The Begonia House

Begonia House, Tauranga, N.Z., Postcard publ. by Rendell's Photo Service
Collection of Justine Neal

One of Tauranga’s hidden treasures is the Begonia House found at Robbins Park. It might be small but it is a peaceful and relaxing place with an ever changing vista of tropical flowers and plants.

It began life as the borough glasshouse and was converted into a begonia house by Park Superintendent E. J. Holland and his wife. It opened in 1954 and was rebuilt in 2007 at a cost of $55,000 and there it sat quietly providing pleasure to Tauranga locals and visitors alike Unfortunately most locals who visited didn’t sign the visitors book not realizing the Council would use this as a guide as to whether the Begonia House was viable or not.

In 2015 the Council decided they could save money by closing the display house. This provoked a strong reaction from the Tauranga public and a petition was organised by the Tauranga South Garden Club which resulted in the Begonia House remaining open to the public.

Fats forward to the present day and the Begonia House is once again on the Council’s cost cutting list. The Friday 29th edition of the Bay of Plenty Times reported that, for the time being anyhow, the Begonia House is safe, as the Council had voted to keep the $61,000 to fund the tropical display house in Robbins Park.