
On the 8th of March 1980, the Howick Colonial Village (as it was then called) was officially opened by the Hon. Allan Highet, Minister of Internal Affairs, on behalf of the Governor General Sir Keith Holyoake who was unwell on the day. A cloud of caged pigeons was released before a large crowd, who then inspected the fourteen buildings that comprised the museum.
At that time there was only one oak tree on the site and all the rest of the planting has been carried out subsequently. The gardens have now become an extensive heritage project, led by a restoration ecologist, with close links to the Heritage Tree Crops Association and Auckland Seed Savers. Many of the trees come from the sites of historic homes in the area.
The first director of the museum was Alan la Roche, and he continued in that role until his retirement in more recent years. The staffing has grown a great deal since the early days, but the Village operates with a huge amount of support from volunteers.
There are thirty buildings that comprise the museum and the site has reached maturity and its full capacity. The challenge for the future will be to retain the buildings in good and authentic condition for future generations.
Extra-Special Visits
The Village is an extremely popular destination for school groups on their LEOTC studies.The little church is used most weekends for weddings or naming ceremonies, and the surrounding grounds (including Victorian period gardens, wagon, and 30 historic buildings) make the perfect backdrop for unique wedding, family photography or promotional photography.
School Holiday programmes are offered once or twice in each holiday period.
Bookings are essential for all extra-special visits.
Trivia
- The village was featured in the 3rd episode of The Amazing Race Asia 2The Amazing Race Asia 2The Amazing Race Asia 2 is the second season of the reality television game show The Amazing Race Asia. The show features ten teams of two, with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world to win US$100,000....
where teams had to use digital cameras to take pictures of 3 of New Zealand cultural charaMovecters.