Stone Jetty or Boulder Wharf, Mount Maunganui

Old Stone Wharf, Mount Maunganui. Photo: Tauranga Heritage Collection Ref. 0202/08

The Stone Jetty lies at the foot of Mauao in Pilot Bay. In the 1880s Mount Maunganui grew into a popular picnic spot for the people of Tauranga. However, the ladies’ long dresses were getting wet when they disembarked from boats onto the foreshore at Pilot Bay, hence the need for a jetty. The principal proponents of the jetty were George Gardiner, the owner of a hardware store, and architect Arthur Washington Burrows, both longstanding residents of Tauranga.

Stone Jetty, Pilot Bay, Mount Maunganui, c.1920s
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Library, Ref. 11-029

Andrew Gilmore, a blacksmith, and the plumber William Hale both lent tools, while J. Salt, another blacksmith offered to do the smithy work and volunteer labourers built the jetty. J.W. Grey (later Mayor of Tauranga) a timber yard owner, provided the timber and Messrs. E. Daines, Joseph Brain, and John Mannix helped with the carpentry. Gardiner provided the winch and derrick to move the heavy boulders. George Crabbe, store-keeper was another volunteer, and the first working parties were well attended. In spite of the donated time and materials, cash was in short supply so funds were raised by donations and concert proceeds.

George A Crabbe, founder of the store (1840 - 1905)
Courtesy of N. Wilson, Crabbe Collection, Tauranga Heritage Collection

Completion of the project was too late for the 1888–1889 summer season when 250 people visited the Mount on Boxing Day and 400 on New Year’s Day. It took the architect and three paid helpers who camped at the Mount until mid-March to complete the jetty. On 28 March 1889 the Mayor of Tauranga, James Bodell, along with 36 residents opened the wharf before enjoying tea provided by the Wharf Committee.

It was another twelve years before any Europeans lived at Mount Maunganui.

One hundred years later the wharf was noticeably deteriorating and plans began in 1989 to rebuild it. New Zealand Historic Places Trust authority to proceed with modification of the archaeological site was granted in August 1989. Donations from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and the Port of Tauranga funded the project. Naval personnel from HMNZS Southland and HMNZS Endeavour and local surfers helped Ales Sager of City Bricklayers (1989) rebuild the jetty. Firth Certified Concrete donated the concrete. Whitianga claims to have the remains of the first stone wharf in Australasia. [1]

Reference

[1] Heritage NZ file. Stone Jetty Mount Maunganui. Reg. No. 4569