The Bond Store

Tauranga. Postcard by Mary Humphries, 86 x 136mm, c.1900-1910
Courtesy of Tauranga Heritage Collection, Ref. 0146/09

Known as No.1 The Strand, or Guinness’s, the substantial building originally the Tauranga Bond Store was built for James Alexander Mann in 1883 as a warehouse and bond store for storing imported goods. The Bond Store was situated on the waterfront not far from the two wharves which were the main entry place for goods arriving at Tauranga by sea. Mann & Co. developed as a retail store for general hardware, furniture, agricultural machinery, gardening tools and grocery items as well as liquor and tobacco. James Mann sold the business in 1908 to Guinness Bros., a local firm of general merchants who used it for storage and administration of their business, which included wholesale wines and spirits. As importers, producers and stockists of agricultural equipment, Guinness Bros. played an essential role in the development of the Bay of Plenty's agricultural industry. The shop was later greatly enlarged and served as the main retail area of their business for many decades.

In 1986 Hughes & Cossar, also wine and spirits dealers, took over the property; later it was leased and occupied by Saunderson Packaging, Tulloch Photography, Creative Tauranga and more recently the Weekend Sun. In late 1997 the ground floor of the building was refurbished as a restaurant and bar.  For several years the Tauranga Historical Society held their Christmas lunch at the restaurant where our members enjoyed the historical ambience of the building.

Tauranga men. Back row from left - F Stewart, E Pemberton, P Hines, C Guinness. Front row, third from left J Kelly
Postcard, 86 x 136mm, c. 1914-1918
Courtesy of Tauranga Heritage Collection, Ref. 0483/10

The Bond Store is the oldest remaining commercial building in Tauranga and a reminder of the period when Tauranga was heavily dependent on sea freight. The building functioned as a storage place for imported goods that required the payment of import duties; these were collected on behalf of the customs department by the bond-holder. The Tauranga bond store is one of only a few remaining in New Zealand.  As a bonded warehouse the building played an important role in enabling access to restricted goods such as alcohol, tobacco and other goods subject to import duties.

The site of the Bond Store has proven human habitation pre-1900 and is therefore an archaeological site under the provisions of the Historic Places Act. Its footprint and curtilage is significant as it abuts the lower flanks of Monmouth Redoubt (formerly Taumatakahawai Pa). The Tauranga Bond Store is the only remaining example of the utilitarian and traditional style of buildings associated with the early years of Tauranga's history as a port and the former status of The Strand as the main commercial street.

Guinness Bros. tent stand at the Tauranga A&P Show with agricultural machinery on display
Unmounted Ilford vernacular print, 60 x 87mm
Courtesy of Tauranga Heritage Collection, Ref. 0414/08

It is a good example of a simple, well-built, traditional brick and timber structure. As the oldest commercial/retail building in Tauranga it is therefore a rare type of historic place in this area. It sits in the context of the wharf and port area of Tauranga's commercial district, at the end of one of the earliest streets and close to the original shoreline.

If you are interested in the connection between the famous Guinness Brewery in Dublin and the retailers of that name in Tauranga history read “Guinness Down Under: the famous brew and the family come to Australia and NZ” by Rod Smith a member of the Tauranga Historical Society. The book is available at the Tauranga Library.

Source: Heritage New Zealand