The Tauranga Transit Camp, 1944-1956

(by a contributer who wishes to remain anonymous)

In 1943 an aerial survey was done of New Zealand, I believe, by American airmen, and the maps are available online. The Domain (or High School Reserve, as it was formerly known) at the northern end of Cameron Road appears as two large open grassed fields with the outline of an athletic track, much as it is today.

The 1959 version is very similar to the 1943 image, apart from more trees growing on the cliff above Takitimu Drive. Many people may not know the story of the ‘camp’ that sprang up there to help relieve a post-war housing shortage in this region. It was established by our City Council in 1944/45 using ex-army huts from the racecourse and air force ones from the aerodrome. The intention was to provide very temporary accommodation for returned servicemen and their families. (In October 1948 the BOP Times reported it would be gone in 12 months.)

At its peak there were 80 homes and the need for this facility extended for many years due to a shortage of materials to build state houses, and the influx of displaced persons from overseas during the 50s.

Photograph of the Te Papa peninsula by Alf Rendell
Courtesy of the Tauranga Heritage Collection

There was a large mess hall and a boiler house where the washing could be done and a hot shower obtained. The accommodation was extremely basic, with single men’s quarters and some 2- and 3-roomed huts with running water and a stove. There were also ‘flats’ in a long row. Many of the structures were roofed with malthoid only and were rather leaky.

Residents established gardens, put up gates and fences, and there was a certain camaraderie in being part of the Transit Camp. Some residents wrote in 1947 and suggested that Wilkinson Park may be a better name, after the Mayor of the day. but this idea was not adopted.

Council plans were to convert the transit camp area into a proper cricket ground. To facilitate this workmen stood by as residents left, so buildings could be dismantled or relocated immediately and prevent squatters moving in.

Cricket on the Tauranga Domain, early 1950s
Photograph by Herbert Lever
Image courtesy of Tauranga City Library, Ref. 06-016

Teenage Memories of a Nearby Resident

In the early 50s we were leasing the unused portion of the Tansit Camp to graze a few milking cows and as more huts were removed my father was able to extend his fences. We also kept a pig and it was my job to take 2 empty buckets (4 gallon tins) over to the cookhouse and return with the 2 full ones.

I have a memory of seeing people lined up to use the single telephone box which was inside the hedge on the Brown Street boundary. Another common sight was young mothers heading for the communal laundry with a baby in a cane pram, sometimes a toddler on a wooden seat across the top, and trying to balance a large cane basket of washing.

I was always reminded by my mother to go straight to the cookhouse and straight home.

Sources
Papers Past, BOP Times, 1944-1949
BOP Times Saturday Feature 6 Aug 1988
Nga Wahi Rangihou, Tauranga Book 22, page 50
Interviews with two older Tauranga residents